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Edited by Dr. Martin
Stokes
Another New Recruit
Beginning last fall, a search committee interviewed
three candidates for the position of Livestock Teaching Coordinator and
Assistant Herdsperson. This post involves numerous responsibilities in using
Witter as a hands-on classroom and coordinating student animal activities
both on and off-campus. The applicants were required to have a master’s
degree, experience with teaching and research work related to the livestock
program, and interpersonal skills necessary to work closely with students
and faculty. We are very pleased that one of our own graduates, Crystal
Sellars, was the successful applicant for this position.
Crystal was born in Presque Isle, Maine and raised in
Washburn, where the family moved when she was only six years old. Crystal
was clearly an animal lover from an early age and although her parents were
not in agriculture she still managed to collect a myriad of different pets
including chickens, cats, dogs, and hamsters. She also participated heavily
in the FFA during her years in Washburn. Crystal entered UMaine as a member
of the Class of 1999, originally majoring in Zoology, before switching to
Animal Science after her first semester. The UMADCOWS program was primarily
responsible for her focus on food animals and she was the Student Herd
Advisor in her final semester. Before graduating with a BS in AVS,
Crystal was accepted into the graduate program at the University of Idaho to
pursue a master’s degree in Animal Science.
Her early animal related experience involved working at
the Presque Isle Raceway, where she collected urine from the racehorses for
drug testing, and she also volunteered with a veterinarian in Woodland.
While at UMaine, she gathered alternative experience at the Aroostook
Research Farm in Presque Isle, where she collected and processed plant and
soil samples for research studies. After graduating from UMaine, Crystal
spent that summer working for Thomas Farms of Garland, where she milked and
performed odd jobs for the farm’s 240 milking cows. Crystal was then a
graduate research assistant for Dr. Amin Ahmadzadeh, who she credits for the
majority of her hands-on and real-world experience. Crystal’s graduate
research was on the addition of Estradiol Cypionate (ECP) to the Ovsynch
Protocol and its effects on the conception rates of dairy cattle. Following
graduate school, her decision on a career in dairy led her to the Midwest
Dairy Institute in Milbank, South Dakota, where she became their first ever
Dairy Management Intern. After about a year she was promoted to Assistant
Herdsperson and was the herd’s Reproduction Specialist responsible for
nearly every aspect of the institute’s breeding program. Crystal then
worked at Cedar Red Dairy in Denmark, Wisconsin, before returning to work in
Maine.
In this newly created position Crystal splits her
duties between the AVS department and Witter Farm. For the department, she
is charged with AVS lab instruction in various courses such as Animal
Science, Animal Science Techniques, and UMADCOWS. At the same time she
oversees equipment and animal use for any student clubs or groups. At
Witter, Crystal is responsible for assisting with all normal farm chores and
duties, as well as the cow and heifer breeding programs, and some management
of student employees.
In the future, Crystal hopes to continue at the
University for many years, where she wants to improve her rapport with the
equine program and further the development of the beef program. A woman full
of potential, she explains that, “UMADCOWS brought me to where I am today
and now I’m back and can help give back to UMaine what was given to me”. We
all look forward to her contributions to both the Witter Farm and to the
Animal and Veterinary Science department. Welcome Crystal!
Developments in the Diagnostic Lab
In out last issue we welcomed Dr. Scott Haskell to our
faculty to take over management of our Diagnostic Laboratory. Having been a
practicing veterinarian in large practices in the southwest, Scott was able
to improve our management procedures and laboratory protocols to make a more
efficient operation. He also started a Maine Aquatic Animal Health
Laboratory (MAAHL) to deal with the very important problems of our marine
industries. To lead this laboratory he was able to persuade Cooperative
Extension to hire Debbie Bouchard, who was working as a Marine Resource
Scientist for the Department of Marine Resources and Maine Inland Fish and
Wildlife. From 1996 to June 2005, Debbie was the owner and manager of
Micro Technologies Inc., a private aquatic animal health laboratory.
Debbie graduated from UMaine in 1983 with a degree in Microbiology and has
great experience in this field. She also has had great success in writing
grants to support her work, a talent which we hope will flourish in her new
position because her salary will be funded for two years but by then she
must be self-sufficient by writing grants. In the short time that Debbie
has been with us she has written grants worth in excess of $1 million and
was recently awarded over $395,000 to equip the new MAAHL. Congratulations
Debbie. Two other grants totaling over $300,000 are still pending.
Unfortunately, Dr. Scott Haskell resigned recently from his CE/AVS
appointment to return to California. We wish him well in his future
professional activities.
AVS Bios
Brenda Kennedy-Wade
One of the hardest working members of the Animal and
Veterinary Science department, Brenda is a Licensed Veterinary and
Scientific Technician for the AVS Cooperative Extension Diagnostic
Laboratory. She is responsible for running the Bacteriology, Mastitis, and
Pathology Labs in Hitchner Hall, as well as caring for the laboratory
animals in the Small Animal Facility and in the isolation houses. Brenda is
also working toward her graduate degree in Animal
Science, which involves studying alternative treatment therapies for
Mastitis in Organic Dairy cows. She currently resides, with her husband
Mark, on a small farm in Alton where she owns a variety of different
animals, whom she affectionately refers to as her collection of furry
hooves, paws, and feathered “lawn ornaments”.
Alumni Corner
Jill Hebert Ellis
After graduating from the Animal and Veterinary
Sciences program in 2003, Jill attended a semester of veterinary school
before taking some personal time to get married, and has now restarted her
veterinary education at the University of Illinois. Jill enjoys the program
immensely and has found that much of what she learned from the University of
Maine’s Animal Science curriculum has given her a tremendous head start in
vet school. She and her husband have purchased their first house just
outside Champaign in the little town of Le Roy. Jill would be happy to
correspond with anyone thinking of attending veterinary college (lhebert@uiuc.edu).
Meredith Bott
A 2005 graduate, Meredith immediately began working at
the Animal Refuge League and after only a couple of months, she was promoted
to the position of Small Animal Manager. Meredith now oversees all the
medical administration duties, as well as caring for the small animals in
residence and in foster care. In addition, she writes the small animal
adoption profiles for the Animal Refuge League website (arlgp.org), as well
as for Petfinder.com.
Jennifer Jacques
Jennifer graduated from the AVS program in 2004 and has
recently accepted a position at Harvard Medical School where she will be
working as a second level Research Veterinary Technician in the Center for
Animal Resources and Comparative Medicine.
Jackie Bastien
Jackie graduated from UMaine in May 2000 and from Tufts
Veterinary College in 2004. She is now married to Al, with step-daughters
Kate at UNE (Marine History) and Kim at Vet. Tech. School in Stratham, NH.
Jackie and Al are currently trying to whip a 100 year old house into better
shape but in her last msg it seemed like the house was doing the whipping.
Jackie is a partner in a veterinary practice in Amesbury, MA. You could
reach her at
pawdocjack@yahoo.com/
Matt and Alicia (Sears) Ring (UM 2000, Iowa State,
DVM, 2004)
Matt and Alicia proudly announced the birth of their
first-born: Lucas Gordon Ring, born April 15, 2006, weighing in at 8 lb 4
oz, and measuring a grand 20 inches tall. Matt and Alicia live in Aloha, OR
where Ali was a vet in a practice that concentrates on cats.
Aliciaring@yahoo.com may still work.
May Graduates
Since May 2005, 12 of our undergraduates have been
admitted to Veterinary College, one of which is in Scotland and another is
in Australia. One student was admitted to Law School in Arkansas, one to
Graduate School at UVM, and four will perform graduate studies in three
different departments at UMaine. Congratulations to you all. Here is a
little more information about some of this year’s graduates.
Stephanie Beamish
Having interned for Blue Seal previously, Stephanie
will be utilizing her recently acquired Animal Science degree
as a Dairy Sales Representative for the company in central New York. She
will be moving to the Oneonta area at the end of May.
Joshua Bergstrom
An Animal Science major, Josh will be
attending the University of Arkansas School of Law in the fall pursuing a
Juris Doctorate, with the hopes of an eventual Master of Laws degree in
Agricultural Law.
Katherine Collett
Katherine still needs three credits to graduate with a
pre-veterinary concentration, which she will obtain while
working for the Maine State Department of Environmental Protection. She
hopes to begin with coastal water inspections and to advance quickly within
the department.
Meghan Flanagan
Meghan will be furthering her pre-veterinary
studies at the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine this coming
fall. She hopes to specialize in large animal medicine and plans to return
to Maine to open a large or mixed-animal practice. Meghan is the first
Maine resident from UMaine to be admitted to Cornell in many, many years.
Samantha Foster
Graduating summa
cum laude in the pre-veterinary
concentration
with a minor in Equine
Studies, Sam has
accepted a summer internship at IDEXX’s division of Research and
Development. She will then attend the University of Vermont in the fall to
pursue a master’s degree in Cellular Biology with a focus on Immunology.
Nicole Garrity
Nicole was a pre-veterinary major who
will be attending Ross University of Veterinary Medicine on the island of
St. Kitts this coming fall. Nicole hopes to specialize in small animals and
eventually open a rescue clinic once she is a practicing veterinarian.
Julie Greenlaw
Julie will receive her AVS degree from
the preveterinary concentration when she completes her first
year of study at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at the
University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Julie was also admitted to the
University of Glasgow College of Veterinary Medicine but chose to go to
Edinburgh.
Serena Gross
Serena worked extensively at the University of Maine
Diagnostic Laboratory but since she graduated with an Animal Science
degree and a minor in Zoology she has been working with
insects in Deering Hall and hopes to pursue graduate work in Entomology.
Elsebeth LaForge
Elsebeth graduated with an Animal Science
degree and now plans to apply to the University of Maine Law program. She
will be working at Hollywood Slots for the summer before getting married in
August.
Lucas Manley
Luke did not complete the pre-veterinary
concentration but will finish his degree after moving to Portland,
Oregon to establish residency before applying to the Oregon State University
School of Veterinary Medicine. He hopes to specialize in international and
wild and exotic animal medicine.
Amanda McLaughlin May
Also graduating with an Animal Science
degree, Amanda just recently acquired a job with the Penobscot branch of the
Farm Service Agency where she will work as a program technician.
Holly Monsen
Having just graduated with an Animal Science
degree and a minor in Business Administration, Holly will be
returning to the University of Maine in the fall to pursue a master’s degree
in Secondary Science Education.
Alison Pease
A pre-veterinary major, Alison, graduated
summa cum laude and Salutatorian of the Class of 2006 and will
be attending the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in
the fall.
Kara Pietroski
A pre-veterinary major who graduated
summa cum laude, Kara is moving to Montana in July where she plans to
take a year to travel, nationally and abroad, before applying to vet school
as a member of the Class of 2011.
Carolyn Sarich
After receiving her Animal Science
degree, Carolyn will be moving back to her home in Massachusetts for the
summer and working at Aintree Kennels while she seeks more permanent
employment.
Emily Thomas
Emily graduated magna cum laude in the
Animal Science concentration with a minor in Biology
and hopes to obtain a permanent position in the AVS Diagnostic Laboratory.
Kimberly Townsend
Kimberly graduated with a major in Animal Science
and a minor in Studio Art. She is currently working with
hopes of eventually returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in
Animal Nutrition. She will wed David DuEst Jr. in the spring of 2007.
Lynel Winters
A pre-veterinary, summa cum laude
graduate, Lynel will be attending the North Carolina State University School
of Veterinary Medicine in the fall. Her interests are varied as she hopes
to specialize in veterinary pathology, with an interest in small and large
animals and even aquaculture. Lynell was also admitted to a Scottish
Veterinary School.
Anne Wyllie
From New Jersey, Anne graduated summa cum laude
and was awarded the New Jersey seat to attend the Cornell University School
of Veterinary Medicine in the fall. She hopes to eventually specialize in
toxicology or oncology with small or laboratory animals.
Angela Young
Angela graduates this year from the
pre-veterinary concentration with a minor in Equine Studies.
Following graduation she plans on entering the Harness Racing industry as
she is currently employed with Valerie Grondin at the Bangor Raceway.
Dong Nguyen Bresinsky
Having completed her MS degree with Dr. Charles
Wallace, Dong has just secured a Research Assistant position with Dr.
Zhong-wei Zhang at the Jackson Laboratory. Dong and her family hope to move
to Ellsworth to even out the commute for her to Bar Harbor and for her
husband and daughter to Orono.
Refurbishing the Small Animal
Facility
Almost $150,000 has been spent to refurbish our 30-year
old Small Animal Facility to help obtain accreditation of the university by
the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
International (AAALAC International). This work has improved the research
environment, air quality, biosecurity and safety of the building and will
allow researchers all over campus to submit and receive research grants for
which AAALAC accreditation is required. As a result of these improvements,
Jim Weber in AVS and faculty in Biological Engineering are cooperating with
a surgeon from EMMC, Dr. Ian Dickey, in experiments funded by Stryker
Corporation to further define the growth of tissue into foam metals for use
in replacement joints for humans. |
