Top Professors of Veterinary Technology

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The field of veterinary medicine allows practitioners to diagnose and treat animals of all kinds, and veterinary technicians and technologists play an integral part by caring for and performing tests on animals to help licensed veterinarians formulate accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.

Fortunately for those who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary technology, job growth throughout the next decade is expected to be brisk. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary technician and technologist jobs are projected to increase by 21 percent from 2022 to 2032, or 25,200 in total.

Of course, many individuals who have a passion for caring for animals may be apprehensive about pursuing a career in veterinary medicine due to the significant costs associated with the education, both in terms of time and money. But a veterinary technician or technologist education takes less time and costs less money; rather than earning a medical doctorate and fulfilling demanding residency requirements, a vet tech earns an associate or bachelor’s degree and pursues professional certification or licensure (a requirement in several states) in order to practice.

So, the key requirement to become a veterinary technician or technologist is the successful completion of a veterinary technology program. And when researching programs to determine which is the right fit, consider asking not only about the reputation of the institution, but also the experience and skill of the educators who teach within. In most cases, the quality of instruction has a very direct impact on the quality of education you may receive.

In light of this, we have created a list of the top professors of veterinary technology nationwide. If you want an unparalleled education from leading minds in the field, you would be well served to consider pursuing a degree from an institution that employs one or more of these outstanding professors.

Victoria Bolton

Victoria Bolton

Alfred State University
As the Distinguished Teaching Professor 10 at Alfred State University in Alfred, New York, Victoria Bolton teaches within the department of agriculture and veterinary technology. She received her associate’s and master’s degree from Alfred State University, and her bachelor’s from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. She was the 1986-87 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Shad Clymer

Shad Clymer

Colby Community College

Shad Clymer is an instructor within the Veterinary Technology program at Colby Community College, and also serves as the Distance Learning Veterinary Technology Coordinator. He has a degree in Veterinary Technology, a Bachelor's in Animal Science, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. In addition to being an instructor, he has worked in mixed animal practice for 15 years, and concurrently works as a relief mixed animal veterinarian.

Nancy Sheffield

Nancy Sheffield

Colorado Mountain College

Nancy Sheffield is an instructor within the department of veterinary technology at Colorado Mountain College, where she has been employed since 2002. She has been the recipient of the Colorado Veterinary Technician of the Year Award, and she previously served as a veterinary technician at a clinic in Naples, Florida, as well as a hospital administrator and veterinary technician in Waynesboro, Virginia.

Wendy Economou

Wendy Economou

Community College of Denver
Wendy Economou is an assistant professor within the veterinary technology program at the Community College of Denver, where she has served for the past four years. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and a doctorate of veterinary medicine, and prior to working here she was a veterinarian in a small animal general practice for 11 years.
DeeDee Schumacher

DeeDee Schumacher

Des Moines Area Community College
DeeDee Schumacher is a veterinary technologist instructor at Des Moines Area Community College, where she also serves as the advisor to the Vet Tech club. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Iowa State University in 1993, she became a certified veterinary technician in 1999, and then a veterinary technician specialist in emergency and critical care in 2005. She then earned her masters in education with community college emphasis from Iowa State University in 2007.
Virginia Rud

Virginia Rud

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Virginia Rud is on the veterinary technician faculty at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, where she has been the program director since 2012. She served on the Board of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America for two years, during which time she represented the association in a number of veterinary conventions nationwide.
Susan Walker

Susan Walker

Eastern Wyoming College
Susan Walker is the director of the veterinary technology program at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming. She received her DVM from Colorado State University in 1997, and worked in a mixed veterinary practice in Laramie before joining Eastern Wyoming College in 2001. She also serves on the Board of the Wyoming Veterinary Medical Association.
Eileen McKee

Eileen McKee

Joliet Junior College
Eileen McKee is an assistant professor of veterinary technology at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a masters degree in environmental biology, along with being a certified veterinary technologist, and she was previously employed as a zoo veterinary technician in the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, as well as in Disney’s Animal Kingdom hospital in Orlando, Florida.
Randy Ackman

Randy Ackman

Kirkwood Community College
Randy Ackman is an assistant professor within the department of animal health technologies at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He teaches a number of courses on veterinary subjects, ranging from canine and feline nutrition, to laboratory animal medicine, and even veterinary computer applications. He has previously served at the Kleaveland Pet Hospital, the Edgewood Animal Hospital, and the Ackman Animal Clinic.
Joanna Bassert

Joanna Bassert

Manor College
Since 1992, Joanna Bassert has worked within the veterinary technology program at Manor College in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, first as the education coordinator, and subsequently as the program director starting in 1993. She currently teaches Introduction to Veterinary Technology and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratories, and she has authored and co-authored a number of publications, including textbooks for use in the classroom.
Lisa Schenkel

Lisa Schenkel

Mercy College

Although she obtained a degree in electrical engineering and spent time working in that field, Lisa Schenkel changed paths and pursued her veterinary education at Colorado State University, allowing her to obtain her current employment as an assistant professor of veterinary technology at Mercy College in New York, where she also serves as the program director. She has extensive training in animal science and medicine, as well; indeed, in 2007 she completed training in veterinary rehabilitation therapy, and in 2012 she became certified in veterinary medical acupuncture. She has been a practicing small animal clinician for almost 20 years and still practices, with a special interest in pain management and critical care.

Jorge Larin

Jorge Larin

Miami-Dade College
Jorge Larin is the faculty veterinarian at Miami-Dade College in Miami, Florida. He previously worked for 14 years as a veterinarian in an animal clinic, and before that worked as a veterinarian for the Mannheimer Foundation.
Kent Ames

Kent Ames

Michigan State University
Kent Ames is a professor within the department of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Congressional Science Fellow in the personal office of Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon in Washington, D.C., AVMA in 2004; the North American Outstanding Teacher Award in 1995; and the Ag-Vet National Award for Creativity in Teaching, Merck, in 1994.
Amy Staton

Amy Staton

Morehead State University
Amy Staton is an instructor of veterinary technology within the department of veterinary technology/agriculture sciences at Morehead State University. In addition to being a licensed veterinary technologist, she also holds a doctorate of education, and her research interests include applying interactive virtual simulation to the classroom, as well as the human-animal bond. She teaches on courses related to animal husbandry, radiology, and surgical nursing.
Alioune Gueye

Alioune Gueye

Mount Ida College
Alioune Gueye is an associate professor of veterinary technology within the school of applied sciences at Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts, where he teaches courses on veterinary pathology, veterinary microbiology, and veterinary clinical labs and lectures. He holds both his bachelor’s and doctorate degree from Texas Tech University, and he has obtained certification for the Animal Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, with which he serves as a mentor.
Laura Pearce-Sandmann

Laura Pearce-Sandmann

Murray State College
Laura Pearce-Sandmann is the co-director of the program for veterinary nursing at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She holds a bachelor’s degree, and is a registered veterinary technician as well.
Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper

Northeast Community College

Michael Cooper is an instructor within the veterinary technician program at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he also serves as the director. He holds his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and his DVM from Ohio State University.

Brenda Woodard

Brenda Woodard

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Brenda Woodard is a professor of veterinary technology at the Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where she also serves as the program director. She also works as a student advisor at the same institution for veterinary technology and pre-veterinary students, and is the faculty advisor for the NSU Veterinary Technology Club. She holds her bachelor’s degree in animal science from NSU, and her DVM from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge.
Billie Walker

Billie Walker

Ogeechee Technical College
Billie Walker is a veterinary technology instructor at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, Georgia. She is a member of a host of different organizations, including the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, and has spent 24 years as a licensed veterinarian in a variety of different capacities.
Elizabeth White

Elizabeth White

Pierce College
Elizabeth White is a professor and the director of the veterinary technology program at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California. She also serves as an advisor to the RVT (registered veterinary technologist/technician) club, and she was awarded the State of California Outstanding RVT of the Year in 2000 by the CVMA.
Bruce Hopman

Bruce Hopman

Portland Community College
Bruce Hopman is a faculty member within the veterinary technology program at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. He holds his doctorate in veterinary medicine, and instructs courses on hematology and urinalysis; public health and sanitation; veterinary pharmacology; clinical laboratory procedures; pharmaceutical mathematics; and animal nutrition.
Allen R. Balay

Allen R. Balay

Ridgewater College
Allen R. Balay holds his doctorate in veterinary medicine, and is currently a faculty member within the veterinary technology program at Ridgewater College in Minnesota. He has authored an online list of veterinary technology study tips that is available to public, and has acted as a significant campaign donor for the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation.
Layne Daniels

Layne Daniels

Rochester Community and Technical College
Layne Daniels is currently a veterinary technician instructor at the Rochester Community and Technical College. He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Medicine, and has been a practicing veterinarian for 15 years. Along with teaching, he also maintains a large animal practice that specializes in large animal reproduction and ultrasound.
David Wright

David Wright

San Juan College
David Wright is a faculty member within the veterinary technology distance learning program at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, as well as the director of the veterinary technology program. He currently teaches a number of courses on subjects such as veterinary anesthesia and surgical assisting, large animal diseases and medical care, and large animal clinical assisting.
Shashikant Goswami

Shashikant Goswami

St. Petersburg College
Shashikant Goswami is a professor within the veterinary technology center at St. Petersburg College. Before immigrating to the United States in 1996, he worked as a veterinarian in the state department and as an assistant professor within the College of Veterinary Sciences in Hisar, India.
Michele Noreen

Michele Noreen

Truckee Meadows Community College
With a doctorate in veterinary medicine Michele Noreen is a faculty member in the department of veterinary technology at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno, Nevada. She also serves as the coordinator for the veterinary technology program, and is considered a TMCC expert on veterinary topics.
Dani Carico

Dani Carico

University of Hawaii Windward Community College
Dani Carico is the VETA online coordinator as well as an animal sciences instructor at the University of Hawaii Windward Community College. She currently teaches courses such as Intro to Veterinary Technology, Vet Tech Exam Review, Survey of Medical Terminology, and others.
Drew Conroy

Drew Conroy

University of New Hampshire
Drew Conroy is a professor of veterinary technology at the University of New Hampshire, where he also instructs courses on applied animal science, integrated agricultural management, and sustainable agriculture and food systems. He has authored three books and over 100 articles on draft oxen, and has conducted significant extension training in forage crops, livestock and dairy cattle management, youth development, and animal traction, in areas ranging from Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
Jason Roberts

Jason Roberts

University of Tennessee at Martin
Jason Roberts currently serves as an associate professor of animal science at the University of Tennessee at Martin, in addition to being the veterinarian-director of the West Tennessee Animal Disease Diagnostics Lab. He received his DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2002, and currently teaches classes in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine.
Kyle Mathis

Kyle Mathis

Yuba College
Kyle Mathis is the interim program director within the department of veterinary technology at Yuba College. He has a vast array of employment experiences, including work in the dairy industry, in food safety, and in a small animal clinical practice where he currently serves today. He teaches both the VETT 53A and VETT 53C courses at Yuba College.

Methodology

To arrive at this list, we selected professors using a number of criteria that we believe helped us parse out some of the best in the field. Note that each instructor may not match all of the criteria exactly; however, we used our best judgment when applying this methodology during our search:

  1. Teaches courses in veterinary technology or science: all of those listed are active professors teaching either veterinary technology or animal science.

  2. Service outside of the school: in addition, we selected a number of educators who serve outside of the school, as practicing veterinarians or in other capacities.

  3. Professional affiliation: in our search we looked for instructors who were affiliated with a number of veterinary professional organizations or associations.

  4. Publication: finally, we examined and selected a number of veterinary technology instructors who have authored or co-authored publications, from articles in peer-reviewed journals, to textbooks for use in the classroom.

Maggie O'Neill (Writer)

Maggie O'Neill is a journalist from Northern Nevada, specializing in features stories, original content, and of course, careers in animal care.

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