The animal sciences ambassadors are a diverse group of students who represent our department to future students, aid and design activities for our current students, and provide student representation to our alumni and guests.
Check out the animal sciences ambassador channel on YouTube to get a taste of what this group does!
Lombard, IL / Pre-Vet + Spanish
My future plans are to graduate with my degree in animal sciences with a minor in Spanish. I will then apply and attend veterinary school hopefully at the University of Illinois. I am hoping to be a mixed animal veterinarian as well as become a clinical instructor at a veterinary school.
Kankakee, IL / Companion Animal
I will graduate in 2023, and plan to apply to graduate school. I am not sure where I want to attend graduate school yet. Right now as a future career I want to work with service/therapy animals.
Springfield, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
Upon my graduation in May 2023, I intend to attend veterinary school in the hopes of becoming a large animal or mixed practice veterinarian. I am also interested in contributing as a veterinarian to One Health strategies, working collaboratively with professionals in other disciplines to favorably benefit animal health and welfare, food safety, and environmental sustainability.
Clifton, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical & Business
In the near future I hope to attend a Veterinary School and obtain my DVM. Following this, I wish to open and run a successful campus surrounding the care of large, small, and exotic animals. This location will allow for medical, behavioral, and other needs that surround an animals initial and long-term care. This location will also allow for the development of education and experience in aspiring individuals that wish to work with animals.
Washington, DC / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
After graduation, I hope to work in pet nutrition. Either in research and development or in sales. If I do not go into pet nutrition, I am also interested in getting my veterinary technician license. My ultimate goal is to work in the New York City area. I plan on living in New York with my cat and eventually adopt more animals.
Pekin, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
After graduation, I plan to go to veterinary school. I applied this cycle and am currently in the process of hearing back from schools. I have an interest in pursuing an emergency/critical care specialty however, I'm open to other options. I also enjoy working with wildlife and exotic animals.
Skokie, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
After receiving my ANSC undergraduate degree, I plan on sticking around and attending graduate school here in Champaign, specializing in companion animal nutrition and potentially livestock nutrition as well. Once I find the right employment opportunity, I see myself settling down in the Midwest, enjoying the company of some cute rescue pets.
Oswego, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
I am a senior ready to graduate this Spring! I will be attending the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London in September. Although I am leaning toward working as a mixed animal practitioner, I am open minded to the plethora of careers that will be available to me with a DVM. One day I hope to combine my passion for veterinary medicine with my love of teaching by becoming a teaching veterinarian at a university.
Odell, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
After graduation this spring, I plan on attending veterinary school. I just applied this cycle, and I am hoping to get accepted to the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. I am particularly interested in mixed animal practice, as I have a love for both small and large animals. In addition, I am extremely interested in the field of nutrition and I am considering becoming a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. I hope to combine these two passions in my future career!
Lemont, IL / Pre-Vet, Science, Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois with my bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences this spring, I will be attending veterinary school at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London, England. I am extremely excited for this new chapter of my life! After veterinary school, I hope to be a small animal general practitioner in the UK.
Sleepy Hollow, IL /Companion Animal & Equine Science
After graduation in 2024, I plan on going to graduate school. I am still unsure of my future plans but I am currently interested in research particularly in genetics and reproductive biology. In the long run, I would like to become a professor at a University.
Chicago, IL /Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical & Chemistry
After graduating from U of I, I plan to attend veterinary school at the University of Illinois. I want to pursue a DVM/PhD program in Toxicology and become a veterinary toxicologist. However, I'm also interested in specializing in emergency medicine or pathology. Within vet med I aspire to bring more inclusion and serve as a Latina mentor in the field.
Wilmette, IL /Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois with a bachelors in Animal Sciences, I plan to attend a Veterinary School. I would love to attend UIUC's School of Veterinary Medicine but keeping my options open. My plan is to specialize in either emergency medicine or critical care. After working at an ER vet I have learned to love the chaos of emergency medicine!
Naperville, IL /Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating with a degree in Animal Science, I plan to attend veterinary school. I hope to go to vet school at University of Illinois but I'm keeping my options open. I want to go into mixed animal practice and potentially spend some time on research and pathology. I love to travel and having a job where I can do this would be perfect.
Tumwater, WA /Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois, I plan on attending veterinary school. I also plan to complete the dual PhD + DVM program so I can participate in research. I want to focus on nutrition to bridge the nutritional knowledge gap between animal scientists and veterinarians so there is a better understanding of the nutritional needs of companion animals and large animals.
Tuscola, IL /Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating with my Bachelor's in Animal Science, I plan to attend veterinary school. As of current, I have many interests in the field of veterinary medicine including nutrition, emergency and critical care, and exotic animal and wildlife medicine, so I look forward to seeing where my career takes me.
Northbrook, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating in May 2025, I plan to attend Vet School and get a DVM. I am currently interested in small companion animals such as dogs and cats. But, I am taking interest in wildlife animals recently. I want to pursue a career in a small animal hospital or at a teaching animal hospital. I am currently trying to have hands-on experience in small animal hospital veterinary medicine to fulfill my career.
Fairfield, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical Concentration
Pontiac, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating, I hope to either continue my education by pursuing a DVM or masters/PhD degree. I have many interest which include equine medicine, breeding/reproductive technology, and performance animals.
Chicago, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduation, I want to enroll to Vet school to earn my DVM to do my own practice. I do not know what I want to specialize right now, but I would like to work with campion animals. I also have an interests in zoo medicine so I can also see myself working as a zoo medicine veterinarian.
Carpentersville, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating this spring I hope to attend veterinary school. I just applied this cycle so I am waiting to hear back! As of now, I am thinking of becoming a small animal veterinarian but I am keeping my options open. My goal is to increase diversity in the vet med field and educate others on how to make their non-english speaking clients feel welcome!
Bloomington, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, I plan to attend veterinary school. My goal is to become a small animal veterinarian, focusing mainly on companion animals, such as cats and dogs, and I hope to open my own clinic one day. I also plan on volunteering throughout the community, especially at animal organizations.
Highland, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois, I plan to either attend Veterinarian School or go to Graduate School. Currently I am exploring my options in Animal Sciences in order to get a better idea of the career path I plan to pursue.
Carpentersville, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating this spring semester, I hope to pursue vet school. As of right now, I would like to focus on small animal vet med as I have a special place in my heart for companion animals but I am open minded to other concentrations in the field. I am still thinking of any specializations that I would be interested in however, I do enjoy being in the general practice world because of opportunity to educate clients on their pets about simple routine care such as vaccines and preventatives.
Bridgeport, IL/ Food Animal Production and Management
I will be applying to law school in the Fall of 2023. I hope to attend the University of Illinois College of Law to one day become a praciticing attourney in a rural area. With a dual-degree in both Animal Science and Political Science, I hope to be a well rounded and well versed individual with regard to agricultural topics, laws, and procedures.
Highland, IL/ Food Animal Production and Management
After graduating, I plan to attend grad school and conduct reaserch in companion animal nutrition. My hope is to inform pet owners about their animal's nutritional needs and how to properly feed them. My goal is also help improve the manufacturing and mixing of pet food products.
Bolingbrook, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduation, I plan on attending veterinary school and getting my DVM. I later plan on specializing in shelter medicine, veterinary dermatology or theriogenology.
Buffalo Grove, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from UIUC with a bachelor of Animal Sciences degree, I hope to advance to veterinary school and complete the DVM program. I want to continue my studies and become a wildlife animal veterinarian. My goal is to become a veterinarian and contribute to wildlife conservation and improve the welfare of wildlife animals!
Waggoner, IL/ Food Animal Production & Management
After graduation I plan on pursuing a masters in animal nutrition here at the University of Illinois. I then plan to do swine nutrition research for a large scale finishing operation.
Rocky Hill, CT/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
I plan on graduating from UIUC in May of 2024 and attending vet school after. I am not sure what type of vet I want to be yet, but I know I have time to decide. I am currently leaning towards zoo animals or mixed animal practice, but I am open to exploring all areas of veterinary medicine.
Mount Carroll, IL/ Food Animal Production and Management
After grauation in May of 2024, I plan on pursing a career as an animal pharmaceutical sales representative, specifically within livestock production animals.
Bloomingdale, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating in the spring of 2025, I plan on working in the field of conservation/rehabilitation hopefully in the marine mammal concentration.
Chicago, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating in the spring of 2024, I plan on taking a gap year before attending vet school. I want to spend that year working as a vet technician at my current vet clinic in Chicago. During the fall of 2025, I plan on applying to vet school here in Champaign and continuing my education. After completing vet school, I want to complete a residency in Texas. Once I complete my residency I want to begin working as a GP.
St. Joseph, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating next spring, I plan to attend veterinary school, ideally at a university closer to the Pacific Northwest where I'd like to live, but I'm open to wherever my path takes me! I'm currently undecided on whether I'd like to pursue shelter or wildlife medicine, but I know that I want to balance research and animal welfare work with veterinary medicine. I would also love to incorporate world travel in my career in any way I can!
Cupertino, CA/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
Chicago, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
I want to work hard in my undergraduate career to become a selective candidate for veterinary school. I would like to work in production or large animal section of vet med under the USDA.
Dwight, IL/ Food Animal Production and Management
After graduation in May of 2023, I will be working in Russellville, Alabama at Pilgrims as a leadership trainee. After a 6 months to a year of training, I will be placed as a supervisor within a JBS plant somewhere within the US. I would like to continue in management or return to UIUC for gradutate school in animal nutrition.
Forsyth, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
Upon graduating with my Animal Science degree, I plan to attend Veterinary School. I would like to concentrate in companion animal medicine and eventually own my own clinic. I am also very interested in anatomy and surgery. Because of this, I hope to one day become a board certified veterinary surgeon.
Hampshire, IL/ Pre-Vet, Science, and Medical
After graduating from the University of Illinois, I hope to move on to vet school. As of right now I plan to pursue a future with exotic species in hopes of helping with conservation efforts through veterinary work.