Alumni, Page 3

When Kaija Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. Caldwell left Mizzou in 2020 with an animal sciences degree and the equine science and management certificate. She had also found a passion for horses. Photo courtesy of Kaija Caldwell.

Feb. 13, 2023

Turning a Passion into a Career
Students in the PRST 3400 course (Sport and Recreation Marketing) helped with numerous facets of the Sophie Cunningham Classic, from early marketing strategies to helping with actual game day activities. The students also worked closely with Cunningham (pictured second from the right) and her family. Photo courtesy of Michelle Brimecombe.

Jan. 19, 2023

An Incredible Experience
Anna Hartke and Mark Wendell grew up in different parts of Illinois and both arrived at Mizzou as animal sciences majors in 2016. They had a couple of courses together during their freshmen year, but they first struck up a conversation during a Swine Club meeting as sophomores. Those conversations led to a relationship, which continued as the couple earned their degrees in 2020 and transitioned to MU’s College of Veterinary Medicine to pursue their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees. Hartke and Wendell are now engaged, with their wedding set for June, just three weeks after they will earn their DVM degrees. Photo courtesy of Anna Hartke and Mark Wendell.

Dec. 12, 2022

Growing together
Litton Hall name plate on the side of ASRC

Oct. 24, 2022

A Genetic Pioneer
Joe Butler secured a job with Gardener's Path, a website dedicated to helping others with gardening advice, planting pointers and in-depth reviews of products, before graduation. While having a job did relieve him of some stress, Butler’s final day as a student did come with some pressure. He was one of two graduates who spoke during the ceremony, the first time that CAFNR has had students speak.

Oct. 22, 2022

Growing His Writing Portfolio
Hired in 2019, Verónica Negrón-Pérez has spent the past three-plus years as an assistant researcher and principal investigator at one of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez’s agricultural experiment stations (Tropical Animal Reproduction Investigation Center) – this one located in Gurabo, on the eastern side of Puerto Rico. It has been a perfect opportunity at the same university where she earned her undergraduate degree. Photo courtesy of Verónica Negrón-Pérez.

Oct. 14, 2022

Meeting Her Goals
Alex Muñoz just began his new role this summer as director of student recruitment in CAFNR. His job allows him to travel throughout the state and share how CAFNR helped prepare him for the future, as well as the great hands-on learning opportunities in each of the College’s 14 degree programs. He regularly meets with students and parents on campus as well. Photo courtesy of Alex Muñoz.

Oct. 11, 2022

An Advocate for CAFNR
Jason Zhang’s food science journey began in China at Jiangnan University, one of the top food science universities in the country. His first trip to the United States came after earning his undergraduate degree, when he was accepted as a graduate student at the University of Missouri. Zhang, who grew up in southern China, and his wife, Sha, first stepped onto the Columbia campus in 2011 as they both began the pursuit of their PhDs in food science. Photo courtesy of Jason Zhang.

Sept. 28, 2022

An Entrepreneurial Desire
Since graduation, Lisette Perez has been able to build on her passions for connecting with people. She recently completed an internship in Alaska focused on sharing educational information about nature with the general public. Perez was an interpretation ranger at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, Alaska. The site, managed by the federal government through the United States Forest Service, allows individuals to explore wildlife and nature through numerous scenic walking trails. Photo courtesy of Lisette Perez.

Sept. 22, 2022

Immersed in the outdoors
While Sebastian Moreno strengthened his passions for urban ecology and ornithology, the scientific study of birds, as a graduate student in natural resources at the University of Missouri, he also discovered a desire to connect with people on a deeper level. Photo courtesy of Sebastian Moreno.

Sept. 19, 2022

A New World of Opportunities