Lincoln, Neb. —
What is your background before coming to the University of Nebraska Lincoln?
I attended the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate in Ecology, Evolution, and Animal Behavior. I then went to Colorado to work as an ecosystem ecologist, but I was always fascinated with medicine. I became interested in animal health and in the ecology of disease, so I attended the veterinary program at Colorado State University. After obtaining the DVM, I went to the University of Illinois where I worked on the invasion and establishment of the deer tick and Lyme disease for my doctorate. I then went back to the University of Minnesota to the College of Veterinary Medicine where I worked as a Senior Scientist, conducting diagnostic parasitology and teaching portions of the general parasitology and clinical parasitology courses in the veterinary program. When the ISU-UNL Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine was established, I applied and joined the faculty as assistant professor in parasitology.
What is your position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
I am an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
What drew you to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
The opportunity to work in a new professional veterinary program with a new vision whereby students would complete their first two years at UNL and the last two years (or clinical years) at ISU drew me to UNL. It was an idea that had not been instituted anywhere else.
What aspect of working in an educational setting do you enjoy the most?
Without a doubt, teaching and advising professional and undergraduate students is what I enjoy the most. I was a first-generation student and there were so many lessons that I had to learn through the “school of hard knocks.” My goal is to provide instruction and guidance to students so that they are successful in their studies and in their career paths.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
From a career standpoint, working as a faculty member at the University of Nebraska because it has been the culmination of all of the other achievements that I have so far accomplished.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I think teaching has always been something that I have wanted to do. When my family moved to the United States from Colombia, I asked my third-grade teacher if I could teach Spanish to my classmates. My teacher obliged, and I was given the final five minutes of class every Wednesday to teach my friends a word in Spanish.
What is your life like outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend my time with my family. I am on the Board of Directors of Bicyclincoln helping to raise biking awareness, and I am a community gardener with Community Crops.
