![\"Professional](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1024x768_img_GenesisPro.jpg\" "\\"FAMU")
Genesis Dawkins, a third-year student, plans to work with exotic animals. (Photo by\n Glenn Beil\/FAMU)<\/p>\n
Florida A&M University\u2019s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) continues
\n to fulfill its mission of excellence in education, research, and community service
\n through one of its most distinctive offerings\u2014the Veterinary Technology Program (VTP).
\n While it may still be new to some within the University community, the program is
\n rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of FAMU\u2019s agricultural legacy, providing rigorous,
\n hands-on training and professional development for students dedicated to animal science,
\n health, and care.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students gain more than just technical skills\u2014they develop a strong foundation
\n in compassion, ethics, and professionalism,\u201d said Glen Wright, DVM, director of the Veterinary Technology Program. \u201cThe goal is to prepare graduates who can excel in any sector of animal health,
\n from small animal clinics to large-scale research institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The VTP began development in 2006 and welcomed its first cohort of seven students
\n in 2010. Since then, the program has expanded significantly\u2014today enrolling nearly
\n 40 students, with participation having reached as high as 55 in previous years. To
\n date, more than 45 graduates have successfully entered the workforce or pursued advanced
\n degrees in veterinary medicine and animal-related fields.<\/p>\n
Graduates of the program now serve as certified veterinary technicians, research specialists,
\n zookeepers, animal health inspectors, and pharmaceutical quality analysts. Many continue
\n their education in veterinary schools across the nation, including Tuskegee University,
\n the University of Florida, Auburn University, and the University of Minnesota, among
\n others.<\/p>\n
Genesis Dawkins, a third-year student, plans to work with exotic animals. (Photo by
\n Glenn Beil\/FAMU)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it came to choosing a veterinary program, I looked at different schools across
\n the country, and FAMU stood out,\u201d said Genesis Dawkins, an animal science scholar from Jacksonville, Florida. \u201cFAMU had the best options in terms of me gaining pre-vet experience and knowledge
\n compared to other colleges,\u201d <\/p>\n
A key element of FAMU\u2019s VTP success is its access to the FAMU Research and Extension
\n Center (REC) in Quincy, Florida, a 260-acre agricultural complex that serves as both
\n a classroom and a living laboratory. Students work directly with a range of animal
\n species\u2014cattle, swine, goats, and horses\u2014developing practical skills in animal care,
\n behavior, nutrition, and husbandry.<\/p>\n
The Veterinary Technology Building within the REC is a modern, 3,000-square-foot facility
\n that mirrors the operations of a small animal hospital. It includes clinical and digital
\n labs, radiography and ultrasound rooms, a surgery suite with observation windows,
\n and a pharmacy, as well as classrooms and faculty offices.<\/p>\n
![\"FAMU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1024x768_img_Lambs.jpg\" "\\"FAMU's")
FAMU\u2019s Veterinary Technology Program has a Research and Extension Center (REC) in
\n Quincy, Florida, a 260-acre agricultural complex that offers experential learning.
\n (Photo special to FAMU)<\/p>\n
\u201cThis facility is a tremendous asset to our students and the community,\u201d said Wright.
\n \u201cWe\u2019re equipping future veterinary professionals with hands-on experience using the
\n same technologies and practices found in professional veterinary hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
The VTP offers students extensive opportunities for internships, research, and service
\n learning. Participants rotate through local veterinary clinics, USDA and state laboratories,
\n shelters, and zoos. Many gain additional hands-on experience by volunteering at the
\n REC.<\/p>\n
Since September, Dawkins, a junior, has been volunteering with the Leon County Humane
\n Society, an experience she says has pushed her outside her comfort zone in the best
\n way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually love it. It\u2019s helping me get more comfortable with cats because I\u2019m not
\n the best with them,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cBut working there is helping me get more
\n familiar with them, and today I even got to shadow the team as they administered vaccines
\n and dewormer.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Genesis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1024x768_img_GenesisCats.jpg\" "\\"Genesis")
Genesis Dawkins tends to the cats housed at the Leon County Humane Society. (Photo
\n special to FAMU)<\/p>\n
Dawkins ultimately hopes to become a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals.
\n It\u2019s a newly discovered passion shaped by a recent internship in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized there aren\u2019t many exotic veterinarians out there,\u201d she explained. \u201cSo,
\n if you have anything that isn\u2019t a dog or a cat, you\u2019re probably going to need a lot
\n of help. I want to fill that gap and support people who have guinea pigs, rabbits,
\n snakes. You know any of the \u2018odd\u2019 animals. That\u2019s where I want to make a difference,\u201d
\n she said.<\/p>\n
![\"Moe,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1024x768_img_Blackcat.jpg\" "\\"Moe")
Moe is one of the many cats FAMU student Genesis Dawkins has gotten to know at the
\n Leon County Humane Society. Moe is one of several cats available for adoption. (Photo
\n by Genesis Dawkins\/FAMU)<\/p>\n
Program graduates are now employed at organizations such as Banfield Pet Hospital,
\n Veterinary Centers of America, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
\n Services, Boehringer Ingelheim, North Florida Animal Hospital, Alexandria Zoological
\n Park, and the Tallahassee Animal Service Center. Others have gone on to become veterinarians,
\n researchers, and animal health educators throughout the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Veterinary Technology Program exemplifies the mission of FAMU as Florida\u2019s 1890
\n Land-Grant institution,\u201d said Dean G. Dale Wesson, Ph.D., P.E., dean and director of Land-Grant Programs. \u201cThrough this program, we are advancing agricultural education, supporting workforce
\n development, and improving both animal and human lives through research and service.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1024x768_img_HorseExam.jpg\" "\\"A")
FAMU students assist with performing a horse examination. (Photo special to FAMU)<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association\u2019s Committee
\n on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA-CVTEA)\u2014first awarded in 2013
\n and renewed in 2018 and 2023\u2014demonstrates FAMU\u2019s ongoing commitment to maintaining
\n national standards of quality and excellence. The current accreditation extends through
\n 2028, a testament to the program\u2019s sustained progress and leadership in the field.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strength of the Veterinary Technology Program lies in its alignment with CAFS\u2019s
\n mission of student-centered excellence,\u201d said Neil James, Ph.D., associate dean for Academic Programs. \u201cOur students graduate prepared not only to meet the needs of the industry but to
\n lead it\u2014bridging the gap between science, agriculture, and community service.\u201d<\/p>\n
With its growing enrollment, strong industry partnerships, and state-of-the-art facilities,
\n the Veterinary Technology Program continues to position FAMU as a leader in animal
\n health education in the Southeast. Beyond producing skilled veterinary technicians,
\n the program nurtures leaders who will shape the future of animal care, food safety,
\n and agricultural innovation.<\/p>\n
As FAMU continues to expand its academic reach and impact, the College of Agriculture
\n and Food Sciences remains committed to providing transformative learning experiences
\n that empower students to lead with purpose and compassion affirming that, indeed,
\n \u201cWe the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences put the \u2018A\u2019 in FAMU.\u201d<\/p>\n
Media Contact:<\/p>\n
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n