Alumni

Graduates of Penn State's Animal Sciences Program are highly respected in their fields. They are in responsible positions, and their reputations have helped build a demand for future graduates. On this Web page, you can read about some of our alumni, and learn what they have to say about the Animal Sciences Program.

Alumni Profiles

Michael Haynes (2003) National Football League

"For me, there was really no option but the ag sciences, because I wanted to work with animals. The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State is first-rate, and the Animal Sciences major is demanding. As a student, I liked working with beef cattle and wildlife the most, and really enjoyed the day-to-day work with the cattle at the farm.

In my mind, an agricultural degree is as tough as pre-medicine, and actually I think it is harder to be a vet than a doctor, because animals can't tell you what's wrong with them. After professional football, I plan to earn a master's degree in animal husbandry and then go to veterinary school."

Kevin Harvatine (2001) Ph.D. Student

"By doing internships, I quickly gained a unique resume working in different industries, in different parts of the country, and in different segments of industries. It gave me a chance to gain real-world skills and work with professionals, and it helped me identify my strengths and preferences. Internships even helped me choose the right career.

My internship experiences made me realize that I loved problem solving and troubleshooting, and directed me to graduate school to gain a strong science and research background to complement my production knowledge."

Michael Kowalewski (1999) Veterinarian

"The Dairy and Animal Science program prepared me for my vet school education. The basic science courses that I received while both at Wilkes-Barre campus and University Park gave me a strong knowledge base for vet school and in fact made many of the first year courses a little easier because some of the material had been covered in my Penn State courses. The animal management courses that I participated in not only helped me enhance my vet school education but it is knowledge I am still using today.

Almost on a daily basis I get asked nutrition questions, or questions about ventilation and housing, much of which I learned during my time at Penn State. The strongest asset Penn State has to offer I feel is the faculty and atmosphere. The faculty are very personable and make a great learning environment for everyone. I had opportunities through extracurricular activities to travel all over the US and see how agriculture is done in CA, AZ, VA, and all around PA. I met many students from other schools, some of which were in my vet school class. It was all of these things that made my time as Penn State great and my education second to none."

Carrie Bomgardener (1997) Pennsylvania Beef Council

"While my undergraduate course work secured interviews for me, it was my extracurricular experiences at Penn State that sold prospective employers on my capabilities.

I landed my first communications position because my writing portfolio included an 80-page yearbook that I edited as a Dairy Science Club member. The Club helped me apply classroom skills, in a team environment, with diverse personalities."