The process of applying for veterinary school is not
always an easy one, a fact the Student Services Team at
WSU College of Veterinary Medicine tries to help manage.
We want to help you the best we can so that your
application and admissions process will go as smoothly
as possible. Chances are you may have a few questions –
so, whether you email us, call or even stop by – we
thought you'd like to know who it is you will be
interacting with!
Abbie DeMeerleerAssistant Director of
Admissions and Recruitment Officer
My primary goal is to recruit students to enter the field
of veterinary medicine and to study at the Washington State
University College of Veterinary Medicine. I want to try and
make the admissions process as transparent as possible and
to do so, I help advise students on what they can do to
strengthen their application, coursework that may help
prepare themselves and hold one-on-one conferences with
potential students. I travel throughout the western U.S.
visiting various colleges and universities to meet with
prospective students, explain what the details of a
professional DVM program and answer general questions.
States I will generally travel to are: Idaho, Montana, Utah,
Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming. Occasionally I might
make it to Oregon or maybe even California. I also travel
around Washington State to meet and recruit prospective
students, as well as talk to junior high and high school
students about careers in veterinary medicine.
When I'm not on the road, I am helping coordinate and give tours
of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine through the Student
Ambassador practicum I lead, serve as a liaison between the
admissions committee and students who are involved in the admissions
process, as well as developing new recruitment materials and
strategies. I also am on the CVM Leadership Team which plans,
coordinates and facilitates the international
Veterinary Leadership Experience, the
Cougar Orientation and Leadership Experience, and I also assist
with the Leadership Development curriculum series.
My position is ever-evolving and always exciting! It pairs my
passion for helping people discover and achieve their potential with
my love of travel and meeting people.
A little about me: I am a local girl who grew up on the Palouse.
My family farms, has horses and raises Highland cattle. I got my
B.S. in Agricultural Communications at WSU and am currently working
on my master's degree.
Hobbies: My husband and I enjoy hiking, hunting, whitewater
rafting, camping, 4-wheeler trips and working around our yard. I
also enjoy quilting, baking, and in my free time I facilitate
student development programs for high school students, primarily FFA
groups (I am a former National FFA officer).
Pets: My husband and I are both animal-lovers, but right now we
are wrapped around the paw of our dog, Apollo. He is a 1-year old
Rat Terrier who loves to play fetch, swim in hot springs and get his
belly scratched. His favorite place is on my lap in the
La-Z-Boy…very much a momma's boy! He definitely never cease to
entertain Chuck and me.
Barbara HodsonAdmissions Coordinator I
process and answer all application questions for
applying students. I set up interviews, tours of the
hospital, send correspondence letters and brochures, and
make sure each student has all the required information
in their application packet for the admissions committee
reviews during the admissions process. I work with Dr.
Gil Burns, Barb Robbins, and Abbie Demeerleer to ensure
that all current and future students receive the
information they need to complete the application
process, visit the school and get their DVM degree. r />
A little about myself: I enjoy all types of needlework,
visiting the ocean, camping, riding 4-wheelers and being
with my husband, our 3 grown daughters, their husbands
and our 5 grandchildren. One of the first things you
will notice if you ever visit my office is all my family
photos.
Pets: Our 4-legged family member is Tamone. She might
let you pet her and she might not. Tamone is a
tabby-Manx cross. I have been accused by a 5 year old
boy of being a not-so-nice person because I cut off my
cat's tail. Have you ever tried to explain to a
5-year-old why some cats do not have tails? This is
something you may want to think about if you want to go
into the veterinary field, because by a 5-year-old's
calculation... all cats have tails and that is that.
Barb Robbins
Academic Coordinator
I manage and
maintain student records for the professional DVM
students in all four years of the program. I am involved
with scheduling classes, curriculum issues, scholarships
and awards, graduation requirements, and various other
aspects of the academic side of the DVM program. I also
help coordinate all fourth-year rotations, externships,
eceptorships and other related fourth year requirements.
I work closely with students, faculty, administration
and staff.
A little about me: I've worked in the Veterinary College
Office of Student Services for 32 years so I know more
WSU veterinary graduates than I can possibly count. Our
veterinary community is very close and provides a
wonderful environment in which to work. Outside of work,
I enjoy whitewater rafting, watching wildlife,
traveling, and riding and driving my Morgan horses. My
husband and I live in the country outside of Pullman
with the horses and our boxer dog.
Lisa Lujan
Scheduling Coordinator
My primary job responsibility is to schedule 4th year
veterinary students in their clinical rotations. I work
closely with our Instructional Technology Manager to
implement, test and troubleshoot computer programs used
in the scheduling and grading process. I support Student
Services in reporting grades of senior students,
checking on graduation requirements and assisting
faculty, students and staff with the scheduling process.
A little about me: I am from this area and so very happy
to be back and raising my two daughters here after
traveling with my husband during his 20-year Navy
career.
Pets: We feel very fortunate to have a little farm of
our own on the Palouse which includes, horses, chickens,
St. Croix Sheep and Border Collies.
Dr. Kathy Ruby
Clinical counselor
Kathleen L. Ruby, Ph.D. is a licensed professional
clinical counselor with more than twenty years
experience in the counseling and educational fields. She
has been the head of WSU's College of Veterinary
Medicine
Counseling and
Wellness Department and on the veterinary school
faculty for the past six years. In this capacity, she
has counseled veterinary students and faculty, taught
classes on life skills, as well as developed and
conducted programs and workshops related to
professionalism, communication skills, stress
management, life balance, and leadership within the
college.
Dr. Ruby developed and supervises WSU's
Pet Loss Support Hotline,
and trains students in client bereavement management.
The development of an integrated method teaching and
reinforcing life/professional success/ non-technical
skills in veterinary students is a central goal of her
work.
She is a frequent speaker at state veterinary
associations and practice venues. With a background and
training in individual and organizational psychology,
human development and leadership, Dr. Ruby brings a
unique mix of people-skills, psychological insights, and
programmatic ideas to the profession of veterinary
medicine. Her special research interests include the
psychology of high achieving individuals and the
development of emotional competence in medical
professionals.
Dr. Carolyn Wyatt
Psychologist, Department of Counseling and Wellness
I'm a licensed psychologist who works with the students
in the Vet School. The fact that I'm here is
illustrative of the College's concerns about student
well-being and the recognition that the stresses of our
rigorous curriculum can take a toll on a student's
personal and professional life. Prior to beginning my
work here I had a full-time private psychology practice
for many years, so I've had lots of experience working
with a diverse population of individuals and couples
with a wide variety of concerns. Here in the Vet School,
my primary roles are those of counselor, advocate,
coach, advisor, and general confidential listening ear
for students experiencing problems that interfere with
their learning or who just want to confidentially bounce
some ideas off someone with an impartial ear. I also try
to proactively address issues of wellness and good
self-care so that students are better able to weather
the inevitable challenges that arise. As needs and
interests dictate, I'll be doing workshops on issues
such as study skills, learning styles, test anxiety, and
any other topics that may be of help to you during your
time here. I'm also a part of the leadership team who
will help you develop the interpersonal skills that are
so integral to your future success in veterinary
medicine. As the advisor for a new student club called
the CVM Wellness Club, I'd like to encourage interested
students in participating in planning and implementing
wellness programming for the College.
I enjoy many kinds of activities, including gardening,
fix-it-up projects, rafting, skiing, quilting, reading,
and playing with my pets. Speaking of pets, my menagerie
includes three dogs, (see the picture above). Molly is
my golden retriever, Peaches, my cocker, and Little Bit
is my small smorgasbord-type terrier. I also have a cat,
ET, who bravely stands up to the three dogs and keeps
them appropriately humbled. |
