Congratulations are in order for Ashli Selke, RVT, CVT, instructional technologist in the Purdue Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program, who was appointed recently by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Ashli fills a long-vacant seat reserved for a registered veterinary technician. Her term runs through December 2026.
State law provides for a seven member Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners appointed by the governor, with the stipulation that one of the board members must be a registered veterinary technician. That seat had been vacant for several years, and when Ashli learned about that situation, she started working to see the seat filled, joining in an effort that also had involved a number of others.
Ashli is immediate past president of NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America). Last year she also became involved with the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) Veterinary Technician Utilization Task Force. She said because of her leadership role in NAVTA and her work with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, she felt she could contribute much to the group’s mission and goals, which included filling the vacant RVT seat on the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in order to provide for better representation for veterinary technicians/nurses in the state. “So we committed to a plan,” Ashli explained. “They reached out themselves as the IVMA to the Governor’s Office and I reached out to then Purdue President Mitch Daniels. I knew that he would have insight into who to talk to since he was a former Indiana governor.”
Ashli said she then sent out heartfelt coordinated emails to both the former Purdue president and Governor Holcomb and explained why it is important for veterinary technicians to see themselves represented on the state licensing board. “In my research, I found there are only about 20 states whose practice acts allow for veterinary technicians to have a seat on their licensing boards. I wanted to make sure Indiana was among the states with an RVT serving in that role.”
Ashli said it was the office of then President Daniels that responded to her and asked her to send a letter of intent and her resume for consideration. “I do not know what exact method worked to spur the appointment to fill that vacancy, but I have to think that it was the collaboration of the IVMA veterinarians writing and phoning in, along with my emails, that showed that the veterinary profession in Indiana was in a unified position regarding the importance of naming an RVT to the board,” Ashli said. “When we work together we can make magic happen. I sat in on my first board meeting February 6 and made it official.” Dr. Chad Brown, Purdue Veterinary Nursing Programs director, said, “Ashli’s appointment is truly special and she will serve as a wonderful advocate and voice for veterinary technology in Indiana.” Ashli also has taken on another new role, being chosen as president-elect of the Indiana Veterinary Technician Association. “I feel my experience from being the NAVTA President will help me bring great things to the table in both of these new roles,” Ashli said.