Veterinary Nursing Instructional Technologist Wins National Advising Award

August 19, 2022

Senior Instructional Specialist and Veterinary Nursing Student Life and Activities Coordinator Jennifer Smith with the plaque recognizing her as recipient of the SCNAVTA Advisor of the Year Award.

A significant responsibility carried out reliably and unpretentiously by a Purdue Veterinary Medicine instructional technologist resulted in a well-deserved ovation Saturday, August 6, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the annual conference of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE). That’s when Jennifer Smith, BS, RVT, RLATG, received the Advisor of the Year Award from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). And, in another positive reflection on Purdue Veterinary Medicine, the award was presented by Jennifer’s PVM colleague, Ashli Selke, RVT, CVT, in her role as NAVTA president.

Each year, NAVTA recognizes the outstanding work of the advisors of student chapters of NAVTA by sponsoring the SCNAVTA Advisor of the Year Award. Nominations come from the students in the chapters. Criteria for an advisor to be nominated include being instrumental in promoting veterinary technology to the students; demonstrating dedication to the student chapter; motivating and supporting the students in the chapter; and demonstrating leadership and serving as a good role model for students.

For Jennifer, her efforts as the Purdue SCNAVTA advisor must be accomplished along with all her other responsibilities as senior instructional specialist and Veterinary Nursing student life and activities coordinator. In presenting the award for the 2021-2022 academic year, Ashli quoted from Jennifer’s nominator who wrote, “Our Chapter Advisor is incredible!” The nomination went on to detail how Jennifer never faltered in fulfilling her role as advisor even when she faced some significant health issues over the past year. “She teaches classes, helps organize our SCNAVTA club meetings, plans activities, organizes VTNE review sessions, and arranges networking activities such as Lunch and Learns,” the nominator explained.

The nomination further commended Jennifer for having “…drastically enriched countless lives of those in the Veterinary Nursing program. She always makes herself accessible to us, and is always ready and willing to answer questions. She is always available to talk to when we need help.” The nominator concluded, “Our advisor’s tireless effort to support students has allowed us to learn and develop as future veterinary nurses. Her dedication, kindness, and perseverance have made her an irreplaceable SCNAVTA advisor and a valued member of our community.”

Ashli added, “I can personally vouch for the accuracy of this nomination, and I can say it would take an hour to tell you all about the great work and character of this nominee…” The plaque presented to Jennifer carries the following inscription: “The Executive Board of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America proudly presents this award to Jennifer Smith, BS, RVT, RLATG, for dedication and service to the Veterinary Nursing Students of Purdue University.”

“I am truly honored to receive this award for Advisor of the Year on behalf of NAVTA,” Jennifer said. “Thank you to members of the Veterinary Nursing Student Organization (VNSO) for considering me worthy of this special honor, and submitting the nomination. This award will serve as a great reminder that every day is an opportunity to help shape and inspire the next generation of veterinary nurses.”

Congratulations Jennifer!

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” for Jennifer Danaher – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we express our gratitude to Jennifer Danaher, who is department secretary for Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

‘Purdue Pursuits’: A PVM angle on Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups

Crafting meaningful and engaging course experiences has been at the top of Dielson Vieira’s mind ever since he joined the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s faculty in 2024. As a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vieira is already adept at applying innovative teaching practices to classroom environments, but that doesn’t stop him from seeking out new ideas, approaches and perspectives — insights he gains through outlets like Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups.

Top tier biology journal publishes PVM study that unlocks secrets of a drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious infections in humans

Though the name “Candida auris” is far from a household term, public health experts know it well because the multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious human infections, has been classified as an urgent threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Antibiotic Threats Report (2019). Dr. Shankar Thangamani, Associate Professor of Microbiology and University Faculty Scholar in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, is researching C. auris, aided by a 2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). New research findings, just published in Nature Microbiology, show how C. auris adapts and evades the immune system.

In Print: ‘Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies’

A just-published 300-page volume edited by Jessica Fortin, Purdue assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences, provides a significant new resource for researchers studying a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. “Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies” provides detailed protocols intentionally selected to serve as a basis for research laboratories seeking to further treatments for such debilitating neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

It’s Almost Here!

Though the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference is almost upon us, there’s still time to register and take advantage of this time-honored College of Veterinary Medicine fall tradition that combines excellent continuing education with fun opportunities for reconnecting with colleagues and classmates, networking, and learning about the latest veterinary trends and products. The 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference takes place September 23–26 on the Purdue University campus. The annual event has something for everyone, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians, faculty, staff and students.