Veterinary Nursing Program Staff Honored with Purdue Student Impact Award

October 1, 2021

A group of female students join together smiling standing in line with the Continuum sculpture in front of Lynn Hall — Members of the All Creatures Great and Small Learning Community pause for a photo-op in front of the Continuum sculpture, in conjunction with a learning community event this week.

Congratulations are in order for Veterinary Nursing Program staff members Paige Allen, MS, RVT and Shelly Opperman, who received Purdue University’s Student Impact Award for their work as instructors for the All Creatures Great and Small Learning Community. Paige is assistant director of academic advising and recruiting and Shelly is academic advisor and recruiter. The award was presented at the college Wednesday, September 29, by Bryan Austin, PhD, Purdue’s associate director of residential academic initiatives.

Shelly, Bryan, and Paige stand together smiling behind face masks as Shelly and Paige hold up their plaques — Veterinary Nursing Program staff members Shelly Opperman (left) and Paige Allen, MS, RVT (right) receive the Student Impact Award from Associate Director of Residential Academic Initiatives Bryan Austin in the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Services Office September 29.

The Student Impact Award recognizes learning community instructors who have demonstrated exceptional success in connecting students to peers, faculty and professional staff, campus resources, and the communities-at-large. Paige and Shelly created the All Creatures Great and Small Learning Community for veterinary nursing students and offered it for the first time in fall 2019. “It started out of the desire to connect with our first-year students who are on the main campus completing their general education requirements,” explained Paige. “It offers them the opportunity to get to know the college and PVM family.”

As part of the learning community, students participate in classroom and outside activities, including sessions on How to Communicate, Time Management, Diversity and Inclusion, and Wellness, as well as College of Veterinary Medicine tours and get togethers with the Veterinary Nursing Program team and Veterinary Nursing Student Ambassadors. “In 2020, when most of the freshman classes were online, our learning community class was one of the only times our first-year students (who now are in the second-year class) met in a classroom,” Paige noted. “We modified the outside activities, but still got them together.”

University-wide, more than 3,000 freshman and 1,000 current students participate in learning communities every year. Through the learning communities, students are able to connect with other students who share their interests and get to know faculty. Participation in learning communities is correlated with earning higher grades and having increased exposure to university resources and the Greater Lafayette community.

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

Recent Stories

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Connection with Wildlife Rescue in Guatemala Highlighted during International Education Week

Hidden amid the dense forests near the shores of Lake Petén Itzá, the ARCAS Wildlife Rescue Center is one of Central America’s most active sanctuaries for endangered and trafficked wildlife. In addition to their conservation efforts, ARCAS (Asociación de Rescate y Conservación de Vida Silvestre) offers unparalleled hands-on experience for veterinary and biology students from around the world. The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has proudly collaborated with ARCAS for many years, and International Education Week this week (November 16-22) provided the perfect opportunity to showcase this invaluable educational partnership.

Immersive Mixed Reality Experience Helps Purdue Veterinary Students Learn Cardiac Physiology

First year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine recently stepped into a new era of learning — an immersive Mixed Reality (MR) experience at Purdue’s Envision Center. This cutting-edge session allowed students to interact with a dynamic, 3D representation of the heart, deepening their understanding of cardiac physiology in ways traditional methods cannot match.

Feathered Fame: Purdue Veterinary Medicine Research Featured on Journal Cover

The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) at Purdue University is proud to announce that a recent study from its anesthesiology team has been selected as the cover feature for Veterinary Sciences (MDPI), Volume 12, Issue 11. Chosen from among 82 articles, the publication highlights the College of Veterinary Medicine’s growing impact in avian clinical research.

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

Time to shine a spotlight on some “paws-itively” amazing work by one of our newest Purdue Veterinary Medicine staff members, Jennifer Hartman, VCS Curriculum Technologist in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

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

Today we are highlighting Rebecca Hoffman, BS, RVT, who is a veterinary technologist with the Bovine Field Service.

Learning Specialist Joins PVM Student Success Center Team

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Student Success Center is pleased to welcome Kelsey Luse Spille, who joined the team Monday, November 4, as a learning specialist. In her new role, she will be supporting students with their academic needs while also serving as a member of the Veterinary Education Support Team (VEST), which assists faculty in developing inclusive teaching practices.

Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Hosts Reception to Welcome New Dean Bret Marsh

Faculty, staff and students gathered at a reception in the Veterinary Medical Library Friday, November 8, to help extend a warm welcome the new dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bret Marsh. The event marked the conclusion of the first week on the job for Dr. Marsh, who just started in the role Monday, November 4, after wrapping-up 30 years of service as Indiana State Veterinarian – the state’s top-ranking animal health leader.

Awareness Week to Shine Spotlight on Antimicrobial Resistance Next Week

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing, significant One Health issue across the world. The WHO estimates that AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths, with additional significant economic costs. AMR affects all countries and all income groups, and to tackle this urgent problem, researchers, producers, and practitioners from all areas must address the critical shortage of new antimicrobial drugs, and the use of antimicrobial drugs in medicine, farming, and industry. The week of November 18-24 is US Antibiotic Awareness Week and World AMR Awareness Week, and the College of Veterinary Medicine is taking advantage of these national and global campaigns to raise awareness about AMR and antimicrobial stewardship, and to highlight some of the research and practices being conducted at the college to address AMR.

PVM Faculty Honored for Research Success with Purdue Seed for Success Acorn Awards

When Purdue University’s Office of Research honored the accomplishments and innovative ideas of a host of researchers this week, several Purdue Veterinary Medicine scholars were among those recognized. At a ceremony Wednesday, November 14, in the Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms, the annual Seed for Success Acorn Awards were presented to Purdue Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-PIs who secured research awards of $1 million or more for a single proposal in fiscal year 2024.

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain

Despite more than six decades of research in the field of neuroscience, many functions of the brain — the most complex organ in the human body — remain a mystery. Recent research conducted in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Bindley Bioscience Center revealed that scientists are one step closer to understanding the process that activates and deactivates specific proteins within our cells. This breakthrough could one day lead to enhanced treatments that may slow down or perhaps reverse the advance of neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.