Heart's passions will make the best careers

 By Linda Breazeale
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Even though she did not grow up on a farm, Dr. Cyprianna “Chipper” Swiderski grew up in the Baltimore area with a love for horses.
That love carried her through two graduate degrees, an internship, a residency and nearly 25 years as an equine practitioner. Now, she is a faculty member in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“I loved the idea of being a veterinarian, but I also considered engineering. The key to career choices is finding your passion. What will hold your interest when you are exhausted? For me, that answer, ‘horses,’ is rooted in a very special bond I found with them as a child,” she said.  Read More....

Employee of the Month Stephanie Huffman

Congratulations to Stephanie Huffman, CVM's employee of the month for January!  Stephanie has been at the CVM since 2004, working as an administrative assistant in Research and Graduate Studies, helping faculty get their grants submitted, among many other duties.  Even though the grant submission process was new to Stephanie when she started, she's become adept at the process.  "It's a good feeling when one of those grants is awarded after all the work that goes into getting it submitted," she says.  Stephanie and her husband Clint have two daughters: Hanna Clare (8), and Chesley (3).   Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys gardening, reading, camping, and spending time with her family.

Employee of the Month Rebecca Mackey

Congratulations to Rebecca Mackey, CVM's Employee of the Month for November!  Becky is a Laboratory Technologist who has worked at the Poultry Research and Diagnostic Lab for three years.  Before she held her current position, she worked in Fish Immunology as a Research Associate.  She and her husband Chris, a pilot with the MS Air National Guard, have three children:  Kate, 16; Lauren, 13; and Ethan, 8.  When she's not at the lab, Becky enjoys watching her children's activities.  She is also a seamstress and volunteers as head of costumes for the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet. 

Employee of the Month August

Congratulations to Michael Dawkins, CVM's August Employee of the Month!

In his 13 months here at the CVM, most everyone has encountered Michael either directly or indirectly - he and his team are the ones who answer the call when you dial 5-1082.  Before becoming Manager of Information Technology here at the CVM, Michael was IT Manager at MSU's Meridian campus for 10 years.  Although he says IT work itself is about the same everywhere, being here at the CVM has been a unique experience.  "Everything I've experienced here has been new in some shape or form, and a really good challenge," he said, adding that he has come to feel at home here at the CVM.  Michael and his wife Cynthia have four children, three boys and a girl who range in age from 13 to six.  When he's not saving the day technologically, he enjoys fishing, hunting, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his children. 

Champ photo shoot for "ESPN The Magazine".

Bully XX, also known as Champ, poses for his handler Lisa Pritchard during a photo shoot with photographer Jamie Chung at MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine. The shot will be included in an "ESPN The Magazine" article about the live mascots of the Southeastern Conference.   State Snapshots

Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Susan Heath, CVM's Employee of the Month for July!  Susan has been at the CVM only a little over a year, but it feels like she's been here a lot longer (in a good way!). Susan came to the CVM from the MSU Controller's office, where she had been since 1994.  As CVM's Academic Affairs Manager, Susan's role is high-touch with our students, and that's what she likes best.  "Helping them reminds me why this University is here," she says.  "In my previous job on campus, I worked more with individuals in each department and had very little contact with students . . . I love working with the students at CVM!"  Outside of work, Susan enjoys reading and spending time with her family, including daughters Courtney (17) and Camryn (9).  She is an active member of First Baptist Church here in Starkville.

Class of 2016 Coating Ceremony

Welcome Class of 2016