At HAP, medical manager and UD alumna Yesenia Valle oversees the interns. Valle graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s in pre-veterinary medicine. Valle was once a HAP intern herself when the organization was known as the Delaware Humane Association. 

“Interning was a lot of fun, and I learned a ton,” said Valle, who also interned at Plumpton Park Zoo in Maryland. “It was a different experience from what I was getting in the classroom.”

As a HAP employee, Valle reinvigorated the internship program. 

“The idea is to have UD interns experience working in the shelter environment, working with the veterinarians, seeing what we do on a day-to-day basis in the shelter,” Valle said.

Carroll is glad to provide the unique experience of working at an animal shelter. He hopes to foster partnerships between future veterinarians and HAP.

"I hope they will value the work we do in the community," Carroll said. "Everyone loves animals, and for someone who is low-income, their love for their pet is no different than someone with plenty of money."

Carroll values the internship experience. He completed a summer internship at UD Cooperative Extension during his undergraduate studies at UD. 

A college internship is an experience alumna Lori Stone wishes she had taken advantage of. As the herd manager at Penn Vet Swine Teaching and Research Center, Stone manages 250 sows in a farrow to wean operation and researches piglet behavior.

“If I had done an internship like this one, I’d still be doing what I’m doing today, but I would have figured that out a lot sooner,” said Stone, who wasn’t sure what direction to pursue after graduating from UD in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

“Internships are important because they give students real-life experience in the field,” Stone said. “It's the best way to find out if you genuinely like the work.”

Penn Vet Swine Teaching & Research Center provides immersive experiences for interns, who assist with artificial insemination, birthing, vaccinations, castrations and less glamorous work like cleaning pens.

“We don't mind them helping us do our work,” Stone quipped.

Students build confidence

Danny Maney, a pre-veterinary medicine major with a certificate in One Health, interned with Stone during his second semester. 

“Lori had a big impact on me," Maney said. “To see her perspective as she graduated from my program was helpful. She showed me that I have a lot of options for my career.”

Maney was surprised by what he was able to do during his internship. 

“I didn't grow up on a farm, and I never had experience with livestock before my freshman-year internship,” said Maney, who recently attended a two-day training on artificial insemination of dairy cows with UD's Animal Science Club. “It made me less scared to try new things. I figured if I could do that with pigs, I'd try anything!” 

Sydney Iredell, a junior pre-veterinary medicine major currently interning at Penn Vet Swine Teaching and Research Center, agrees.

“At my internship, I see every aspect of the swine industry,” she said. “I work with pigs, see how they affect the food industry, and learn how to give them the best lives possible. I love all of it.” 

For her career focus, Iredell is especially interested in animal welfare.

Senior Cheyenne Blaine interned at HAP during the 2023 fall semester. Like Maney and Iredell, Blaine felt inspired by the experience.

“The internship gave me a lot more confidence,” Blaine said. “I learned how to draw blood from little kitten veins, which was challenging. Everybody in the clinic celebrated me when I succeeded.”

When Carroll visited the clinic, Blaine spoke with him about her UD classes. She said working with UD alumni gives interns a sense of belonging and responsibility.

“The experience Humane Animal Partners offers pre-veterinary students is special,” Blaine said. “You get to see the good days and the bad days. It's the reality of veterinary medicine.”

Sophomore Mackenzie Lamotta is currently interning at HAP. She said working with alumni gives them a common ground to build rapport. Lamotta especially enjoys working with the surgical unit.

“Now that I have some real hands-on experience in this field, I know that I love working with animals and saving lives,” Lamotta said. 

Alumni benefit 

As the interns build confidence and take on additional roles, alumni appreciate the extra help. They also report warm and fuzzy feelings from mentoring the next generation of Blue Hens.

“I like giving back to students, and I enjoy teaching,” said Stone, who admits that after 30 years, some parts of her job can feel routine. “When I have an intern and explain what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, it makes the job more enjoyable.”

At HAP, Carroll and Valle also see the internship program as a way to connect with the Blue Hen community.

“I like giving back to the University,” Valle said. “UD provided me with many opportunities, so I am happy to give back however I can. The students enjoy being hands-on, and we love that. When we see them succeed and gain confidence, it makes us feel good, too.”

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences is always on the lookout for more hands-on opportunities for its students. Stone offered a few words of encouragement for alumni inspired to host interns.

“If you're on the fence, just go for it,” she said. “I've enjoyed having the students here. It has been a rewarding experience.”

Alumni of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources can visit the CANR alumni page to get involved and stay in touch.