FVTE Spotlight: Mariel Hendricks
To to be named a "Fellow of the Association (or Academy)" follows a long tradition of professional (especially medical) associations recognizing the whole work of individual's career, not just a single test or program. Tara Groves is the current chair of the AVTE Fellows committee so reach out if you have any questions and learn more about the AVTE Fellows program.
What inspired you to pursue a career in veterinary medicine? How did your path evolve — and what experiences or challenges shaped who you are today?
I wanted to pursue the FVTE designation because I've worked hard to be the best educator I can be both personally and professionally, and AVTE has been the most welcoming association I've ever been a part of. I know that I'm a unique educator (being an educator in the industry rather than academia), and the FVTE committee has been incredibly inclusive to me, taking time to understand that the term "educator" is multi-faceted and doesn't have to fit the academia mold that many automatically think of. These conversations have allowed me to be a voice to the veterinary educator community that not many know about - an industry educator is a possible career choice, too!