Alternate Student Delegate Selected for AASV Board

December 18, 2019 — Abbey Canon

The AASV Student Recruitment Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Amanda Anderson, a second-year veterinary student at Iowa State University, as the incoming Alternate Student Delegate to the AASV Board of Directors.

Growing up in Iowa, Anderson was involved in 4-H, FFA, family farming activities, and spent time at local veterinary clinics. Through those activities, she became interested in food-animal veterinary medicine at an early age. "I gained an appreciation for livestock production and found my passion for health and medicine," Anderson recalls.

As an undergraduate majoring in animal science at Iowa State University, Anderson strived to gain a well-rounded perspective of the swine veterinary industry. Beginning as a research intern under Dr. Derald Holtkamp, she not only learned about disease transmission and biosecurity, but she also made numerous contacts in the industry, exciting her about swine veterinary medicine.

Anderson also spent part of her undergraduate time conducting research and site visits as a Veterinary Project Manager for Smithfield Hog Production. There, she managed rotavirus research under Dr. Jeremy Pittman, collected samples, analyzed diagnostic data, and provided recommendations. Her enthusiasm for her research projects in this role motivated her to pursue a Master of Science in Veterinary Preventive Medicine concurrently with her DVM.

Anderson has held multiple positions of service in her academic career. Anderson's excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills she learned as an Iowa officer for the National FFA Association will help her serve AASV as the Alternate Student Delegate. She has also held the office of president for the ISU pre-veterinary club, serves as a student representative for curriculum and hospital recommendations for the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine Food Animal Advisory Board, and represented the first year class and volunteered as a wet lab committee member for the ISU Student AASV Chapter. She is currently the vice president of the ISU Student AASV Chapter.

Anderson has participated in the AASV Annual Meeting in the past, both as a student poster presenter and as a Research Topics participant. Selected for the 2020 Veterinary Student Poster Competition, Anderson will present research from her 2019 summer internship at Pipestone Veterinary Services at the AASV Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

Inspired by participation, mentorship, and connections she has made through AASV, Anderson hopes to become more involved as a leader in the progress of the organization. "Each year it becomes more apparent that the association is made up of many diverse, motivated individuals who are quickly moving the industry forward through innovation and collaboration," she states.

In her role as the Alternate Student Delegate, Anderson is excited to connect with more food animal interested veterinary students. "I hope to get more students involved, assist in making them aware of the opportunities available through AASV, and drive the organization forward as the next generation."

As the daughter of AASV past-president Dr. Matt Anderson, Amanda carries on a legacy within AASV. After graduation, she plans to join a swine specific practice with health, management, and production responsibilities. She hopes to participate in research, product development, and eventual ownership.

Anderson will assume her duties as Alternate Student Delegate during the 2020 AASV Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The current alternate delegate, Jamie Madigan (NCSU, 2021), will assume the delegate position currently held by Jonathan Tubbs (Auburn, 2020), who will rotate off the board. Jamie and Amanda will represent student interests within AASV as non-voting members of the Board of Directors and the Student Recruitment Committee. Please join us in welcoming Amanda to the AASV Board of Directors and thanking Jonathan for his service!

---

Abbey Canon is the AASV Director of Public Health and Communications