Biography

 My name is Valerie Nelson and I am a member of the NCSU CVM class of 2021.  I grew up in Stony Point, New York, and moved to NC in 2013.  I decided I wanted to pursue Vet med after my sophomore year of high school, and soon after decided that I wanted to attend NC State for undergrad. 

During my time at NC State, I joined several clubs including the PVMA, Companion Animal Club, and an a cappella group. During these few years, I felt as though I couldn’t quite figure out what I wanted to do within veterinary medicine, so I focused on diversifying myself to determine my interests.  I was a vetPAC intern and a teaching assistant for ANS 281 in which I got to explore the scope of veterinary medicine.  I focused on gaining experience with all different animals ranging from exotics, to food animals to companions animals. 

I completed undergrad in three years and applied to the CVM as a non-resident.  After being placed on the wait-list, I worked for a year in a biomedical animal research facility at Duke University while establishing NC residency.  On my gap year I learned a lot about the direction I wanted to take within veterinary medicine, and applied again, this time with success! I am now a proud member of the class of 2021, hoping to focus on small animal medicine and eventually specialize. 

Animal Experience:

Zookeeping intern: Bear Mountain State Park, NY 

 Camp Venture Therapeutic Equine Center, NY 

Swine Educational Unit at NC State University 

Undergrad research assistance with dairy cattle 

Pet-Sitting

 

Veterinary Experience:

Comparative Medicine Specialist- Duke University Laboratories

Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas

Rockland Holistic Veterinary Care 

Large Animal Medicine in the Tropics Course- CELA Belize

Rockland Mobile Equine Veterinary Service-NY 

North Rockland Animal Hospital

 

Honors and Awards: 

Summa Cum Laude

Valedictorian NC State University Class 2016

University Scholars Program

ASAS Scholastic Achievement Award

NCSU Panhellenic Association Woman of the Year in Academics

Chancellors Leadership Scholarship 

 

Activities: 

Companion Animal Club- Fundraising Chair

APVMA Symposium Attendant- Purdue University 

PVMA member

Ladies in Red A Capella

NCSU VetPAC intern

ANS 281 Teaching Assistant 

NCVC Attendant 2014

NCSU CVM Open House Volunteer