# Animal sciences spotlights
**Source**: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/ansc/spotlights.html
**Parent**: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/ansc/scholarships.html
The Department of Animal Sciences is proud to showcase the work and accomplishments of our alumni, students and faculty. Explore the spotlights below to learn more about the impactful work and inspiring stories of these individuals.
## Graduate Students
Graduate Student Spotlight: Sierra Garrett
Graduate student Sierra Garrett combines poultry research with community outreach and education.
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/04/graduate-student-spotlight-sierra-garrett.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Sierra Garrett")
Graduate Student Spotlight: Harliqueen Jacinto
Harliqueen Jacinto studies animal welfare at Purdue, transitioning from fisheries to expand her...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/03/graduate-student-spotlight-harliqueen-jacinto.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Harliqueen Jacinto")
Graduate Student Spotlight: Gideon Ajibola
Gideon Ajibola is a Ph.D. student in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department, and he also received...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/02/graduate-student-spotlight-gideon-ajibola.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Gideon Ajibola")
Graduate Student Spotlight: Lester Nolasco
Lester Nolasco is a Ph.D. student in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department, and he is under the...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/01/graduate-student-spotlight-lester-nolasco.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Lester Nolasco")
Graduate Student Spotlight: Hui Wen
Hui Wen successfully defended her dissertation on November 27th, earning a Ph.D. from Purdue...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/12/graduate-student-spotlight-hui-wen.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Hui Wen")
Graduate Student Spotlight: Opeadura Osunbami
Opeadura Osunbami is a Ph.D. candidate in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department, and she also...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/11/graduate-student-spotlight-opeadura-osunbami.html "Graduate Student Spotlight: Opeadura Osunbami")
## Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Megan Ashby
Megan Ashby studies abroad in Australia while exploring careers in animal research and vet med.
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/04/undergrad-spotlight-megan-ashby.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Megan Ashby")
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Kent Hamstra
Kent Hamstra, a Purdue junior, pursues dairy nutrition with hands-on research, internships and...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/03/undergraduate-student-spotlight-kent-hamstra.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Kent Hamstra")
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Sophia Bollenbacher
Sophia Bollenbacher, a junior studying animal sciences, grew up on Bolle-Acres Jersey Farm in...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/02/undergraduate-student-spotlight-sophia-bollenbacher.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Sophia Bollenbacher")
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Serena Wesley
Serena Wesley is in her third year as a Purdue Animal Sciences student, and she will be...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/01/undergrad-student-spotlight-serena-wesley.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Serena Wesley")
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Cheyenne Tate
Cheyenne Tate is a senior in animal sciences with a concentration in biosciences.
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/12/undergraduate-student-spotlight-cheyenne-tate.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Cheyenne Tate")
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Jeremiah Geise
Jeremiah Geise is a senior in animal sciences, and he comes from a family farm in Arlington,...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/11/undergraduate-student-spotlight-jeremiah-geise.html "Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Jeremiah Geise")
## Alumni
Alumni Spotlight: John Baugh
It was December in the Indiana Statehouse, and legislators rushed around, preparing to discuss...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2025/03/commitment-to-the-community-of-agriculture.html "Alumni Spotlight: John Baugh")
Alumni Spotlight: Jeffrey Veenhuizen
Jeffrey Veenhuizen turned a love for animals and science into a lifelong journey of impact and...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/03/alumni-spotlight-jeffrey-veenhuizen.html "Alumni Spotlight: Jeffrey Veenhuizen")
Alumni Spotlight: Allie Rieth
Allie Rieth, Agriculture Affairs Manager for the American Dairy Association Indiana Inc.,...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/02/alumni-spotlight-allie-rieth.html "Alumni Spotlight: Allie Rieth")
Alumni Spotlight: Malcolm DeKryger
Malcolm DeKryger is President and co-owner of Belstra Milling Company, an independent livestock...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/01/alumni-spotlight-malcolm-dekryger.html "Alumni Spotlight: Malcolm DeKryger")
Alumni Spotlight: Bailey Graham
Bailey Graham, a Food Safety Marketing Advisor at Elanco Animal Health, is a 2015 graduate of the...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/12/alumni-spotlight-bailey-graham.html "Alumni Spotlight: Bailey Graham")
Alumni Spotlight: Bret Marsh, DVM
Bret Marsh earned his bachelor's degree in animal sciences from Purdue University in 1981,...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/11/alumni-spotlight-bret-marsh.html "Alumni Spotlight: Bret Marsh, DVM")
## Faculty
Faculty Spotlight: Emily Ford and Laura Kerr
Emily Ford and Laura Kerr lead hands-on student learning at Purdue’s Boilermaker Butcher...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/04/faculty-spotlight-emily-ford-and-laura-kerr.html "Faculty Spotlight: Emily Ford and Laura Kerr")
Faculty Spotlight: Olayiwola Adeola
Professor Olayiwola Adeola reflects on 33 years of research, teaching, and mentoring in animal...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/03/faculty-spotlight-olayiwola-adeola.html "Faculty Spotlight: Olayiwola Adeola")
Faculty Spotlight: Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira
Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira is an Assistant Professor of Genomics and Animal Breeding at Purdue...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/02/faculty-spotlight-hinayah-rojas-de-oliveira.html "Faculty Spotlight: Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira")
Faculty Spotlight: Kola Ajuwon
Kola Ajuwon, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and a two-time graduate...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2025/01/faculty-spotlight-kola-ajuwon.html "Faculty Spotlight: Kola Ajuwon")
Faculty Spotlight: Allan Schinckel
Allan Schinckel, PhD, is a professor in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department, retiring after...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/12/faculty-spotlight-allan-schinckel.html "Faculty Spotlight: Allan Schinckel")
Faculty Spotlight: Gregory S. Fraley
Gregory S. Fraley, Ph.D., is the Terry and Sandra Tucker Chair of Poultry Science and Associate...
[Read More](https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/ansc/2024/11/faculty-spotlight-gregory-s-fraley.html "Faculty Spotlight: Gregory S. Fraley")