MSU CVM Alumni Council
Alumni Council Initiatives
The college's Alumni Council reorganized in 2024 and has since launched activities and initiatives for the benefit of students as well as to increase alumni involvement with the college. The group paired 60 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students with council mentors through their new mentorship program, which aims to foster relationships between alumni and current students.
"Mentorship provides numerous benefits that contribute to personal and professional development," Dr. James Yates, mentorship program chair, said. "Our program lasts a full year and includes six meetings between mentor and mentee. All we ask is that alums have a genuine interest in, and commitment to, the program and that they agree to meet with their mentee three times per semester."
"We can build relationships that are helpful to those following in our footsteps," he continued. "Students need guidance on things like debt, what to expect, negotiating contracts, and how to manage the first five years of practice. I spent a year working on this info, and we implemented the program in August."
In addition, Yates said students bring a host of benefits to their mentors, acknowledging their zest for learning, career aspirations, and passion for making a difference, as having a positive impact on those practicing the profession. The Alumni Council also hosted a Mix and Mingle event in February for students to engage with alumni and their alumni mentors. They formed four committees to support key initiatives, including fundraising, mentorship, and student and alumni engagement. The council and the above-mentioned activities don't exist without alumni involvement.
MSU CVM Alumni Council Updates
February 2026
At the annual Alumni Council board meeting, updates were shared on current initiatives, including planning for Alumni Weekend, continued growth of the mentoring program, and efforts to strengthen alumni engagement. Ongoing priorities include enhancing program participation, expanding outreach opportunities, and gathering alumni feedback to guide future efforts. The council also reviewed operations and confirmed its current structure, while identifying key next steps such as program improvements, event planning, and communication updates.
March 2025
Alumni Council President, Dr. Taylor Lyne, appeared on the Vet Med Cast, the official podcast of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University.
July 2024
The MSU CVM Alumni Council launched its DVM mentorship program in July 2024. The Alumni Council paired 60 DVM students with council mentors. The Alumni Council mentorship program aims to connect veterinary students with MSU CVM alumni to begin fostering professional relationships and providing support as students navigate the veterinary profession.
June 2024
MSU CVM Alumni Council members joined the Orientation ice cream social for the class of 2028 to introduce board members and the DVM mentorship program.
DVM Mentorship Program
MSU CVM Alumni Council was founded with the intention to engage CVM Alumni with the college. An important priority for the council is establishing mentoring relationships with the next generation of veterinarians. Mentorship provides numerous benefits that contribute to personal and professional development. Within the veterinary profession, it is considered crucial to success during the transitional stages of one’s career.
The Alumni Council mentorship program aims to connect veterinary students with MSU CVM alumni to begin fostering professional relationships and providing support as students navigate the veterinary profession.
Program Eligibility
Mentors
All program mentors are members of MSU CVM Alumni Council. Mentors should have a desire to contribute to the future of the veterinary profession and be willing to share their experiences and build relationships. Mentors should provide honest and timely feedback to their mentees.
Mentees
All program mentees are MSU CVM veterinary students. Mentees should take a proactive role within their mentoring relationship, communicating their goals and aspirations to their mentor. Mentees should be open and honest with their mentors about challenges or weaknesses they may have so that their mentor can provide them with support.
Program Details
- The program is for one year and runs from approximately July 1 – June 30
Program Expectations
- Genuine interest and commitment to the mentorship program
- Commit to connecting at least 3 times per semester (a total of six times for the year)
- Establish open and honest communication
- Respect and maintain confidentiality
- Maintain professionalism in all interactions
Meeting Topics: These are meeting topic ideas. Please feel free to be flexible to the mentees interests.
Meeting 1: Introductions
- A brief introduction about each other
- What is the mentee expecting from this program
- What are you as a mentor expecting from the mentee
- How many sessions would you like to conduct as well as duration of each session
- What mode do you prefer the sessions to be in: Webex, phone, in person (may be possible for some events)
Meeting 2: Sharing your career journey
Telling a mentor’s personal story about their career gives mentees’ insights on what the industry was like when they started, how they overcome obstacles, and their little secrets behind success.
Mentor can share their career journey, topics may include:
- What made you choose the field you are in
- How did you reach the position you are at
- Describe a time when you felt like quitting and how you bounced back from that situation
- Things you wish you had known before taking up a leadership role (if applicable)
- The most important lesson you’ve learned from your mistakes
- How you handled a difficult boss or a difficult situation
- How you developed your communication skills
Meeting 3: Discuss mentee career goals and long/short term goals
It’s crucial to discuss and understand why your mentee is involved in the relationship and what they expect to achieve from it.
Here are few questions related to goals that a mentor can ask their mentee:
- What do you want to achieve within the next six months?
- How do you wish to achieve your goals?
- How do you measure your success?
- Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Meeting 4: Work-life balance and well being
This discussion topic addresses the challenges related to achieving a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being.
- How do you currently manage the balance between your work and personal life?
- Are there any areas you would like to improve?
- What self-care practices or routines have you found effective in maintaining your well- being?
- How can you effectively manage stress and avoid burnout in a demanding work environment?
- What strategies can you adopt to establish boundaries and manage time effectively?
Meeting 5: Select a topic that is of interest to both the mentor/mentee
- What conflicts have you experienced while working with people older or younger than you?
- How do you feel about change? Does it excite or scare you?
- Do you need to learn new skills in the next two to five years? If so, what will they be?
- How do you approach learning in the workplace? Is it a luxury or a priority?
- Do you have a plan or goals for your career? Do you think they will change?
- What resources do you use to stay up to date with current technology?
- What are some of your best practices for communicating through digital channels?
Meeting 6 (final meeting). Review outcomes
At the end of the program, ensure to sign off on a positive note with a celebration commemorating the time together.
- Share the mode the mentee can reach you in future in case they want to keep in touch – via email, text or phone call.
At the end of the program, please complete the emailed MSU CVM Alumni Council Mentorship Program survey. Feedback is important to continue to improve the program.
Board of Directors and Members
Board of Directors
Dr. James Yates is originally from Olive Branch, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University for his undergraduate education and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. His areas of veterinary interest include radiology, specifically ultrasonography, owner education, and veterinary mentorship.
Dr. Yates and his wife Sarah moved to Tupelo in April of 2020. They have two daughters, Olivia and Hannah, and share their home with a yellow Labrador. As a die-hard Mississippi State fan, he enjoys all aspects of MSU athletics, especially football at Davis Wade. Dr. Yates volunteers his time as a mentor for both undergraduate and veterinary students at MSU. He also enjoys performing in musical and live theater, as well as playing guitar and bass guitar. He was most recently seen as Jud Fry in Mississippi State University’s production of “Oklahoma!” in 2016 and as Karl the Giant in "Big Fish" at Tupelo Community Theater in 2023. Dr. Yates looks forward to his continual involvement with Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine through the Alumni Council, ECP program, and further mentorship of future veterinarians. Hail State!
Dr. Talisha Moore is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and completed a small animal rotating internship at Mississippi State University (MSU) in 2011 and 2013, respectively. She continued her clinical training at Purdue University, completing her residency in neurology/neurosurgery in 2016. Dr. Moore spent one year as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Purdue University prior to returning as faculty to MSU. She remained in that role until September 2020, when she joined University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys all aspects of neurology, but especially neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, and management of seizures.
Dr. Alicia Anderson is a 1993 graduate of MSU CVM. Mentoring veterinary students. particularly those pursuing public health careers, is something she is passionate about and eager to devote more time to. After graduating from MSU CVM, Dr. Anderson completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at a busy referral practice in Connecticut, followed by three years in small animal practice in Atlanta. Knowing early on that she wanted to pursue a career in public health, she earned her MPH in epidemiology from Emory University in 1999. That same year, she was accepted into the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, a two-year fellowship in field epidemiology. Dr. Anderson remained at the CDC for a total of 21 years as a Public Health Service officer. She also served for four years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, working at USAMRIID in filovirus research and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. Dr. Anderson is incredibly grateful for a rewarding career in veterinary public health. Since retiring last year, she has been looking forward to giving back to the profession in meaningful ways—mentorship being at the top of that list. When she began working in public health, there were very few veterinarians in the field. She would be honored to support and guide students who are interested in public health, epidemiology, or military service.
Dr. Christine Calder has spent many years practicing veterinary medicine in both New Jersey and Maine. Over the course of her career, she has worked in general practice, served on the behavior service at the San Francisco SPCA, and taught in community practice settings at several veterinary schools.
Her deep interest in animal behavior led her to pursue a residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, and she became a Diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2017.
Today, Dr. Calder runs her own veterinary behavior consultation practice and serves as the Chief Behavior Officer at Cattle Dog Publishing®, which is part of the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. She is the co-author and editor of Low Stress Handling® and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats (second edition) and Low Stress Handling®: A Practical Guide to Cooperative Care, Training, and Behavior Modification.
Alongside her clinical and editorial work, Dr. Calder contributes to educational programs at VIN® and is especially passionate about helping veterinary students feel confident and prepared for that behavior case on their first day in practice.
Dr. Mark Akin was named the 2022 College of Veterinary Medicine Alumnus of the Year by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. A 1982 BS and 1986 DVM graduate of MSU and a 1977 graduate of Shannon High School, Dr. Akin has practiced equine sports medicine for 36 years.
He is a member of several professional organizations, including the AVMA, AAEP, MVMA, TVMA, and the American Horse Council, and has served on multiple AAEP committees. He is also active with The Foundation for The Horse.
Dr. Akin credits MSU for providing an exceptional education, saying, “MSU produces the most qualified, sought-after graduates—period. MSU graduates not only know why, they know how.”
Dr. Ethan Sutherland is a native of Franklin, TN, where his passion for horses and veterinary medicine began. He attended MSU, obtaining his Animal Science degree and later became a MSU CVM Class of 2019 Alumni. After graduation, he moved to Lexington, KY working as an ambulatory equine practitioner working on thoroughbreds on both farms and at the tracks. Later, he had the opportunity to join Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences Inc. where he now oversees the equine business and product development. He still enjoys the opportunity to practice, providing the veterinary care for the research herd of horses on site. Him and his wife, Morgan and their new daughter, Azalee Reese, live in Lancaster, SC, near Nutramax Headquarters. He is honored to be joining the alumni board in hopes to be able to give back to the school and college that he dearly loves.
Dr. Alicia Olivier Dr. Alicia Olivier (DVM ’05, PhD) is Associate Dean for Administration and Professor of Anatomic Pathology at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A board-certified veterinary pathologist, she completed her PhD and residency at Iowa State University before faculty appointments at the University of Iowa and MSU CVM. Since joining MSU in 2014, she has led diagnostic services, taught and mentored veterinary and graduate students, and served in numerous leadership roles. An active leader in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Dr. Olivier has authored more than 70 publications and received multiple national and college teaching and mentorship awards.
Dr. Grace Dewberry is a 2023 graduate of MSU-CVM and a small animal general practitioner at Starkville Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Dewberry also performs relief shifts in the small animal ER at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Lieutenant Colonel Kristopher Appler earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2004 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2007 from Mississippi State University. In 2011, he commissioned into the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps after working in Evansville, Indiana as a small animal general practitioner and after-hours emergency Veterinarian. LTC Appler completed the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician Course conducted by the USDA-APHIS in 2014. He earned his Master of Public Health from the University of Georgia in 2018 with a dual concentration in Epidemiology and Disaster Management. In 2019 he earned diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He currently serves at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Objectives and Bylaws
To promote cooperation, communication, and foster goodwill among the alumni, faculty, students, and friends of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
2. To encourage social and professional interaction at meetings throughout Mississippi and the nation.
3. To promote activities that acquaint the public with the opportunities and values of veterinary medicine as a profession and career.
4. To encourage private giving to the College in establishing support of academic endowments, scholarships, and assistantships.
5. To participate actively in appropriate programs and activities of the MSUCVMAC and the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine.
6. To serve as the parent organization for all alumni groups within the College of Veterinary Medicine.
7. To help give guidance with externships, mentorships and clinical rotations.
8. To assist in a more consistent clinical rotation for students and provide suggested guidelines for accredited rotation hospitals.