Office of International Programs

Program Dates: June 2, 2024 - June 16, 2024

This program will introduce students to veterinary healthcare in Africa. Students will be immersed in a variety of settings to allow them to experience the many facets of animal care in another country.

At the end of this program, the students will:
1. Understand a variety of health issues and considerations common to domestic and wild animals
2. Understand the role they can play in being a global agent for change
3. Demonstrate increased personal self-awareness
4. Develop and apply intercultural communication skills and attitudes
5. Demonstrate professional competencies through practical engagement with project partners
6. Understand the ways in which worldview impacts wildlife conservation

Location

Zimbabwe, Africa
1. Harare
2. Antelope Park
3. Iganyana Safari Camp
4. Fuller Forest
5. Lokuthula
6. Victoria Falls

Academics

Faculty Leaders

Jennifer Serling, RVT, CVT, BVSc

Assistant Director, Veterinary Technology
Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation

serlingja@appstate.edu

Jennifer Serling has been a credentialed veterinary technician since 1992. Her specialty is in large animal nursing however her vast experience encompasses all facets of veterinary medicine. She has been a veterinary technician educator since 2007 and was the program director for a veterinary technician school in Tucson Arizona for 11 years prior to joining the faculty at Appalachian.

Serling has written two veterinary technician textbooks for Bluedoor Publishing on pharmacology and large animal medicine and nursing, as well as contributed to several others. In addition to teaching and writing, she is a firm believer in giving back to the community and serves on the board of directors for three animal welfare and rescue groups as well as donating her time to several veterinary charity events throughout the year.

Serling is a nationally recognized speaker delivering engaging talks on large animal medicine as well as veterinary technology education. She is the current President for the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE). She is also a founding member of the Academy of Veterinary Technician Specialists in Education (AVTSE) and holds the advanced certification of Veterinary Technician Education Specialist (VTES).

She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with her dog and cat as well as two grown human boys.

Rebecca Newman, AAS, BA, Psy.M, CVT

Wellbeing Coordinator, Veterinary Technology
Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation

newmanrl@appstate.edu

Rebecca Newman’s passion for wellbeing began when she was a college student working with adolescents with substance use disorders. While pursuing graduate work in clinical psychology, Newman worked as a therapist, primarily focused on anxiety and depressive disorders as well as eating disorders. She also worked at the Princeton Center for Leadership Training designing and implementing health-related peer leadership programs.

Always an enthusiastic animal lover, Newman became a credentialed veterinary technician in 2016 and combined her passions for wellbeing, education, and veterinary medicine in her role as Student Services Coordinator and then Student Affairs Director at Bel-Rea Institute. She strived to enhance the wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff through teaching, programs, and individual sessions. Newman served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) from 2018-2022.

Newman is grateful and excited to join App State’s Veterinary Technology team in the position of Wellbeing Coordinator. She continues to volunteer in the veterinary community, with a focus on wellbeing and advocacy. Newman and her husband live on a farm in rural Colorado with their 17 well-loved animals.

Mary Beth McKee, BS, MS

Lead Instructional Designer, Veterinary Technology
Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation

mckeemb@appstate.edu

McKee has been working in higher education for over 25 years and is the Lead Instructional Designer for the program. She will collaborate with faculty to foster high-quality, interactive and engaging experiences for Appalachian students, as well as faculty development support for online course design and online teaching.

Prior to joining the App State community in 1999, she worked in the corporate environment as an Educational Development Specialist for MICROS Systems, Inc. She also worked at Syracuse University with a special project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, which received funding and equipment from Sun Microsystems.

Program Cost: $6,562

Program cost includes airfare, most meals, and lodging.  All fees associated with tourist site visits and activities.

Please note - Students are responsible for the total program cost upon submitting the application and deposit. Refunds are contingent upon meeting the minimum enrollment of the program. If a student decides to withdraw before departure, that student may be eligible for a refund if the program has met minimum enrollment and is therefore viable. 

Non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.  Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. 

Appalachian reserves the right to cancel or alter the program format or to change costs in case of conditions beyond the university's control.  Further details about Appalachian's withdrawal/cancellation policy can be found at this link.

Application Process

1. In order to apply for this program, you will need to contact one of the program leaders and provide your Banner ID and email address. Program leaders may request additional information or a meeting to discuss the details of the program and your interest.
2. When permission to apply for the program is granted, you will receive an email from your program leader with instructions to apply.
3. Apply to the program following the instructions from the program leader.
4. Print, sign and drop off your application at the Office of International Education and Development at Plemmons Student Union (PSU), Suite 321 ( 3rd floor), 263 Locust Street Boone, NC 28608. Your application will be considered complete when you have submitted your digital application, paid the $300 deposit, and dropped off your printed and signed application. The fee cannot be paid until it appears on your student account. Please note that it may take 2–3 business days for it to post to your account. You will receive an email with Instructions for paying the deposit fee. Instructions can also be found in the application.