MS in Conservation Medicine (MCM)
Samantha Schuchman (She/her)
Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, concentration Wildlife Health - UC Davis 2025
My name is Samantha Schuchman, and I am originally from New Jersey. I got my B.S in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology with a Wildlife Health concentration from UC Davis in June of 2025. I have been involved in conservation, veterinary medicine, and wildlife rehab since high school. While I started volunteering in a wildlife rehab clinic and simultaneously working as a vet assistant during high school, I have since gone on to work at a variety of summer internships pertaining to wildlife medicine and conservation around the world. I have also continued to work as a vet tech in various small animal clinics. During all four years of undergrad, I conducted research on vector-borne and tick-borne zoonotic diseases in the animal population. While I have worked with a lot of different species, birds are ultimately where my passion lies. This summer, I will be researching Common Loons and lead toxicosis at the Loon Preservation Committee while doing field work and necropsies. In the fall, I will be starting vet school at The Ontario Veterinary College with the goal of becoming a free-ranging wildlife health vet.
Sofia Fernandes (She/Her)
Animal Science - Rutgers University 2022
Secretary of the Graduate Student Council
I chose this unique master’s program not only because Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is known for its renowned and innovative contributions to the veterinary field, but also because it provides an exciting intersection of my interests in veterinary medicine and One Health, conservation, and social justice. I feel strongly about the interconnectedness of all life on our planet and aspire to gain the knowledge and expertise to help contribute to conservation medicine in a meaningful way. My undergraduate background is in veterinary medicine and animal behavior, including a few courses/extracurriculars related to conservation biology, environmental science, oceanography, and regenerative agriculture. In 2019, I studied abroad in Belize where I acquired veterinary skills such as suturing, vaccination, swine castration, and communicating with Spanish-speaking pet owners. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I developed skills in various roles including veterinary assistant, guest-experience zookeeper, and veterinary intern. After graduating in 2022, I was a substitute teacher at Green Chimneys; a special education/nature-based therapy school where I discovered my passion for helping children connect with nature and animals. In addition to my educational duties during this role, I worked with a federally licensed wildlife rehabber and gained experience with many species of wild birds and obtained my NY State Wildlife Rehabilitator license. Additionally, I obtained my Open Water Scuba Diving certification in May 2024 and hope to obtain further certifications so that I can utilize this skill towards conservation medicine efforts. I strive to gain more practical skills and experience in the field of conservation medicine
Zoe Michini (She/her)
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science | University of Connecticut, 2024
My name is Zoe Michini, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in animal science and wildlife conservation from the University of Connecticut in 2024. After graduating from UConn, I took a gap year and continued to work as an emergency veterinary technician at a hospital in CT and as a zookeeper in Springfield, MA where I had worked for the last four years. I was drawn to the MCM program through my interest in zoonotic disease research, and how ecosystem, wildlife, human, and companion animal health intersect, and have loved the experience so far! I am currently volunteering at Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford, MA for the summer, caring for injured wildlife and orphaned babies. It has been a wonderful experience so far, I love learning about the care they require, and learning how to tailor veterinary treatments to suit the needs of different species. In my free time, I started my own passion project, tracking a coyote pack using camera traps to research pack dynamics and the pup rearing process (they had eight pups right in front of my camera!). Outside of veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, I love to hike, garden, and watch girls' basketball (UConn Huskies of course). At home, I have two rabbits, Nibbles and Sallie, and a crested gecko, Oscar.
MS in Animals and Public Policy (MAPP)
Kylee Webster (She/her)
Bachelor's in Science in Pre-Veterinary Science, minor in Classical Civilizations | UMass Amherst, 2025
I am currently enrolled in the Master’s in Animals and Public Policy program. I graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelors of science in Pre-Veterinary Science and a minor in Classical Civilizations in 2025. While at UMass, I worked extensively with the sheep at the livestock barn as a student employee, intern, and teaching assistant. I also have experience with dogs, horses, goats, cattle, and exotics. In fact, I have two pet frogs and two geckos. Although I love working with all animals, I am primarily interested in a career focusing on wildlife conservation. This degree has been hugely insightful in learning and thinking about animals in a more holistic way, focusing on the ethics of how and why we do things rather than the strictly biological approach that was more common while completing my undergraduate degree. As part of the program, this summer I will be doing an internship which includes spending four weeks in Thailand studying elephant behavior, which is such a unique opportunity I am looking forward to.