Interest in Animal Health Gets A&T Student USDA Position

June 27, 2001

Greensboro, NC: A student in the Department of Animal Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has a head start on her career, thanks to a position she accepted with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Dasheba Williams, a rising senior from Rocky Mount, became a student trainee in animal health, immediately after the spring semester ended. In this position, she works in programs such as swine health protection and poultry diseases, visiting farms and other facilities, to test and inspect livestock.

Williams’ position is the result of discussions between the NC A&T Department of Animal Sciences and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), as both seek to increase diversity in the animal health field.

“Opportunities such as this one through APHIS give our students valuable job experience in their field,” said Dr. Charles Kadzere, chairperson of the A&T Department of Animal Sciences. “Not only will she be able to learn more about her field, she also will receive a nice salary and benefits. Such opportunities are very helpful to both us and APHIS in recruiting students and employees.”

Williams’ interest in animal health began long before her enrollment at A&T, when a family pet died from feline leukemia.

“When my cat died, I started researching feline leukemia and then other animal diseases,” said Williams. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. My ultimate goal would be to find a cure for feline leukemia or other animal diseases.”

Working with APHIS from Rocky Mount, Williams will build upon the knowledge she has gained through A&T’s Department of Animal Sciences, says Kadzere.

“Our students participate in both classroom and laboratory work, but the extensive field experience Dasheba will gain with APHIS is just not practical in a conventional university setting,” said Kadzere.

Williams will return to A&T in the fall, anticipating another summer of APHIS work and then a Fall 2002 graduation, before beginning full-time work with APHIS after graduation.

She is the daughter of Doretha and Otis Williams, Jr., or Battleboro.

APHIS protects America's animal and plant resources by safeguarding resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases, monitoring and managing agricultural pests and diseases existing in the United States, resolving and managing trade issues related to animal or plant health, and ensuring the humane care and treatment of animals.

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For more information, please contact Dr. Charles Kadzere, NC A&T State University, (336) 334-7547.