Dr. Matt Allender, clinical associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and the director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, began working at the college in 2009.
When did you begin working at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I started as a DVM student in August 2000 and graduated in 2004, completed a MS in 2006, and a PhD in 2012. I have 5 degrees from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, all but one is from Vet Med. I joined the faculty in August of 2009, this is my 17th year on faculty and in total have spent over half my life at the vet school in some capacity.
Describe your role at the college.
I am in a joint position with Brookfield Zoo Chicago where I serve as the director of Conservation Medicine and Science. In Urbana, I am the founder and director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab and section head of the Wildlife Epi section in the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. I perform diagnostic, training, and research on wildlife species, focusing on epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Have you held any previous titles or responsibilities at the college?
Yes, from student hourly through faculty member.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy being part of a bigger team for a common goal of saving the world. My job allows me time to perform field and lab work, teach professional students and the public, and direct conservation based research and service for the state and the nation. These activities keep me busy and I enjoy the diversity that each season brings.
Complete this sentence: My most memorable day at work was…
…nearly any day, but would include pipetting samples from endangered species to look for important diseases, teaching students and residents wildlife and zoo medicine, and field work with turtles or rattlesnakes. And then, after a long day, I remember getting a call from the diagnostic lab if I could come down because a client had dropped off an alligator for necropsy and it was still alive.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Hiking, I hike hundreds of miles every year and recently completed a goal of hiking at all 60+ state parks in Illinois.
What is something your co-workers may be surprised to know about you?
Nothing probably, they all know me well. But I was in Orange Krush for 6 years and in my 31st straight year as a basketball season ticket holder for the Illini.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
Hike half-dome at Yosemite.
Do you have a favorite restaurant or place in the Champaign/Urbana area?
Well, not only do I have 5 degrees from Illinois, I grew up here and went kindergarten through vet school in town, so there are lots of old restaurants that I miss and some that I currently enjoy. From a history perspective, I miss Village Inn Pizza, Jillian’s, Alexander Steakhouse, and Garcia’s on Green the most. Currently, I enjoy Esquire, Papa Del’s, and Dos Reales.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
My pictures of my kids (including furry and scaly ones).
Do you have any pets?
Two labradors and several turtles or tortoises.
