Category: Faculty

DVM

kassidy7@illinois.edu

Dr. Dulcet is a small animal veterinarian in New Jersey. She obtained her DVM degree from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021, after which she completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at an emergency and specialty practice, Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey. Since then, Dr. Dulcet has been in clinical practice in Northern New Jersey working with mammalian and avian companion animals. She has always had an interest in teaching and is delighted to have joined the Certificate of Veterinary Science program in 2026 as a teacher’s assistant. Dr. Dulcet enjoys spending her free time with her husband, 1-year-old, and two cats, as well as knitting, reading, and Scottish Country Dancing.

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BS, CVT

kradema2@illinois.edu

Kristen Massey grew up on her family’s grain and livestock farm in rural Champaign, Illinois, where she developed an appreciation for agriculture and animal care at an early age. Her hands-on experience working with a variety of livestock—including primarily swine, as well as beef cattle, sheep, and poultry—helped shape the foundation of her career and passion for agriculture that continues to this day.

Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 2007, followed by a degree in Veterinary Technology in 2010. Shortly afterward, she joined the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where she began working for the Farm Animal and Reproduction Medicine Service. Throughout her career at the university, Kristen has held a variety of roles that have allowed her to combine her clinical experience, agricultural background, and enthusiasm for teaching.

Outside of work, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband, Nate, and their three children, all of whom are active in a variety of sports. When she’s not busy cheering them on, she can often be found outdoors caring for her own farm. For Kristen, agriculture and working with animals remain an important and rewarding part of both her professional and personal life.

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BS, MVS

kassidy7@illinois.edu

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Kassidy Parkhill joined the MVS team in Fall 2026. As the youngest of five siblings, she values spending time with her close-knit family, including her five nephews and two nieces. In her free time, Kassidy enjoys outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and running, and loves cooking and baking for the people she cares about.

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DVM, MS

eejohnsn@illinois.edu

Connect with Dr. Erin Lowe on LinkedIn 

Dr. Erin Lowe grew up in the Chicago suburbs with no livestock experience until she arrived at the University of Illinois as an undergraduate. What began as an introduction to animal agriculture grew into a career in veterinary medicine, swine production, animal health, and information management.

Erin earned her B.S. in Animal Science before earning her DVM. After veterinary school, she worked directly in swine production, gaining experience in herd health, production management, diagnostics, and process improvement. Those years gave her an appreciation for the complexity of modern livestock production and for the people responsible for making decisions every day on farms.

Her career later took her into animal health and information management. During her time with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Erin worked with veterinarians, producers, researchers, and multidisciplinary teams on data collection, information integration, field research, and the development and adoption of digital tools for pork production. These experiences led her to pursue an MS in Information Management in the iSchool at Illinois and deepened her interest in how we collect, organize, interpret, and communicate information to support better decisions.

Today, Erin works as an information management consultant while also contributing to the College of Veterinary Medicine as a small group facilitator and advisor in the Master of Veterinary Sciecne (MVS) program. She particularly enjoys opportunities to bring real-world experiences from veterinary medicine, livestock production, data, and technology into the classroom.

Outside of work, Erin lives on a small farm with her husband, also at the College, and their Springer Spaniel, Hank. When she’s not working or farming, Erin enjoys reading, gardening, hiking and cheering on the Fighting Illini at football and basketball games. From discovering livestock for the first time as an Illinois undergraduate to returning to the College as a facilitator/advisor, Erin’s career has continued to evolve around a common theme: learning how to solve problems, sharing what she has learned with others, and helping others put knowledge into practice.

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DVM, MPH, PhD Candidate, AMS Candidate
Instructor

Professional Profile
tarap3@illinois.edu

Dr. Prezioso is a 2026 PhD Candidate in Veterinary Pathobiology focusing on infectious disease networks and modeling in livestock production.  Dr. Prezioso graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and practiced in small animal emergency medicine for over 15 years.  She obtained her Master of Public Health in 2020.  Currently, Dr. Prezioso is completing her Applied Master in Statistics while finishing her PhD thesis.  Dr. Prezioso teaches VCM 565 for the Master of Veterinary Science program and collaborates with VM 601 and other classes in the Clinical Skills Learning Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine.  Her multiple teaching assistantships include VCM 565, Veterinary Immunology Lab, and Parasitology Lab.  She is also developing a new course for graduate students in the Pathobiology Department centered around applied statistical consulting.

Dr. Prezioso enjoys outdoor activities like skiing, horseback riding, water sports and hiking but also like to ‘veg’ out and sew.  She shares her passion with her 4 horses, 3 dogs and a cat. 

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Instructor

MVS, BS, CVT, CCRP, OACM, CCSC, Rehabilitation Specialist

Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Certified Canine Strength and Conditioning Trainer

knap@illinois.edu

Kim Knap is an experienced instructor in Veterinary Technology and Rehabilitation at the University of Illinois. After earning her BS in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1997 and a Veterinary Technology degree in 2001, she joined the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Orthopedics team and quickly became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) in 2002. That same year, she helped establish the university’s rehabilitation program. At the time, the program was one of 5 in Veterinary Colleges nationwide.

Since 2006, Kim has been deeply involved in education, developing and teaching elective courses and clinical rotations focused on rehabilitation. Her contributions extend to research and authorship, including veterinary textbooks that support both students and professionals in the field. In 2023, she graduated from the Canine Strength and Conditioning Coach from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in order to broaden her practice to healthy working dogs. sharing insights from her work and experience. Kim finished Master’s in Veterinary Science degree from the University of Illinois in May 2024 and serves as an instructor in that program. Knap chose a career she is still passionate about and can’t wait to share it with you.

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DVM

audrycw@illinois.edu 

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Dr. Audry Wieman is a veterinarian who lives on a cattle ranch in northeast Nebraska. She graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and moved to Nebraska to pursue her interest in rural mixed animal practice. In 2014, she established her mobile practice and has been serving her community ever since. 

Dr. Wieman is a member of several professional organizations, including the AVMA, AABP, AVC, and IAABC. She is also a graduate of the University of Illinois EVP-Beef Program. 

In 2022, Dr. Wieman joined the Online Programs and Extension team to further contribute to the veterinary community and fulfill her desire to continue to bring top talent into it. 

Dr. Wieman resides with her husband, two children, and two Border Collies which provide ample opportunities for developing skills in her areas of interest. If you find her indoors, she is likely watching her favorite soccer team, Liverpool FC. 

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DVM

dnturner@illinois.edu 

Dr. Doreen Vaughn graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She worked as a small animal veterinarian in the Kankakee and Chicagoland areas before transitioning to teaching. Dr. Vaughn became a Program Director for a Veterinary Technician associate degree Program in southern Illinois. Later on, she moved to Champaign-Urbana and worked as an undergraduate Academic Advisor and an Assistant Director for the Access and Achievement Program in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. 

However, Dr. Vaughn missed working with animals and decided to return to veterinary medicine in 2022. She now works as a Clinical Skills Training Specialist at the College of Veterinary Medicine, where she trains first- and second-year vet students in various skills such as performing physical examinations, CPR, anesthesia techniques, and client communication. 

Outside of work, Dr. Vaughn enjoys traveling, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her husband Emmett, her Yorkshire Terrier-mix Stefani, and her cat Lady Marmalade.  

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DVM, PhD

Assistant Professor of Livestock Population Medicine 

Dr. Benjamin Blair grew up on his family’s farm in southern Illinois, where he developed a strong foundation in agriculture and animal husbandry by raising swine, beef cattle, and cultivating crops. This early experience instilled in him a lifelong dedication to improving agricultural practices and animal health. Today, he continues to manage the family farm alongside his two brothers.

Dr. Blair holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Pathobiology with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His unique combination of engineering and veterinary expertise allows him to tackle complex challenges in animal health and production from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Dr. Blair’s research focuses on swine disease risk and transmission modeling, biosecurity, and the use of advanced technologies such as machine learning and computer vision to enhance animal health and welfare. His work also explores the dynamics of cull sow market transmission and the integration of remote monitoring technologies in livestock management.

Previously, Dr. Blair has held roles as a Research Scientist, Lead Researcher, and Animal Health Data Scientist, bringing a wealth of experience to his academic and consulting endeavors. He has secured multiple research grants to advance understanding in his field, particularly in areas related to disease transmission and biosecurity in swine production.

Dr. Blair lives on a small farm south of Champaign, Illinois, with his wife, Cathy, their two children, and their two Labradors. In his free time, he enjoys working on the farm or spending time outdoors, embracing the rural lifestyle that shaped his career and personal life.

bblair2@illinois.edu

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DVM

drbyrd@illinois.edu

Dr. María Juárez Byrd is a veterinarian who has a special interest in treating exotic and small animals. Since she was six years old, María has had a passion for caring for animals, which she nurtured through frequent trips to the Kansas City Zoo and her own home “zoo” – which included dogs, turtles, frogs, beta fish, guinea pigs, a bunny, bearded dragons, a water dragon, and two secret mice she smuggled into her room without her parents’ knowledge. 

In 2016, María completed her B.S. in Animal Science at the University of Missouri, where she studied computational neuroscience and domestic animal husbandry. She then went on to earn her DVM in 2021 from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, focusing on exotic animal medicine. 

Outside of her studies, María volunteered at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital, where she cared for native wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, porcupines, turtles, deer, squirrels, and other animals. In her final year of veterinary school, she interned for three months at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Reproductive Management Center and two months with the University of Missouri Comparative Medicine Program. She also completed two months of exotic focused clinical rotations at Cornell, where she researched the husbandry and physiology of rare species, recommended follow-up plans, assisted in surgeries and anesthesia, and comforted hospitalized patients. 

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