First class, lasting impressions: Roger Ramirez-Barrios named 2024 commencement speaker for veterinary college ceremony
Roger Ramirez-Barrios, clinical associate professor, sometimes joked, "I am class of 2024 too," highlighting how his journey to Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is intrinsically linked with these graduating veterinary students.
“Of course, I intended to be at their commencement as a spectator — I never thought I would be speaking in the ceremony,” Ramirez-Barrios said.
His commencement address is a celebration of shared firsts – his initial class in the United States and first-ever class taught remotely online – and their first steps into veterinary medicine amidst a world in flux.
“Insecurities are common for all vet students in their first semester,” said Ramirez-Barrios, “but for the Class of 2024, they also were worried about what was happening in the world.”
When he joined the college in 2020, online classes quickly became the norm, and his evening virtual office hours evolved into spaces of shared vulnerability. Anxieties about the world itself often overshadowed questions about parasites — his area of expertise — and review of case studies.
His openness, willingness to listen, and ability to share his own struggles solidified a trust that earned him the Outstanding Instructor Award from the class in 2021. This focus on empathy also was recognized in 2023 when he was named Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s Mentor of the Year.
His address won't dwell on sentimentality but will contain the signature humor that lightened those uncertain times. Yet, he will acknowledge: "Life is beautiful, but not fair, and not perfect." The transition from student to veterinarian is a dream realized, but challenges will inevitably arise. “But nothing is impossible,” he added.
As he prepares to watch his mentees transform into colleagues, a profound sense of pride washes over him. "It's like a parent when the kids are leaving home," he said. The transformation — from those hesitant first steps to this celebratory day — is a testament to their growth and their unwavering belief in their potential.
“That is what I love the most about being a professor— seeing how my students grow up, how they mature, not only in knowledge about veterinary medicine but as human beings.”
“I will never forget the Class of 2024 — they will always be my first class.”
