VMCVM Student Spotlight: Marquis Harper

Marquis Harper

Degree: DVM Class of 2024, Food Animal Track
Hometown: Henderson, North Carolina

Marquis Harper serves as the Class President and is scheduled to deliver a speech at the commencement ceremony on May 10, 2024.

My undergraduate was in…
Animal science, B.S. and Integrated Animal Health Systems, M.Sc.

Both at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC.

Best part of being a VMCVM student…
The connections that are made throughout your time at the college. Not only your classmates, but the faculty, staff, and other clinicians that you meet along the way that ultimately become family.

The moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian/public health professional was…
Being raised in the country we were exposed to a lot of wildlife, and initially I wanted to be a wildlife photographer. After spending time at my local animal shelter in high school, I realized that I wanted to do more for the welfare and wellbeing of animals which started my journey to becoming a veterinary professional.

My hidden talent...
Not sure if this is a talent lol; but I tend to make new friendships and connections fairly easy (it may be because I talk too much haha).

A person who has inspired me...
Dr. Allen Cannedy.

He is a small ruminant and camelid veterinarian that I met while in undergrad. He was one of the first African American veterinarians that I had ever experienced. He took me under his wing and showed me the world of large animal/herd health medicine. Since being able to work with him I am now on my own journey now of becoming a large animal veterinarian.

Biggest misconception about being a veterinarian/public health student…
That there is no time to have a "life" while in veterinary school. I told myself coming into this program that vet school for the next four years is a PART of my life but not my entire life. So I always make time to do things that I wanted/needed to do that were not necessarily associated with veterinary school/medicine/etc.

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Influence the weather. It's always those days that you are (almost) caught up, and you want to go outside then it decides to rain lol.

My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song...
Yeah Glo! By GloRilla

The course project/study you're most excited about…
I am excited to begin my internship after graduation and focus on large animals only. haha

What excites me the most about the future of my industry...
That every new generation of veterinarians are bigger advocates for themselves and will not let the industry dictate what their future is "suppose" too look like. 

In regards to the field of large animal medicine, I see more POC wanting to be apart of this industry. Although the number of veterinarians to serve this clientele is dwindling; I am positive that a resurgence will happen!

Favorite way to end the day...
Taking a hot shower (getting all the cow poop from under my finger nails), sitting on the couch cuddled up the animals with a nice cold beer and watching the good ol' television (or scrolling on TikTok).

Top of my bucket list...
I would like to live/practice veterinary medicine in a developing nation. I always wanted to provide large animal medicine to parts of the world in which all or most of the communities livelihood relies/depends on working animals.

How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
I have four fur-babies.

• Gemini: 9-year-old female Chihuahua: I had her since she was 7 weeks old have; we have been on this journey together for a while. She has lived with me in a few different states as of now.
• Bob: 7-year-old male DSH: He's a sweet boy; but can sense fear and uses it against you haha.
• Bee: 5-year-old female DSH: She's a beautiful calico that I acquired in graduate school. One morning before leaving the parking lot to collect samples; I kept hearing a cat's cry. I got out the truck looked under it, in the near by bushes, in the trees and I couldn't find it. I popped the hood and there she was all 2lbs of kitten. I rightfully took the day off.
• Bean: 4-year-old Havana rabbit: She's a Black rabbit so her name is Bean (Black Bean). I acquired from a classmates 2nd year and she's the love of my life.

Anything else to add?
Shout-out to my family and to my husband, thanks for holding me down for all these years!