VMCVM Staff Spotlight: Bre Lucas

Bre Lucas

Advancement Administrative Assistant, Office of Advancement

When did you join the veterinary college?
I joined VMCVM in December 2024.

What is your role at the veterinary college?
I am the administrative assistant for the office of Advancement, my role is to support the Development, Alumni, and Communications teams.

The best part of being at VMCVM...
The best part of being part of the VMCVM is knowing that what we do helps both people and animals.

Best advice I've gotten...
Find something you enjoy doing for work, something you look forward to doing — even on a Monday morning. It makes all the difference.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
“Chief Cat-Herder and Email Ninja Keeps Advancement Rolling” or maybe “Not All Heroes Wear Lab Coats: Some Keep the Advancement Office Running”

My hidden talent...
My hidden talent is either making homemade sweets filled with love, or having an impressive amount of song lyrics, commercial jingles, and TikTok sounds permanently stored in my brain.

A person who has inspired me...
My husband, Isaac, inspires me. He knows exactly what he wants and puts in the work every day to make it happen. Watching his focus and determination is incredibly motivating.

Can you share a memorable experience or story from your time working with animals?
I don't work directly with animals in my role, but I did have the honor of working with Blaze the Ambassadog! Getting to work with Blaze during and in preparation for Giving Day.

What do you find most inspiring or fulfilling about working with students and helping them pursue their careers?
While I don’t often work directly with students, it’s really meaningful to know that the work we do helps support their journey. Whether it’s through fundraising for scholarships or helping create opportunities, it’s inspiring to play even a small part in helping them pursue their passion for veterinary medicine and public health.

One misconception that all students seem to have is?
One misconception that many students seem to have is that our office only focuses on fundraising. In reality, Advancement supports so much more — like sharing their accomplishments through stories, connecting them with alumni and referring vets, and helping build a strong community around the college. It’s all about supporting their journey, even if it's behind the scenes!

If I had a superpower, it would be...
If I had a superpower, it would be the ability to speak and understand any language. I love listening to music and watching dramas in other languages, and being able to truly understand the lyrics and dialogue without subtitles would be amazing!

If you could magically grant an animal the ability to talk, which one would you choose and what do you think it would say?
I’d love for my dog Venus to be able to talk. She has such a funny, expressive personality already — I imagine she’d have a lot to say about snack rations and the injustice of being asked to move because her little elbows hurt.

A cause I'm most passionate about...
Breaking the stigma around mental health — everyone deserves to be heard and supported.

Favorite way to end the day...
My favorite way to end the day is playing games on my PC and watching Law and Order: Criminal Intent while my dog lays in her bed on my desk.

Top of my bucket list...
At the top of my bucket list is visiting the museums I’ve been adding to my list over the years - especially the Dr Pepper Museum in Texas and the Winchester Mystery House in California.

My favorite quote...
"Nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone." -Alone by Maya Angelou

If you could communicate with animals for a day, what would you ask them?
If I could talk to animals for a day, I’d interrogate my dog. I’d ask why she acts like brushing her teeth is medieval torture, why she barks at neighbors like they owe her money, and if she was actually a good girl today—or just looks innocent.

How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
Just one. We have a 4 year old (5 in December) French Bulldog/Jack Russell Terrier mix named Venus. Because both of her parents are nerds, she's named after the planet, the goddess, and her dad's undergraduate senior project (The Venus Flyby Mission).

Venus is a cuddle bug and my soul puppy! She loves sleeping in, taking naps, zooming after a bath, and sitting on your lap or being held like a baby. Her best friend is her aunt's 1 year old Gray Tabby/Maine Coon named Otis.

Anything else to add?
Working at Virginia Tech has become a meaningful family tradition — I'm the fourth family member to work on campus and the second within Vet Med. A year ago, I didn’t quite see myself as a Hokie, but after attending numerous women’s basketball games and supporting my husband Isaac through his Ph.D. journey in aerospace engineering, I’m proud to truly call myself a Hokie now.