Dr. Stephanie Marks, Program Director of Veterinary Technology at Manor College and a former veterinary technician, was named to the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators’ inaugural fellowship class.
The AVTE Fellow Program seeks to elevate the voice and stature of veterinary technician educators across North America. It recognizes, “an unwavering commitment to excellence and the profound impact of your contributions to veterinary education.”
“Dr. Marks has developed a veterinary technology program of excellence and now the entire nation is made aware of this,” said Joseph Gillespie, Manor Provost. “Manor College has boasted the leadership and commitment of Dr. Marks to her students and we are indeed proud of her for this richly deserved honor.”
For Marks, the honor is a chance to give veterinary technicians a stronger voice.
“Veterinary technicians go through a rigorous process,” she said. “This gives support to that process. It’s important because animals do not get healthier if you do not have a veterinary technician. This isn’t something that people can do just off the street – they are like nurses for animals. They have a role in saving an animal’s life and that foundational knowledge they can only find in a veterinary technology program.”
Marks is a graduate of the State University of New York with her associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. She worked in general and specialty practice. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University and performed her clinicals at Cornell’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
Marks came to Manor in 2015 to serve as Program Director of the Veterinary Technology program.
“When I worked in clinical, I really enjoyed supporting the technicians that were in school,” she said. “I really loved teaching people to be the best veterinary technicians they can possibly become.”
During her time at Manor, she spearheaded improvements of the campus’s veterinary technology facilities. She’s proud of recent curriculum changes that made the workload easier on students while also providing more hands-on experience with animals over the course of the entire program.
“When you leave, we want you to be confident and comfortable being a critical part of a healthcare team,” she said. “It’s vital for students to make sure animals are improving, understand why or why not they might be getting better and the steps they can take to help in that process.”
Marks will officially be inducted among the inaugural class of Fellows during a ceremony at the 2024 Annual Association of Veterinary Technician Educators Conference in Houston later this year. ••
