#190 - Dr. Cassie Jones: Swine Nutrition Graduate Degree: is it for me?

Making a career choice can be challenging, especially when we are still young and inexperienced. When we bring that discussion into the swine industry in particular, we realize that not many students know all the possibilities on the table beyond becoming veterinarians. Besides, not all of them come from an ag background. With that in mind, we must do our best to introduce them to our reality – and that’s what we talk about in this episode with Dr. Cassie Jones. At K-State, Dr. Jones coordinates the Department’s undergraduate teaching program, which has more than 900 students and generates more than 30,000 academic credits annually. So she explains the differences between graduate degrees and the reason why mentorship is important in our field. She also gives some great insights for all those asking themselves: do I have what it takes to get a swine nutrition graduate degree?

What you’ll learn:

1. When should you consider getting a Graduate Degree?

2. Students coming to swine nutrition

3. Getting into a graduate program

4. What are you going to do for the rest of your life?

5. Mentors: why are they so important?

Meet the guests:

Dr. Cassie Jones

Experience

• Current: Professor and Teaching Coordinator at Kansas State University.

Background

• Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences (Iowa State University)
• M.Sc., Animal Science (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc., Animal Science (Kansas State University)

Hobbies: I'm a mom of 3 young kids, so their activities are my hobbies: youth club football, volleyball, wrestling (girls too), and baseball, along with showing sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs at local and state fairs, being a 4-H leader, all of those things. I also help my husband on the ranch, we have a bull sale coming up in March. I love to listen to audiobooks too – I don't take much leisure time to read, but love 'listening' to novels while driving or doing mundane chores around the house.

Favorite Book: On the professional side, I like Strengths Finder and The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team (thank you Bob Goodband). For fun, I like suspense and historical fiction novels to give my mind an escape.

Favorite quote: This one is actually from this podcast. Wayne Cast: "If someone calls you and questions you about a formula, even if there's nothing wrong with it, you should thank them profusely." – Wayne Cast.

Success tip: If you do the right thing for the right reasons, things will work themselves out.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn