Cornell’s Animal Science Graduate Student Association (ASGSA) recently hosted the Women in Animal Science Panel, bringing together accomplished professionals to share insights on navigating a wide variety of careers in and beyond academia.

A huge thank you to the panelists Yi Athena Ren, Yeni Liliana Bernal Rubio, Jessica McArt, Xixi Chen, and Fernanda C. Ferreira for their openness, wisdom, and willingness to tackle tough but necessary conversations. Their honesty in sharing both their successes and struggles made for an incredibly relatable and inspiring event. Major shoutout to Dr. Michelle Moyal for her masterful moderation and creating a welcoming space for thoughtful discussion. Be on the lookout for highlights in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine podcast!

This event provided a platform for meaningful conversations about career flexibility, mentorship, and professional development, equipping attendees with valuable perspectives on navigating academic, industry, and alternative career paths—including roles in NGOs, consulting, and entrepreneurship.

Key takeaways:

◾ Prioritize yourself – Balancing a demanding career starts with making time for your well-being.
◾ Find the right mentors – Seek those who align with your values and aspirations to build a fulfilling career.
◾ Embrace setbacks – Stumbling is part of the journey, what matters is how you grow from it.
◾ Trust yourself – Whether facing self-doubt, bias, or career uncertainty, believe in your expertise and know you’re not alone.
◾ Adapt as needed – Your path is not linear; assess the fit, pivot when needed, and celebrate small wins.
◾ Pace your journey – Career growth is not a race; take time to explore your interests and find what truly fulfills you.

Congrats to the amazing panelists, and the almost 110 attendees in person and online, made up of faculty, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral and masters students as well as undergraduates. Networking with the panelists before and after the event enhanced the discussion and helped answer additional more specific questions from the audience.

Support that made this event possible came from:

Cornell Animal Science, Tom Overton, Quirine Ketterings, Cornell University Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, and Susi (Sturzenegger) Varvayanis, Careers Beyond Academia, Cornell University Graduate School.

Finally, thank you to the amazing Animal Science Graduate Student Organization board for all their hard work behind the scenes!, Rebeca Villalobos Barquero, Emile Fierro Morel, Victoria Ramos, Sydney Jewell, Marina Madureira Ferreira, Maia Z., and Chenhan Feng. Thanks especially to the organizers Miranda Farricker and Haowen Hu.who, as representatives from the ASGSA sought out funding for your professional development through Careers Beyond Academia to enhance this event and open it to a broader audience.