Equine Science Grads

Alumni Voices

ALUMNI AND INDUSTRY LEADERS

LAUNCH ENDOWED DIRECTOR CAMPAIGN

     NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (March 9, 2004) Alumni are launching a campaign to raise $2 million to endow the Center Directorship, to ensure that the Equine Science Center will continue its impressive research and outreach work for generations to come. Heading that effort are two alumni, Dr. David Meirs II, VMD (B.S., Agriculture, 1950) and Dr. Christopher Puzio, DVM, MS (B.S., Animal Science, 1992), and Taylor Palmer Jr., all of whom have strong ties to the equine program at Rutgers.

     “Doc” Meirs was one of a small, determined group of alumni and visionaries who worked with the administration of Cook College (now known as the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) back in the 1970s to establish the equine program as part of the Department of Animal Sciences. He has been a member of the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA) since its inception, and recently was named Chair of RUBEA. He owns and manages Walnridge Farm in Cream Ridge, NJ, and is a practicing equine veterinarian. Taylor Palmer Jr., owner and operator of Boxwood Farm in Englishtown, NJ, is another longtime supporter of the equine program and was Chair of RUBEA for more than 10 years. Doc and Taylor are co-chairs representing the horse industry during the endowment campaign.

      Chris Puzio and his wife Bridget own and operate North Rockland Animal Hospital in Stony Point, NY, which specializes in small animals and exotics. He will be contacting equine program alumni as part of the effort to endow the Directorship. He and his wife also will be organizing mini-reunions of interested alumni. Chris can be reached at his veterinary hospital, 18 North Liberty Dr., Stony Point, NY 10980, 845-786-0200, or by email at anubis2001@mac.com.

      Gifts in support of the Equine Science Center may be made in several ways. Further information is available on this site or by calling the Center at 732-932-9419.

Equine Science Center Campaign Update News

ATTENTION ALL ANIMAL SCIENCE AND EQUINE GRADS:

 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

            If you’re an animal science and/or equine science alumnus/a, the Equine Science Center would like to include you in a “where-are-they-now” directory for all program graduates.

            The search is the brainchild of Center Director and Cook alumna Karyn Malinowski, (BS, 1975; MS, 1980; Ph.D., 1986), Dean of Outreach and Extension Programs and former extension equine specialist.

Karyn notes: “Every time we take our Equine Science Center display to an event, people come up to me and seem to want to know one of two things: first, if I know where so-and-so is now and, second, what they (or their son or daughter) can do if they pursue equine science. So we’d like to know where our alums are and sing their praises,” she says.

            The equine science program has been in place since 1978 and the animal sciences curriculum for decades before that. Our graduates often go on to very successful careers, such as a prominent state legislator, and many well known, highly regarded veterinarians. Many also are top executives at pharmaceutical companies in New Jersey and throughout the country, or they are members of the faculty and staff of major research universities, including Rutgers.

“We know where some of our folks are,” says Karyn. “We’d just like to hear from the rest.”

            Graduates can send their vital statistics (contact information, current occupation/position, year graduated and additional degrees, if applicable) to Diana Orban Brown at orban@aesop.rutgers.edu. Telephone is 732-932-9419; fax: 732-932-2658. The Center would also like to know if you are still involved with horses; if so, let them know how, and send a photo along.