Science Initiative News

Lady Jena Carey joined the Midland College-Sul Ross State University Science Initiative as the new Transfer Specialist on December 1, 2010. Many of you have stopped by her office at Midland College in AHSF127 for assistance with enrolling in the Spring 2011 semester. Here is a little background about her path to Alpine, to Sul Ross State University, and to Midland College. If you are a Midland College student interested in learning about the Science Initiative program, please call her or stop by her office at Midland College!

Coming from a military family background in San Antonio, Jena Carey moved to Alpine in 2002 with her father, Jory Vanderburg (SRSU Alumni M.A. in History 2003 and M.Ed. 2004) after many holidays in the Big Bend Country. 

She attended the final two years of her high school career at Alpine High School, where she graduated in 2004.  Naturally, she saw Sul Ross State University as her most logical choice and she would eventually get three degrees from there:  Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology (2006), Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (Animal Health Management) (2008), and Master of Science in Biology (2010); and might consider finishing a Master of Agriculture that she began during her final undergraduate semester.  While at Sul Ross, Jena was a student worker/editor for The Brand Yearbook, student worker at Museum of the Big Bend, and Teacher’s Assistant to Dr. Christopher Ritzi.

“Sul Ross has always had a very special place in my heart and I owe a lot of the life I lead today from the professors, faculty, staff, friends and foes from this area,” In 2008, the day after she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree, she married Phillip Carey, a fellow Sul Ross Alumni (B.S. Animal Science). 

Her other favorite courses that this fine Lady enjoyed while at Sul Ross included: Reproductive Physiology and Techniques; Genetics; Parasitology; Religion and Art; Cacti and Succulents; Evolution; Readings in Ecology; and Small Animal Surgery. “Sul Ross offers a vast array of classes that students can take and explore not only the material, but explore the area around them; they have so many opportunities for hands-on experience that few good institutions can offer,”

Lady Carey is excited to be a part of the Science Initiative Program between Sul Ross and Midland College, where she is also an Adjunct Professor of Biology.  “This is the best of both worlds: I love Sul Ross, the professors are of great help and you are actually known at the university, people actually care about students!  Midland College has been great to work at as well because the instructors and students have a bond that is rather missing at many institutions. I see this as a great opportunity to inform prospective students at Midland College of the great opportunities that await them at Sul Ross State University and the best part of the program: they don’t have to move to get a quality university experience,”

In the summer of 2010 she moved from Alpine to Midland to be with her husband, Phillip, their Bombay cat , Midnight, and their dog, a Rat Terrier cross named Shiner Bock.  Although a redhead, this mild mannered lady still enjoys worldwide travels, the outdoors, cooking, scrapbooking, decorating, horse racing and breeding (both a family love) and continued expansion of her mind with research articles.

“I believe that one should never stop learning, whether it is scientific research, another way to do something, learning a new language, or anything that stirs up the cobwebs in one’s brain.  No matter what, one will always have education, and through this we become less stagnant and we begin to desire more knowledge.  The Science Initiative, I believe, helps to further the pursuit of excellence for Midland College students, and I am beyond proud to help serve future students with their path to knowledge and excellence.”

For earlier Science Initiative News, see Archives.