0 student walking a horse with a rider

Giving Back Through Mentoring

April 14, 2026

By Dr. Jenna (Hill ’15) Smith

I began my Houghton journey in 2011 as a biology major with a chemistry minor. I completed the first year Science Honors program, and was very involved in the Pre-health Professionals club and Sigma Zeta math and science honors society. I took quite a few of the upper-level biology electives, especially during my last couple of years there. These classes really helped prepare me for the challenging curriculum that was coming in graduate school.

I applied to veterinary school my senior year and was accepted to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The course load was intense in depth and breadth, but I felt I had a solid foundation from Houghton. I graduated from Cornell in 2019 and started working at Perry Veterinary Clinic in Perry, New York, as an associate veterinarian. I became a partner at Perry Vet in the beginning of 2023. Currently, I practice both small and large animal medicine, splitting my time between cats and dogs in the office, and dairy cows and other large animals on farms throughout Western New York. I even go to calls at the Houghton Equestrian center—talk about coming full circle!

Jenna Hill with a horse

One of the joys in this profession is the opportunity I have to mentor students—whether they’re in veterinary school or are in their pre-vet studies. Given Perry Veterinary Clinic’s proximity to Houghton, we have the privilege to host quite a few pre-vet students, including Zachary Wolfer ’24, who is now a D.V.M. candidate at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and current pre-veterinary student Greg Loper ’28. This is a great opportunity for me to be able to give back to a community that gave me so much. Recently, I’ve had some students join me who went to Houghton for their undergraduate and are now in veterinary school.

During these externships, we always have ample time to chat in the truck in between calls. The conversation inevitably goes back to our fairly universal Houghton experiences—”Organic chemistry was so challenging, wasn’t it?†or “Did you love microbiology?â€â€¯Maybe “Did you take a Mayterm off-campus?†or “Were you purple or gold?â€Â (Team Purple!)

And often, most commonly— “Wasn’t Houghton the best? I loved it there.â€

Jenna (Hill ‘15) Smith, D.M.V. is a large and small animal veterinary and partner with Perry Veterinary Clinic in Perry, New York. She holds a bachelor of science in biology from ÓûÂþɬ and a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Cornell University

“My time at ÓûÂþɬ was instrumental for my success in veterinary school and provided me with the foundation to excel immediately at Kansas State University. The pre-health professions program challenged me academically, offered me research opportunities, and provided me with connections to gain valuable experiences to help bolster my application. The incredible support from faculty I received both when I was a student and after graduation has had a lasting and meaningful impact on my professional journey.â€

Zachary Wolfer ’24 
DVM Candidate, Class of 2028 
Kansas State University 

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