Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg at UMD's 2025 Fall Convocation being honored as one of the Provost’s Excellence in Teaching awardees.
Image Credit: Stephanie Cordle
As the fall semester began, the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences celebrated senior lecturer Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg for receiving the Provost’s Excellence Award for Professional Track Faculty in teaching. As the semester winds down, ANSC extends best wishes as Dr. VanKlompenberg embarks on a new professional chapter at The Ohio State University as a Professional Practice Assistant Professor in Animal Sciences.
At the University of Maryland’s annual convocation ceremony on September 17, 2025, Dr. VanKlompenberg was recognized for her outstanding contributions in innovative teaching, having brought about “near-transformational change in many of the department’s lower-division and core courses,” according to ANSC Chair Adele Turzillo, and former chair Tom Porter who described her as “dedicated, innovative and committed to effective teaching.”
This recognition caps off an extraordinary nine-year tenure at the University of Maryland marked by creative curriculum development, hands-on learning innovation, and an enduring commitment to student success. Since joining the department in 2016, Dr. VanKlompenberg, or Dr. VK as she is better known to her students, has been a driving force in shaping the undergraduate experience. She spearheaded the creation or redevelopment of 13 different courses and mentored countless students through internships, clubs, and career exploration opportunities.
Among her many contributions, Dr. VK is especially proud of her work transforming Applied Animal Physiology (ANSC212) into an interactive student-driven course, and launching Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals (ANSC201) in Fall 2025, which now serves as a cornerstone of the undergraduate program. She also designed and taught Goat Management (ANSC247), which helped start ANSC’s dairy goat herd, giving students a unique hands-on opportunity to engage with another production animal.
As former student Sullivan Haine ’24 put it, “As her student, I experienced firsthand the care that [Dr. VK] puts into her courses, materials, and teaching so that the maximum number of students succeed.”
Beyond the classroom, Dr. VanKlompenberg co-led beef cattle spring break experiential trips with Racheal Slattery and developed and coordinated the Animal Science Internship Program, including creating and teaching ANSC359, which now runs year-round. Through that work, she has mentored students pursuing experiences on campus, across the country and abroad, and has enjoyed watching a fair number of their internships evolve into full-time careers. This work also allowed her to bring alumni, government and industry stakeholders to campus for career events. She has been an integral part of the Block and Bridle student organization at UMD and the Maryland Day livestock show. Dr. VanKlompenberg created the Animal Science Internship Newsletter and a departmental LinkedIn group to connect students with alumni and industry professionals, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.
When asked what she values most from her time at Maryland, Dr. VanKlompenberg doesn’t hesitate: it’s the students. “When I get those emails from former students who share their accomplishments and joys or tell me how something we did in class helped them later on, it’s incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Watching them grow into successful professionals has been the best part.”
Her next role at Ohio State will begin in January and Dr. VanKlompenberg will continue to blend her passions for teaching and student mentorship, while adding new opportunities for innovative teaching and original research. She looks forward to similar teaching and advising roles and having more opportunities for engagement with undergraduate and graduate students.
As she reflects on her time in the department, Dr. VanKlompenberg expresses gratitude for her colleagues and students, and confidence that ongoing programs like the goat management and internship initiatives are “in good hands.”
The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. VanKlompenberg for her years of leadership, energy, and care for students. Her creativity, collegiality, and commitment to hands-on, student-centered learning have left a lasting mark at UMD. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this exciting new chapter at Ohio State.
