Natalie was born and raised in Las Vegas, where she attended the College of Southern Nevada before transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science. Natalie currently resides in Pullman, Washington while attending Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, expecting to graduate in 2029.
Natalie knew she wanted to become a veterinarian from a very young age, from the very moment she learned about what they do. Although it took years of convincing her parents and proving she was responsible enough by caring for pet fish, they took her to the animal shelter to adopt her first dog when she turned eight. Five years later, Natalie began volunteering at that very same shelter until graduating from high school. She gained experience in kennel work, animal socialization, and eventually in the veterinary clinic by cleaning surgical instruments and wrapping surgical packs.
During her undergraduate studies in Reno, Natalie joined the Mathematical Nutrition Modeling Laboratory where she assisted PhD candidates in their research projects focusing on beef cattle nutrition. During school breaks she started volunteering at a local ranch called Horses4Heroes, where she was able to gain animal husbandry experience working with farm animals and teaching kids how to behave around horses. After finishing her undergraduate studies, she worked full-time as a veterinary assistant in a small animal general practice for two years before starting veterinary school. It was there that she developed fundamental clinical skills and experienced the impact of strong mentorship. She saw first-hand how difficult the profession could get, but each shift only strengthened her passion for veterinary medicine.
Natalie enjoys watching movies in her spare time and reading science fiction books. One of her favorite hobbies is trying new foods and restaurants with friends or family. She enjoys staying active by doing yoga and pilates, especially as methods to destress. Although she does not have any pets at the moment, she helps to take care of her roommate’s adorable and feisty Shiba Inu mix.
