Animal Sciences Lecturer Honored at the Highest Level for Professional Track Faculty
Monica VanKlompenberg with Provost Rice and President Pines
Image Credit: Graham Binder
Monica VanKlompenberg, senior lecturer in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, received the Provost's Excellence Award for Professional Track Faculty at the university's annual convocation ceremony on September 17, 2025. VanKlompenberg was recognized for her consistently excellent contributions in innovative teaching, having brought about "near-transformational change in many of the department's lower division and core courses," according to her Department Chair, Adele Turzillo, and former chair, Tom Porter.
VanKlompenberg has taught 11 courses over the past decade, with expertise that covers a wide range of topics including animal endrocrinology, commercial poultry management, and mammalian reproduction. She keeps her course offerings fresh, as evidenced by her creation of a new course on goat management for the new herd at the Campus Farm, securing more than $67,000 in grants for new equipment and class development.
"This award would not be possible without the amazing students here in Animal Science," says VanKlompenberg. "I'd also like to thank my supervisors and colleagues who have supported me as I strive to combine creativity with evidence-based approaches to create high-impact, meaningful courses to best prepare my students for future careers."
She is a student favorite, affectionately known as "Dr. VK". Some of her most notable and proudest accomplishments throughout her AGNR career have included the redevelopment of the Applied Animal Physiology course, the establishment of an academic credit scholarship in the practice internship course, and creating programming to help increase student awareness of careers and internships including hosting a Career Night.
"As her student, I experienced firsthand the care that Monica has put into her courses, materials and teaching so that the maximum number of students succeed," says Sullivan Haine '24. Students are particularly complimentary of her "active learning" approach that helps them retain difficult material.
VanKlompenberg holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Michigan State University and a Ph.D in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis.
Please join us in congratulating Monica for this prestigious recognition.
