Olivia Joy Perkins 

Hi everyone! My name is Olivia Joy Perkins and I am a member of the Class of 2026. I was born and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2022 with a degree in Biology. Some highlights of my undergraduate career include playing on the women’s basketball team for 2 years, serving on the e-board for organizations like the African American Society and Spartans for Special Olympics, and contributing to feral swine research and management using environmental DNA (eDNA).

My veterinary interests include public health, epidemiology, and global health, and I plan on initially working for the USDA post-graduation. Some extracurriculars I’m currently involved in include serving as the CVM Representative for GPSA, Special Events Chair for Omega Tau Sigma (OTS), and working as a Student Milker at the Teaching Dairy Barn. In my free time, I enjoy playing intramural sports with friends, eating my way through Ithaca, and watching cringey reality TV.  

I’m so excited to meet all of the incoming students, and look forward to providing them with support and guidance as they navigate their first year of veterinary school and beyond!

Rebecca Babekov

Hi everyone! My name is Rebecca Babekov, I was born and raised in Queens, NY and this is my first venture away from New York City. I graduated from CUNY Baruch College in 2021 and spent 2 years after to work in small animal surgery at the Animal Medical Center. I’m a proud first-generation student representing my mixed heritage from Russia and Honduras. For my future, I am interested in pursuing small animal surgery or general practice. In my free time off campus, I enjoy hiking, all water activities (kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, white water rafting), weightlifting, roller skating, hanging out with my cats Boubeer and Leia, and trying new food (tacos especially but only the authentic kind!). On campus I enjoy taking walks down to the undergrad campus, soaking up sun on the slope, visiting the Big Red Barn, going to school sports events (the student vs. faculty hockey game is great!), and spending time with the Block 7 teaching dogs and cats. I am very excited to meet all of you and help make your transition to veterinary school as smooth as possible.

Vianna Bassani

Hi everyone! My name is Vianna and I am a member of the Class of 2027. I am from New Fairfield, Connecticut and I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Animal Science with a minor in Italian and a degree in Pathobiology. During undergrad, I completed my thesis on the effects of poor maternal nutrition on IgG in sheep, worked at a necropsy lab, and as a veterinary assistant during my summers. At Cornell, I am the retail chair and on the social committee for the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA),
secretary of Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), and keeper of the portal for Omega Tau Sigma (OTS). I work as an Emergency Student Assistant in the ER at CUHA, Student Milker at the Teaching Dairy Barn, and tour guide. Currently, I’m most interested in small animal emergency medicine or surgery, but I’m excited to keep exploring my interests in veterinary medicine. Outside of school, I love to play soccer, hang out with friends, explore Ithaca, and eat ice cream! I’m so excited to meet all of you soon!

Claire Chiang

Hi everyone! My name is Claire Chiang and I am a second year vet student with a primary interest in avian and exotic practice, and a love for teaching/academia. Prior to vet school, I went to undergrad at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a major in biological sciences. My experiences stem from an avian, zoo, and exotic background where I did work at the National Aviary and a small exotic clinical practice. Here at Cornell, I am on the board for AAVMP (Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals), ZAWS (Zoo and Wildlife Society), and work as a wildlife student technician at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital. I love reading, taking care of plants, spoiling my cat, and thrifting! My cat Kiki is a retired research cat and was adopted from the CARE program here at Cornell in my first year. As a peer mentor I am most excited to help students navigate vet school while discovering all that veterinary medicine has to offer. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and congrats on choosing Cornell, it is going to be an amazing four years!

Casey Kenny

My name is Casey and I’m a rising second year (c/o 2027). I grew up in Walden, NY
and began my undergraduate degree at LSU studying Animal, Dairy, and Poultry
Sciences and assisting with research in equine endocrinology and comparative
anatomy of Australian psittacines. I ended up sidelined by some health concerns and returned to NY after two years, but I used my time off to work as a crisis counselor and as an EMT as I really enjoy supporting people, too. I finished my degree in organismal biology at SUNY New Paltz and left my years of GP behind to work at a small animal veterinary ER afterward. I love exotic pets (especially birds and reptiles) and plan to work in small animal emergency with exotics in the future. I currently work as a student tech in the Exotics department at CUHA, as a student milker, and for a snake breeder downtown. If I’m not hanging with my menagerie of pets, you can find me outside of school driving around jamming to Broadway soundtracks, finding four-leaf clovers and cool bugs, or woodworking and crafting. I’m excited to get to know everyone and you can reach me anytime at ck778@cornell.edu!

Kimaya Bakhle

My name is Kimaya Bakhle and I am an incoming second-year DVM/PhD student. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and went to Purdue University for my undergraduate studies, where I majored in biochemistry and minored in Spanish. My veterinary interests include small animal medicine and translational research. At CUCVM, I am involved in Southside Clinics, AAVMP, LVMA, SAVMA, and Omega Tau Sigma. Outside of school, I enjoy working out, going on hikes,
and trying new restaurants and recipes.

Joyce Lu

Hi, I’m Joyce! I’m in the class of 2026 (rising second year), and I’m from Centreville, Virginia. I went to Virginia Tech for undergrad (go hokies), where I majored in Animal Science. The semester after graduating, I interned at the National Zoo in DC with the primate department, which was such an amazing experience. I’m currently interested in small animal emergency medicine as well as zoo/wildlife/exotics, although I’m still open to the many opportunities that vet school will provide! Here at Cornell, I’m part of the Social Committee of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and am Vice President of the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP). I also work as a student milker at the Teaching Dairy, and I’m a server at the Taverna Banfi at Cornell’s Statler Hotel. In my free time, I love going/hanging out with friends, eating out at restaurants, going to the gym, and watching movies. I can’t wait to meet you all, and feel free to reach out to me about anything!

Victoria Love

Hi! My name is Victoria Love, but I go by Tori! I am a rising second year, and I am
mainly interested in small animal specialty practice including emergency / critical care medicine and cardiology. I have aspirations to pursue a residency in one of those two specialties as of right now! I am also interested in wildlife as I have experience in marine mammal and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation so that is another big interest of mine. I am an emergency student assistant at CUHA and I am involved in the cardiology and SVECCs clubs on campus! A little bit about me outside of veterinary school; I grew up in CNY around Utica, NY and went to college in Rhode Island at Roger Williams University. I graduated in 2020 and worked in a feline only hospital for about 3 years prior to applying to vet school, so I like to joke that I am an old cat lady at heart. I live in Ithaca with my fiancé, our two cats (Obi and Biscuit (pictured above)), and our bearded dragon (Gizmo). My favorite things to do outside of school are watch Chelsea F.C. soccer games, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and marvel movies as well as spend time with my little family and go on nature hikes to waterfalls! As you will come to know, I also thoroughly enjoy listening to Miss Taylor Swift, along with country music. I cannot wait to meet you all and not only be a point of reference for you as you transition into this next phase of your veterinary career, but also provide a safe space for you to come to with whatever you may need. :)

Kobi Rassnick

Hi everyone - I'm Kobi, a rising second-year from right here in Ithaca, NY. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Cornell, coming to the CVM as a member of the 7-year Accelerated BS/DVM program. Right now, my veterinary interests lie in small animal specialty medicine, although I'm keeping my options open and certainly willing to continue exploring! I'm additionally interested in pursuing research, and I'm currently working with teams of students and doctors on several CUHA clinical trials. At school, I'm involved with SAVMA, AAVMP (Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals), SACS (Small Animal Clinical Skills) club, and the Student Ambassador program. Off campus, I'm interested in all things music, working out, skiing, and hiking around our gorgeous town. Excited to meet you all!

Brittany Tagg

Hello everyone!!! My name is Brittany Tagg, but please call me Brit! I am from Warwick, NY and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2023 (GO HUSKIES)!!! I am a huge sports fan, as I played club softball at UCONN all 4 years, and LOVE the yankees, Ohio State football, and UCONN basketball (men’s and women’s). I had most of my animal experience with small animals before coming here and have since gotten a job at the Large Animal Hospital here. With that being said, I’m still trying to figure out what path I will end up going down, but right now, it’s looking like I will be mixed! When I am not studying, you can find me going on a walk, PADDLE BOARDING, enjoying the nice weather, trying new places to eat, binge watching netflix, or spending time with friends!

Natya Thirunagari

Hey everyone! My name is Natya; I'm a rising second year from Phoenix, Arizona. I graduated from the University of Arizona where I majored in Veterinary Sciences and minored in Biochemistry. I am interested in all things vet med, but I'm currently leaning towards pursuing a career in small animal specialty medicine or mixed animal general practice. At Cornell I'm involved with SAVMA, the VetED club, Student Ambassador program, and projects involving research and the MRC (Modular Resource Center). Outside of the vet school I love to throw pottery, thrift, watch movies, and try out new restaurants. I am so excited to get to know y'all!

Stephanie Welbaum

Hi everyone, my name is Stephanie and I am originally from Blacksburg, Virginia. I
completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (concentrating in Animal
Physiology) here at Cornell through the BS/DVM pathway. After spending time in
undergrad working with wildlife and rehabilitating native species, I have decided
instead to pursue a career in small animal medicine. Right now I am most interested
in oncology and internal medicine, but am looking forward to exploring different
specialties throughout my vet school journey. I am currently working in CUHA's small
animal ICU as a Nursing Care Assistant and am an officer for the Cornell Pet Loss
Support Hotline. Coming from a mixed/bilingual background, I enjoy traveling to new
places and learning about different cultures. In my free time, I like going to the Ithaca
Farmers Market, watching sunsets at Stewart Park, hiking, and hammocking with my
dog, Charlie. Whether you need food/boba recommendations, want to grab coffee
before class, or just need to vent, feel free to reach out to me (srw232@cornell.edu) at
any time. So excited to welcome you to Ithaca and Cornell CVM!

Katelyn Yockey

Hi everyone! I am originally from Fort Collins Colorado where I spent a lot of time outside hiking and biking. I then went to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for my undergrad. I studied
environmental science and biomedical biology while there. I spent a lot of my time there
working with low-cost clinics and working in conservation. My current interests in. Veterinary
medicine is mostly focused on mixed animal, shelter medicine, and surgery. I currently work at the SPCA of Tompkins County where I get to explore my interests. I am the SAVMA 2027 class representative and will be the class of 2026 representative though the fall until you all vote for your class reps! I am on the executive boards for the shelter med club, surgery club, Feline club, the Vet Players theater club, and I have been involved in student milking. I am one of the directors for the Southside Healthy Pet student run clinic and really love getting to work with our community. Outside of classes I have really enjoyed being involved in the veterinary fraternity (OTS), working my way through the breweries and restaurants in Ithaca, and exploring the lake and waterfalls around the area.

Daisy Dai

Hi everyone!! I’m Daisy (Sum Yin) Dai, and I’m a part of class of 2026. I’m a Hong Konger from Chicago, Illinois. I graduated from the University of California-Davis with an animal science major and human rights minor (west coast best coast!!!). I’m interested in small and exotic animal emergency medicine with a focus on providing culturally and linguistically sensitive care to different communities. At Cornell, I’m serving as the president-elect for SAVMA, secretary for AAVMP, student ambassador for vet admission, and rush co-chair for omega tau sigma. I’m also working as the
student technician for the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital, administrative assistant for the alumni affairs and development, and student ambassador for Royal Canin. When I’m not studying, I love hanging out with my kitten Manu (see in picture :)), spending time with friends, traveling to different places (I love going on foodie trips!!!), and going to
music festivals. I’m so excited to meet everyone and be your resource as you navigate through vet school!

Brenna Lashbrook

My name is Brenna. I am from the Rochester area of New York but went to Michigan State for undergrad and lived in Michigan for several years after that. I have worked as a veterinary assistant for about 4 years full time and plan to pursue a career in small animal medicine after graduation, however I am still unsure on the specifics. I enjoy going to the Dairy Bar on campus, playing ice hockey, riding horses, and reading. I am excited to meet you all!

Ashley Stroud

Ashley Stroud is an upcoming second year student. She is originally from Medina, Ohio. She completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at The Ohio State University along with minors in LGBT+ Studies and the History of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is a proud first generation student. On campus Ashley is involved in SAVMA, the Dean’s Leader’s Program, OTS, AABP, and she is also a tour guide. In her spare time she loves to go for walks, cuddle with her cat and her bunny, and sing. After graduation she hopes to become a dairy practitioner with a focus on consulting and productivity management. She is so excited to be a peer mentor and get to know the future of veterinary medicine.

Xin Rou Tan "Natalie"

Hi everyone! My name is Xin Rou Tan "Natalie" and I am so excited to be your peer mentor! I grew up in Singapore my whole life and came over to the States in 2019 to obtain my Bachelor's degree at Stockton University, NJ! My current interests are Small Animal Emergency Medicine (+/- exotics) and International Medicine but I am open to seeing how my interests may change in the next few years. Outside of school, I like to explore the different waterfalls (esp since I'm from the flatlands), paint on canvas, find my motivation for the gym (haha!), try different cafes and all the different combinations of matcha lattes @ CTB, or just spending quality time with my close friends! Look forward to meeting y'all! :-) 

Jonathan Zirkiev

Hey! My name is Jonathan Zirkiev, and I’m a rising second year. I originally hail from Queens, NY and went to CUNY Hunter College for undergrad. There, I majored in Biology and Psychology, and also worked in a lab studying the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. While in school I also worked in a small animal general practice for a couple of years as a vet assistant.

I have not yet decided what I want to do with my DVM as my interests are pretty broad, but I have dabbled in many of the clubs available at the CVM. I currently work as an ESA at the CUHA ER and as a student milker, will be serving as the herpetology rep for ZAWS, am a Pet Loss Support Hotline Officer, and will be serving as a student ambassador and tour guide. Outside of school, I enjoy playing intramural sports, hiking (really original for Ithaca, I know), working out, spending time with my cat, or hanging out with friends.

I look forward to meeting everyone, and please feel free to reach out! (email: Jez27@cornell.edu)