John Mazzarella thought he’d get a degree in computer science when he went off to school at the University of Minnesota in the 1980s. He ended up studying art history at the U of M, but other than that, nothing went as planned.

Today, John is a lead gardener at the Horticultural Research Center. “I got the job because of my knowledge of farm equipment, not because I knew anything about apples,” he says while walking among Minneiska apple trees, which bear SweeTango apples.

He also serves in the Navy Reserves. “I was actually supposed to turn in my paperwork on September 11 [2001].” He eventually served a tour in Iraq and sometimes wears old fatigue trousers to work. “They’re very lightweight,” he comments, a definite plus on a hot summer day.

While it may seem like a stretch to go from studying art history to growing apples, John doesn’t see it that way. “My degree in art history has served me well. The communication and writing skills I acquired [in the College of Liberal Arts] helped me with my work in the Navy Reserves. Also, for exams our professors would throw up images of two paintings and have us compare them. Building these visual skills have translated over to identifying apples.”

Describing the Honeycrisp apple, he mentions how it became the Minnesota state fruit in 2006 (not just the Minnesota state apple, the Minnesota state fruit) and comments, “It’s a balanced apple between sweet and acid, and it acquires a floral taste if you leave sit in the back of the fridge for a few weeks.”

Finally, a tip for Honeycrisp fans: “I like to say the ideal Honeycrisp is fire engine red and John Deere yellow.” He expects the 2023 crop of Honeycrisps to be ready around mid-September at the AppleHouse. If you can’t wait that long, First Kiss, SweeTango, and Zestar apples should be available in late August or early September.
 

“I like the responsibility of working overnights. There are only a few people in the hospital in the middle of the night, so I get time to teach interns advanced skills. Plus, at the U of M vet techs get to keep learning new techniques and research along with the vet med students. 

“Veterinarians aren’t the only people who get paid to care for animals’ health. Being a vet tech is its own career path, and a very rewarding one at that. I’m not a particularly spiritual person, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I was put on this earth to take care of animals. I get to do it every day at the Veterinary Medical Center. 

“The University’s health insurance is a big reason why my wife and I were able to have kids. Plus the perks of working at the VMC include bringing your dog–that’s another reason why I’ve been here for nine years.

“My favorite animal is definitely a moose. I cried like a baby when I saw one in the wild.”—Rachel Carlier, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“Working at the University’s Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) allows me the time and mental power to focus on my family alongside the opportunity to grow professionally. I can casually go for my VTS because I see new cases at work every day, and I feel well supported in pursuing the specialization.

“I came to the VMC for the paid time off and health insurance. It’s easy to take time off for a doctor’s appointment or if my daughter is sick. And as our unit’s union representative, I advocate for raises and better benefits for technicians. I’m also here to answer my coworkers’ questions about contracts and to make sure the contracts are upheld by all parties. 

“At the VMC, I work in anesthesia. It’s especially rewarding to work with dogs that are very aggressive and scared–they need someone to give them patience and put them at ease. I teach vet students skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives, both about anesthesia and also about how to take care of themselves and their mental health.”--Natalie Vogel, Senior Veterinary Technician, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“I knew from high school that I wanted to work with animals as a vet tech. My uncle taught me how to ride horses, which eventually led me here [to the Leatherdale Equine Center]. I’m so proud of myself for making it here and earning my VTS in large animal internal medicine. 

“The clients are laid back and great to work with, but they still fiercely love their animals. Goats, pigs, and sheep may be considered farm animals to a lot of people, but to a client that goat is everything.

“At Leatherdale, we work together as a team to deliver foals, treat illnesses, diagnose causes of lameness, help animals prepare for competitions, and more. My job is to provide the best care possible to the patients and their owners. A big part of this is putting both the animal and the owner at ease. Interpersonal skills are key–I ask general questions about a patient to get to know the animal and to help the owner relax as they talk about their pet. The better I know the patient, the better care I can provide. 

“Someday I’d like to teach. I’m getting teaching experience by working at the University, and I would love to play an active part in training the next generation of vet techs. Plus, I want to increase interest in working with large animals. My advice for someone who’s considering this career path is to not give up. Set a goal, lean on the people who love you most, and work hard.

“Goats and horses are my favorite patients. They have big personalities.”—Hilary Baskin, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“I’ve been able to thrive at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC). Over my 25 years at the VMC, I have developed my skills, taught students, mentored new hires, and worked with some of the finest clinicians and technicians in the field! I've presented continuing education lectures and supported new ways to improve our work culture. 

“Years ago, Dr. Trevor Ames [former dean of the VMC] invited me to be part of a pilot DEI initiative to help guide our community toward more inclusive practices. And now, Pat Berzins and I are shaping outreach to under-represented groups of high school and middle school students to help them explore careers in veterinary medicine! This is close to my heart as the first veterinary technician of African descent and part Native American (Blackfoot Indian) to be hired at the VMC. 

“A few of my memorable career highlights would be caring for a newborn baby orangutan from Como Zoo whose mother needed a C-section. I was able to monitor, hold, and feed baby Jaya in his first days of life. It was an amazing experience! Also, I was overjoyed to receive VMC awards for teaching and several for excellence in the field. These were profoundly meaningful and affirming honors.

“As a minister, I have officiated many staff weddings and baby dedications. I love, trust, and respect my VMC family and count myself extremely blessed to be doing what I love at the Lewis Small Animal Hospital. A lot of good things happen here! There’s a real sense of community, and I believe the best is yet to come.”—Rosemary Klass, Senior Veterinary Technician, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

"Before working at the University, the thought of applying or even working here sounded pretty intimidating. But when I was searching for a job, I stumbled across a vet tech assistant opportunity at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), so I decided to apply." 

"I’ve always wanted to be an advocate for animals. I studied animal science at the U of M, so being a vet tech assistant is a great first step for me. At the VMC, I learn something new every day. Plus, I get to work with experts who are also ready to learn every day, and they make sure to explain what they are asking of me in ways I can understand. Everyone at the VMC is super respectful, as well as passionate about teaching and learning together.”—Angelie Moua, Veterinary Technician Assistant

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“I hold my head a little higher knowing that I work at the University of Minnesota. As a vet tech at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), I get to help train the next generation of doctors, form relationships with experts in the field of veterinary medicine, and work on challenging and interesting cases.

“After working here for two and a half years, I still have so much to learn. Right now I’m leaning toward specializing in emergency care. Once a dog arrived in critical condition due to fluid buildup in his stomach. I performed CPR, placed the catheter, and intubated him. From there I got to work alongside veterinarians to help him recover in the ICU. When I first met his owners, they were crying from distress. But when I walked him out to them, happy and healthy, a week later, they were crying out of pure happiness. Restoring pets to health is the most rewarding part of being a vet tech.”—Enrique Leary-Limón, Veterinary Technician, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“I’m proud to work at the only facility in Minnesota that offers radiation therapy. 

“Helping patients and clients get through the difficult process of cancer treatment is something that’s personally and professionally rewarding for me. I love that we can be there for people and offer quality care to their pets.

“The best days are when we get to see animals walk again. We even had a patient who went on to win an agility championship after her treatment.”—Jess Coffey, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

“We handle three to six cases a day, and our patients include everything from small cats to a 160-pound mastiff. While we specialize in radiation, we’re cross-trained in anesthesia. I’ve been able to learn and grow so much over my eight years at the VMC, and working with someone who’s become a close friend makes my job even more rewarding.”—Amy Newland, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Learn more about veterinary technician jobs at the Veterinary Medical Center.

“Since I started as a float technician [at the Veterinary Medical Center] in 2013, I’ve worked in several roles, including my current position as a project coordinator for VMC administration. Bringing my dogs to the office is a huge perk for me, as is the ability to take classes toward a bachelor’s degree for free using the University’s Regents Scholarship Program.

“I love the people here. Helping share vet tech stories with our Veterinary Medical Center and the greater University community has been and continues to be one of my favorite projects at work.”—Flannery Miley, Project Coordinator, Civil Service

To learn more about your University benefits, visit the Office of Human Resources’ website. 

“Sustainability is important to me, and I like that I make a tangible difference in reducing waste at the University. Plus I enjoy the flexibility and good benefits I get through my job.

“One thing I like about working at the University is that we can choose our vendors by quality instead of only using price. For example, a while back we weren’t able to verify that a vendor was actually recycling our used printer toner cartridges. We were able to switch to a vendor that we can trust to actually process and recycle the magnitude of cartridges the Twin Cities campus produces. This recycler is more expensive, but we know we’re doing the right thing to reduce waste.”—Tyler Miller, ReUse Specialist, Teamsters Local 320

Learn about jobs with U Services.