Meet the Faculty
Applied Animal Science faculty interests and experience cover a wide range of animal care, breeding, and management. They are active on local, regional, national, and global levels, forging partnerships and conducting research that creates unique opportunities for Thompson School students. Like their students, they have a lifelong appreciation for the role of animals in our daily life.
Laurie Chapman-Bosco
associate professor & chair of applied animal science
Laurie Chapman-Bosco has been working with horses for more than 30 years. For 19 of those years, she has shared her experience with Thompson School students. She regards teaching as a “continual renewal,” in which each semester brings a fresh experience. An experienced equine eventer, Laurie lives on a small New Hampshire farm.
Education:
B.S., Applied Animal Science, University of New Hampshire, 1986
M.O.E., Adult Education, University of New Hampshire, 1995
After school:
Laurie is an active horse management judge, test prep clinician, and national examiner for the United States Pony Clubs (USPC). She currently serves as a vice president of instruction for the USPC.
Advice for first-year students:
Lay out every move on a calender, then give yourself extra time. It's important to balance work, school, social activities and relaxation.
Drew Conroy
professor of applied animal science
Drew Conroy brings a global perspective to the Thompson School. As an internationally-recognized expert and author on the use of oxen, his work has taken him as far as Tanzania, Africa, to teach people how to more effectively utilize oxen. His doctorate in natural resources explored how the adoption and use of oxen by the Maasai people have affected land use patterns in northern Tanzania. Drew has consulted for the movie industry on the subject, most recently for the Discovery Channel Canada for their television series on working animals.
Education:
B.S., Applied Animal Science, University of New Hampshire, 1986
M.S., Agriculture, Northwest Missouri State University, 1987
Ph.D., Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, 2001
After School:
Drew raises livestock on his own farm. He loves to fish, swim, hike with his family, take photographs, and travel to farms all over the U.S.A. and world. Check out his web site.
Advice for first-year students:
Be a good manager of your time. You will likely have more free time than you have ever had in your life your first semester. Balancing classes, homework, friends, and fun is something you should learn as quickly as possible.
Read Drew’s Faculty Excellence profile.
Jerilee A. Zezula
D.V.M., associate professor of applied animal science, a.k.a. "Doc Z"
Doc Z teaches Animal Anatomy and Physiology as well as Fundamentals of Animal Health to all Applied Animal Science students. She also teaches many of the small animal care classes. Doc Z administers the Grooming Diploma program, ELDERPET and is campus coordinator for the New England Animal Control/Humane Academy. She has a special interest in the human/animal bond and is a Delta Society Pet Partners Team Training Instructor and an Animal Assisted Therapy I Instructor. She and her German shepherd, Abby, are Pet Partners. Doc Z was the recipient of the 2006 Alumni Association Public Service Award.
Education:
B.S., Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1970
D.V.M, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1971
After school:
Doc Z can be seen walking Abby in Madbury.
Advice for first-year students:
While a full-time student, academics come first, but make sure to have a social life. Manage your time well.
Allison Lake
Technical Specialist
Allison Lake joined the Thompson School in 2005 with over twenty years experience in care for a large assortment of different types of animals. Over the years she has worked with wildlife, domestic and companion animals. Professionally, she spent the last eighteen years in small animal care and has specialized in companion animal behavior. Over the years, Allison has observed a real lack of professionals with combined knowledge of both the human and animal fields. In an effort to try and resolve this issue, she is currently attending school to study the human animal bond and companion animal issues and policies from the human social services perceptive. She hopes that this further education will assist her in her current position. She also assists Dr. Zezula with various Applied Animal Science labs, manages the Thompson School’s Groom Shop and teaches classes at the New Hampshire SPCA. She is also assist Dr. Zezula with the Elderpet program.
Education:
Gradated in 1989 from the Stratham Technical College from their veterinary program.
After school:
In her free time, Allison finds her time not spent at school is quickly taken up by her own two teenage boys. She loves them dearly but finds understanding teenage biped behavior most challenging and is still waiting for that rewarding feeling someone told her happens when raising children to adulthood. She currently resides in Gilmanton, NH and shares their home with a rescued pig, Pete, a Bengal cat, Duncan and fosters various other animals until they are well enough to be adopted from the SPCA.
Advice for first-year students:
Get organized and develop a written plan now for your future career and goals.
