Aiming to empower and connect Black pre-veterinary students, veterinary students and alumni, the Student Association of Black Veterinarians is the first undergraduate and graduate student chapter for Black students at Auburn. Approved in April 2023, SABV's goal is to bridge various groups within the agricultural community.
SABV's president Rodney Hobbs and vice-president Gavin Southern developed the organization after seeing a need for representation and community among Black veterinary undergraduate and graduate students.
According to the Office of Institutional Research at Auburn University, only 70 of the 2,089 students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Science in fall 2023 are Black. In the veterinary school alone, Black students only make up 21 out of 657 enrolled.
In 2022, Auburn University had an enrollment of 31,764 students, with only 1,560 students being Black or African American. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 2.2% of veterinarians in the United States are Black or African American, as of 2023.
An organization like SABV isn't exclusive to Auburn University, with universities like Tuskegee, Ross, Texas A&M and Mississippi State having chapters through the National Association for Black Veterinarians. According to NABV's webpage, the association's mission is to advocate, support and cultivate a community for Black veterinary students and veterinarians.
Hobbs, senior in animal sciences on the pre-veterinary track, also serves as the transfer committee director at the Black Student Union. He is a member of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences and the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association. Hobbs is also a peer mentor for the College of Agriculture.
After transferring from Coastal Alabama Community College, Hobbs received few shadowing opportunities until he came to Auburn. His goals for SABV are to provide veterinary students with more opportunities and create a leadership program within SABV that teaches and polishes skills that will make students stand out after graduation.
Hobbs said he and others began planning SABV after a PVMA meeting when they found out other schools had their own associations. Although Hobbs and the other members had some difficulty finding an advisor, they were satisfied when Shannon Boveland agreed to be SABV's advisor. Hobbs said that Boveland has served on Tuskegee's board of admissions and that she was excited when he pitched the club to her.
SABV needed at least 10 members before the club could be accepted, so Hobbs, Southern and other members spread the word about the organization through posters, classes and other meetings. Hobbs explained that pitching SABV was "nerve-wracking." but with the help of Boveland, he felt more comfortable speaking to the Organization Board.
"I think just giving them those statistics, [the committee] kind of saw [the need], and they knew how much it meant to us," Hobbs said. "So once it did get approved, it was just a sigh of relief and excitement."
The first official meeting occurred in September 2023, where members learned about leadership roles and skills. Hobbs said that the club currently has around 20 members.
To Hobbs, SABV allows Black veterinary students to build a community and to feel less isolated. For undergraduates, the association hosts graduate panels where graduate students offer advice, encouragement, reassurance and provide opportunities undergraduates may have yet to hear about.
Southern is a pre-veterinary medicine sophomore majoring in fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences. He's also the College of Agriculture representative for Block and Bridle, a club that connects students interested in animals to animal science faculty and industry leaders, and part of the PVMA. For Southern, SABV spreads awareness of the need for more Black veterinarians. The club also aims to promote representation and encourage more Black students to look into veterinary medicine and agriculture.
"The main thing that inspired me, similar to [Hobbs], was how small the veterinary field is in general," Southern explained. "My uncle was a veterinarian, and he talks about how there's not many African Americans in the field. So, I wanted there to be more of an awareness."
Southern's goals for SABV include providing a networking program for undergraduates, graduates and alumni. The networking program would not only allow mentorship and job opportunities but also allow members to see familiar faces. Southern also said SABV is important because it shows members how diverse the job opportunities are after graduation.
"I kind of thought that the field was like, 'oh, you just work in a clinic, and you can specialize.' But in reality, you can really do more than that. You can work with the government or in a lab — you can be a pathologist," Southern said.
To Hobbs, he enjoys seeing students who look like him enjoying veterinary science and relating to his experience. As a senior, he finds being a mentor to other students fulfilling.
Southern explained that being a member lets him be around like-minded students, and SABV gives him an automatic community. He said that seeing a group of people all striving for the same goals is great, and he enjoys it when he sees other associations like SABV do the same.
Hobbs plans for the SABV to collaborate with organizations in the College of Agriculture as a means to expand on members and have allies for support. The club has collaborated with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association and Tuskegee's NABV chapter.
Southern explained his enjoyment of working with other groups and seeing other students succeed.
"When we had Tuskegee come down, I was like, 'Oh my goodness, these people are not just like me, but they've risen to the opportunity, and they're seizing it with like high rolling speed' — it just it feels great," Southern said.
Hobbs hopes that after he graduates, SABV will continue to grow and provide leadership and mentorship roles while connecting members to those in and out of the major.
For Southern, he plans to combine his experience across numerous office positions to keep propelling educational experiences and community within SABV. He wants to include social hours, hands-on learning meetings and networking sessions for the club while still having graduate panels.
"For me, it's just the investment that this club is going to blossom into, and I can't wait to cash in," Southern said. "There will be ideas we never even thought of, but I just am so excited to be part of the group that planted that seed and to see where it goes from here."
SABV meets one Wednesday a month at 7:00 p.m., and dues are $20 annually. Both Hobbs and Southern encouraged students interested in joining to reach out.
Southern advised new veterinary students to get involved even if it's not with SABV because of how extensive Auburn's veterinary programs are. He explained that working within the different units of the program allows students to figure out what specific field they would like to work in.
Hobbs reflected on the past year of creating SABV and explained he looks forward to seeing SABV grow and develop in the coming years.
"I think for me, it's been a really great experience. Just starting an organization with everyone, I definitely think that without them, there would not be any organization," Hobbs said. "I'm really glad that we could come together and make this happen, especially not just for us, but for future students as well, that way we can have that sense of family on campus."
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