Hartman Joins the K-State ASI Department as the Animal Health Instructor

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Ashley Hartman has been hired as the new animal health instructor for the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI). Her appointment will be 100% teaching.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ashley Hartman to the department as an instructor,” said Teresa Douthit, K-State ASI interim department head. “Her enthusiasm for teaching, combined with her experience in the animal industry, will enrich the learning environment and bring real-world relevance to the classroom. Ashley’s contagious passion for the field will undoubtedly inspire and energize our students.”

Prior to joining the ASI faculty, Hartman served as the research coordinator for Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics in Columbus, Nebraska, where she acted as the primary point of coordination for all research activities across the organization. Hartman is no stranger to Kansas State University or the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.

“The biggest thing for me is my love of teaching and this position is 100% teaching,” said Hartman, when asked what brought her back to K-State. “I love being able to tie research and science back into the classroom and the practical applications to give students the skills they’re going to need to succeed. I love K-State, I bleed purple… it’s almost like coming home.”

Hartman began her academic career at Northwest Community College, where she earned an associate degree in animal science and agricultural business. She continued to Kansas State University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in animal science with an emphasis in production management. Her master’s research at K-State focused on reproductive physiology and the influence of environmental and managerial factors on beef bull semen characteristics.

Hartman earned her Ph.D. in animal science from K-State, where she focused on male livestock fertility. During this time, she served as a graduate teaching assistant for several courses, including ASI 512: Bovine Reproductive Technologies and ASI 401: Farm Animal Reproduction Lab.

“Animal health is an open description. When people think of animal health, they think of a lot of different things and obviously one of those is veterinary work and becoming a vet,” Hartman said when asked about her goals for the position. “One of my biggest goals is to show students other opportunities that are out there in the health realm. To help students make their own definitions of what health means to them and then show them some of those other opportunities. Whether that be from a biosecurity standpoint—there are entire jobs for swine and poultry companies just for biosecurity—or showing students things on the biomedical front, like the value of health checks in the feedlots.

For me, in this position, it’s about helping students see the bigger picture outside of vet school but also having the ability to help those students who are driven and wanting to go to vet school. How do they succeed, and how do we get them there?”