McKenna Maus has made the most out of her time at Iowa State. Whether it was the countless committees and co-chairs she served on through Block and Bridle, or working on various research projects, McKenna has jumped into all the opportunities the Department of Animal Science offers.
Hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, McKenna is a self-proclaimed “city girl.” Although she was not raised on a farm, she always knew she had a passion for animals and wanted to work with them for a career. Her dad, an Iowa State alumnus, frequently brought McKenna to Cyclone basketball and football games when she was growing up. These interactions and her interests made Iowa State and the animal science department a perfect fit.
Maus, a senior in animal science with a swine certificate and feed technology minor, was heavily involved in Block and Bridle. She has served as the Alumni co-chair, Blood Drive co-chair, National Convention tri-chair, and on various committees, to name a few. She has also worked with faculty members Dr. Jason Ross, helping with his swine trials and Dr. Karl Kerns in his research lab.
After graduation, McKenna has a research internship with Peak Genetics in dairy reproduction. She then hopes to attend graduate school for her master’s degree in dairy cattle reproduction. Ultimately, McKenna wishes to be employed in reproductive consulting and be able to work with animals while helping people. She also expressed a desire to live on a farm with her own herd of cattle.
Her favorite classes were AN S 331: Domestic Animal Reproduction and AN S 434: Dairy Systems Management; saying she learned a lot from both. When asked if she had any advice for current students, McKenna said, “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. The worst people can say is no, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You have a lot of resources here, so use them.”