From the Department of Animal Science...

This weeks International Student of the Week is Monica Prado-Cooper. She is from Venezuela and is currently a Graduate student in Animal Science. She speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. She is a graduate sponsor student from the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA).

When she is not busy studying and conducting experiments, she enjoys taking art classes such as drawing and color pencil painting. She is also very involved in church activities and is currently teaching Spanish to her advisors.

Monica came to Oklahoma State University because her advisor from UCLA told her that OSU was very knowledgeable on the physiology and reproduction of animal growth. She was excited to come to the United States to learn about another culture and was looking forward to all the resources that would be made available to her.

She has not only enjoyed the culture here in the United States, but she has also met her husband here on campus while doing laundry (see photo above). Monica and her husband Chris Cooper have been married for a little over a year. She is so grateful to have him in her life, “he is very supportive in all that I do” said Monica.

Monica came from a family of farmers; she has five siblings and is very close to her family. They raise dual purpose cattle, sugarcane and sorghum. After completing her degree, she and her husband are going to move back to Venezuela where she will teach animal production.

Words of advice to other international students, “Being an international student is to learn about different cultures and is very enjoyable, the more I like what I do, the less I call it work. Keep in mind that whatever you do, it is because you choose to do it and enjoy it,” said Monica.

Her advisor is Dr. Bob Wettemann.

Interview by Taryn Fast, International Ag Programs.