Tyler Jumper didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact, it wasn’t until college that she had her first hands-on experience with cattle. But today, she’s a champion for food animal medicine, an advocate for producers and a passionate teacher. She blends veterinary science with a people-centered purpose.

Originally from Flowood, Jumper now calls Starkville home. Her journey at Mississippi State began as an undergraduate studying biological sciences, but she quickly realized she wanted to get her hands on animals as soon as possible.

“At orientation, they tell you most pre-vet students pick either biology or animal and dairy science,” she said. “I started in biology because I liked science, but when I saw my friends out at the farm doing hands-on work, I switched to animal and dairy science. That was the first time I was really exposed to cattle, and I just fell in love.”

That early pivot sparked a career path she never expected, one that combines veterinary medicine with policy, advocacy and education.

Jumper wasn’t accepted into MSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Early Entry Program— a setback that ended up shaping her path in powerful ways.

“Not getting into the EEP forced me to explore other sides of who I am beyond just science,” she said. “In undergrad, I got deeply involved in student organizations and ended up serving as the MSU student body president. I learned I really love advocating for people.”

That passion for advocacy didn’t fade in vet school. At the CVM, Jumper served in several roles with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association, including as the national organization’s veterinary economics officer and a member of the Governmental Relations Committee.

“That work—policy, government relations—gave me a sense of purpose during a really demanding time,” she said. “Vet school is hard but knowing that I could be a part of something that has a broader impact kept me going.”

Today, Jumper has just completed a residency program in Population Medicine and Epidemiology, a specialty that focuses on the health of animal populations rather than individual patients. Her research centers on Tritrichomonas foetus, a state-regulated parasite affecting cattle.

“Each state has different rules for testing and moving animals across state lines,” she said. “My project has implications for producers, diagnostic labs and even beef prices. It’s about animal health, but ultimately, it’s about the people. It's about protecting livelihoods.”

Jumper’s people-first mindset is central to everything she does.

“I love animals, of course, but I’m here for the people. Beef cattle are about feeding families and supporting farmers,” she said. “That’s what motivates me.

“I get genuinely excited when I see vet students start to connect the dots in epidemiology,” she added. “It's a different way of thinking, less about treating an individual animal and more about understanding disease spread and presentation at a herd population level. Watching students grow into that way of thinking is just the best.”

Outside of her studies and career, MSU holds a special place for Tyler. It’s where she met her husband, Isaac Jumper, during a summer research program. He was a resident in Population Medicine at the time, and their shared passion for food animal medicine brought them together.

“I always say the Lord works in mysterious ways,” she said. “If I had gotten early entry, I wouldn’t have participated in student government, which led to advocacy, which led to epidemiology…and I wouldn’t have met Isaac.”

For students considering a non-traditional veterinary path, Tyler said, “Try everything. Work at a shelter, volunteer at a zoo or do research. Vet med is so much more than clinical practice. Whether it’s policy, population health or education, there’s a place for your passion.”