When Dr. Jake Shivley arrived at Mississippi State in 2000 as an undergraduate majoring in wildlife and fisheries with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine, he had no idea of the career he already was forming.

Shivley was admitted into the College of Veterinary Medicine after completing his bachelor’s degree in 2004 and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2008. He then completed a small animal general rotating internship at MSU CVM before pursuing a surgical specialty in Denver, Colorado. The following three years were spent in Arkansas, working at a small private practice.

It seemed an ideal situation. He was close to family, and the hills and streams of the Ozarks seemed like a great place to raise his young children.

However, Shivley began to feel a growing pull toward teaching and mentorship. He discovered a passion not just for practicing medicine but for shaping how students learn and grow.

That realization ultimately led him back to his alma mater. Twelve years ago, Shivley returned home to MSU to join the CVM faculty, drawn by the opportunity to teach, serve students and raise his family in Starkville.

Today, Shivley plays a vital role in surgical training instruction through the College’s Shelter Medicine Program. His background in private practice and his love for surgery have positioned him to prepare students for the realities of general veterinary medicine. He works closely with students as they develop foundational surgical skills through spay and neuter procedures, often students’ first hands-on surgical experiences. MSU CVM students regularly perform more than 90 surgeries before graduation—far more than the national average for veterinary students—and Shivley’s instruction is a big part of that success.

“Our focus is on teaching the skills students will actually use when they graduate,” Shivley said. “The techniques learned during a routine spay translate to nearly every soft-tissue surgery they’ll perform in practice.”

Through these procedures, students gain confidence in skills that form the backbone of a successful veterinary career. At the same time, the work fulfills a critical community need. Shivley and the shelter medicine team exclusively serve animals without owners, partnering with local and regional shelters and rescue organizations to provide free surgical care that improves adoptability and outcomes for homeless dogs and cats.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Shivley helps lead the development of a new primary care shelter clinic at the college. Working alongside MSU leadership, he plans the overall direction of the clinic. Shivley sees his role as helping lay a strong foundation that will support faculty, students and shelter partners for years to come.

“My reach has grown beyond just me,” he said. “If I can help train and mentor the next generation of teachers and leaders, that impact multiplies.”

Outside of work, Shivley’s life is centered around family and community. He and his wife are raising four daughters in Starkville. Faith and music play major roles in his life. He serves as a worship pastor at a local church where he sings, plays the guitar and writes original music.

Reflecting on his time at MSU, Shivley said the community has given him so much, and he is grateful to give back in the same way.

“This place shaped me as a student, veterinarian and teacher,” he said. “Being able to give back to the institution that gave me so much has been incredibly meaningful.”