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Veterinary Technology
Mary Berg
When Mary Berg enrolled in SPC’s Veterinary Technology program, she was balancing life as a military spouse, a mother of two small children and a move to a new state — making a traditional classroom experience nearly impossible. Instead, she chose SPC’s online option, a decision she credits with shaping her entire future.
Today, Mary serves as an SPC adjunct professor in veterinary technology while leading an accomplished career in the veterinary dentistry field.
Mary, who grew up on a farm in Minnesota, graduated from South Dakota State University with bachelor’s degrees in biology and microbiology. After marrying her husband, the couple traveled the world before returning to the U.S. to start a family in Lawrence, Kansas. For a time, Mary’s dreams of working in veterinary medicine were put on hold.
She began working for a company that did animal dental research as an administrative assistant and 13 years later she was the vice president of operations. The experience reignited her passion for the field, and when the company’s direction changed, she decided it was time to move on.
Shortly after, on a flight to Texas, Mary sat next to an SPC Veterinary Tech professor who encouraged Mary to look into the program. Mary wasn’t sure how she could balance motherhood, work and school but took a leap of faith and with her husband’s blessing, got started in the program.
“Sometimes life takes you on a very circuitous route to get you where you are and my advice to all budding technicians is to never say no to an opportunity because you just don’t know where it’ll take you. It’s because I listened to the advice of a Veterinary professor I met on an airplane that I ended up in the program.”
After graduating SPC in 1999 with an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology and passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination, Mary quickly advanced in her field. She went on to help organize the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians and earned her Veterinary Technician Specialist designation in dentistry.
Her career spans leadership roles in clinical practice, including managing a veterinary hospital, before transitioning into consulting and education. Today, she is the founder and president of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education, where she provides specialized training to veterinary professionals.
“None of this would have been possible if I hadn’t made that decision to go to SPC,” she said.
Mary has also contributed extensively to the profession through volunteer leadership, serving with organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, where she served as president in 2016. She continues to support the field as an educator, speaker and author, sharing her expertise with audiences around the world.
Despite her many accomplishments, Mary points back to her time at SPC as a turning point.
“SPC fueled a dream of what I always wanted and never thought I could have.”
Now a faculty member at the College since 2018, Berg brings her real-world experience back into the classroom, helping prepare the next generation of veterinary technicians for success. Her journey from distance learner to industry leader highlights the impact of accessible education and the lasting connections formed at SPC.
