A 2000 graduate in Penn State’s Dairy and Animal Science Program, Christina Petersson-Wolfe is now an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Although she attended two Big 10 schools,” her bio reads, “there is no doubt her allegiances lie with her true alma mater. Christina’s research and extension goals focus on improving milk quality through reducing mastitis and improving animal well being.” But researcher, author and instructor aren’t the only hats she wears. Christina is also a wife (married to Jason Wolfe, PSU AZ 1999) and mother to two sons. Additionally, she is a photographer and manages her own business focused on newborns and young families. How does she do it all? Read below to find out more.
Christina, what is your family and educational background?
I was raised my early years in central New York and then moved to Massachusetts in middle school. As I was completing high school in Rhode Island, I was interested in an Animal Science program as I aspired to become a small animal veterinarian. I visited Penn State in November of my senior year during the Nittany Lion Fall Classic, and it was then that I realized this was the place for me. I still remember the day my acceptance letter came in the mail! As one of only a few out-of-state students in the Dairy and Animal Science Program, my advisor, Dr. Muller, recommended I join the Dairy Science Club after arriving that fall. Within just a few short months of being involved in the Dairy Science Club, I realized that my career goals were quickly changing.
The four years at Penn State went by so quickly and as I was finishing, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree to try my hand at research before embarking on vet school. I was accepted at the University of Guelph under the guidance of Dr. Ken Leslie, where I completed a Master’s of Science in epidemiology. My Master’s project examined vaccination schedules using a coliform mastitis vaccine. I realized how much I enjoyed research during my time in Guelph and decided to pursue a doctoral degree. I was accepted at Ohio State University, where I worked with Dr. Joe Hogan to obtain a Ph.D. in Animal Science with a focus on mastitis prevention. My doctoral work focused on genotypic and phenotypic diversity of enterococci. Much of my time at OSU was spent working with producers, troubleshooting mastitis problems on-farm and helping to improve milk quality; this work fostered a great interest in extension.
Upon the completion of my doctoral degree, I was hired at Virginia Tech in the Department of Dairy Science. My position is split between extension and research where my main focus is the improvement of milk quality and animal well-being through the prevention of mastitis. I was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor in 2013. I am actively involved in many professional organizations including the National Mastitis Council and the Mastitis Research Workers. During my time at Virginia Tech, my husband (Jason Wolfe, PSU AZ 1999) and I have had two children. Evan just started second grade, and Erik will be three in October. Both are avid Penn State fans! Jason works for Ecolab as an agri-specialist covering a territory from Pennsylvania to Alabama. We spend a lot of time on the road, as we love to get back to most of the home football games each year!
Click here to see Christina’s full professional bio.
Christina with husband Jason and sons Evan (left) and Erik.
What are your fondest memories of Penn State and Alpha Zeta?
My fondest memories of Penn State include the fraternity of Alpha Zeta and the lifelong friends I made there including my pledge class sisters, helping out at the Nittany Lion Fall Classic, being integral in the initiation of the Spring Bargain Fling, spring trips, tailgating for Penn State football games, meeting Joe Paterno walking across the HUB lawn, listening to JR & Sharon at the Skeller, pomping floats before Homecoming, meeting my college roommate in the bathroom of Stone Hall our freshman year and, of course, Jason’s persistence in asking me out on a date to Brother’s Pizza. (Click here and scroll down for the feature on Christina and Jason in our February article about couples who met at Alpha Zeta.)
How did your time at Penn State and Alpha Zeta impact your area of study and career track?
My time at Penn State and the experiences I had there not only changed my career track from a small animal veterinarian to a mastitis researcher, but also gave this nonfarm girl an opportunity to learn in a hands-on setting about the industry in which I am not so integrally involved.
What influenced your interest in photography?
I have always had an interest in photography. I actually asked for my first film camera at the age of 9. While in college, I was given my first film SLR camera from my parents. At that point, I became the point person for photos for Dairy Science Club events and social gatherings. I continued shooting but didn’t become really passionate until our first son was born. At this point, I had a subject to really learn from and practice on! When Evan was six months old, a good friend of mine in Blacksburg encouraged me to start a small hobby business.
A collage of Christina’s work for other PSU AZ families.
Over the past seven years, I have learned, grown and now have a business that can sometimes get a little out of control! I stopped doing client weddings a couple years ago, but do still shoot a few for friends and family. Currently, my business is mainly focused on newborns and young families. I typically shoot six to 10 sessions per month, which is about all I can handle! As the years have gone on, the balance becomes more and more difficult. The photography is done in my “free time,” with most shooting done on weekends and most editing done after 9:00 p.m. at night. There are periods of the year when the balance becomes more difficult, but I do make sure I have at least one weekend a month with no work or photography, and I find that is really important. For me, the photography is a fun outlet for me, and I really love capturing images that I know will be cherished for years and years to come. It’s actually quite humbling, to be perfectly honest.
What’s next for you?
To keep doing what I love! Life is too short to do it any other way. I love what I do — from my job at Virginia Tech and working with dairy producers to improve milk quality to capturing life behind a lens and spending as much time with my husband and kids as I possibly can!