Meet the Class of 2022: Kirby Marden

Kirby Marden with a patient, a Burmese Mountain Dog.

Kirby Marden “despises” human feet, but she can’t seem to get enough cat-toe beans and dog pawprints. Kirby, a product of Richland, Washington, hopes to return to the Tri Cities next summer to work at a small animal practice where there will be no shortage of paws. While she hopes to focus on dogs and cats, she wouldn’t mind providing care to exotics patients, too. 

“I want to be a veterinarian because I enjoy problem solving, working with people, advocating for animal welfare, and, of course, because I love animals,” Kirby said. “I am also looking forward to the lifelong learning involved with veterinary medicine and the many opportunities I will have to learn new skills and improve professionally.”

Kirby enjoys biking; kayaking; paddleboarding; hanging out with her 5-year-old mixed-breed dog, Remus; and relaxing with a good book. Her favorite author is Stephen King, but her favorite book series of all time is “Harry Potter.”

Kirby said her favorite thing about WSU is the sense of community. “Our class has been really great about including everyone and holding events together, and now we all have a solid network of competent veterinarians-to-be to count on in the future,” she said. “I am also incredibly grateful for how approachable clinicians and faculty are, and I appreciate how most interact with students like we’re already colleagues.”