Hometown: Alta, Wyoming
Undergraduate Degree: Biology (Boise State University)
Area of interest: Mixed animal, rural medicine
Growing up along the Wyoming-Idaho border, Joni Dalley developed an appreciation for rural communities and the animals that are part of them. That connection has shaped her path toward veterinary medicine and her goal of becoming a mixed animal veterinarian serving the people and animals of the region she calls home.
Joni’s ideal day as a veterinarian would include a little bit of everything – working through a challenging small animal internal medicine case, helping puppies and kittens start their lives off healthy, and spending the afternoon on a farm caring for cattle.
“Veterinary medicine is an incredible blend of science, medicine, empathy, and service,” Joni said. “The humans and animals of this world have benefited immensely from veterinary medicine, and I am honored to be a part of that legacy.”
At WSU, Joni said one of the most valuable parts of her education has been learning from faculty who are leaders in the profession and building relationships with mentors who will continue supporting her long after graduation.
After earning her DVM, Joni plans to practice mixed-animal general and emergency medicine in rural Idaho or Wyoming. She credits her classmates in the Class of 2027 as another highlight of her WSU experience, describing the class as a group with a special bond that has supported one another throughout veterinary school.
“I am so grateful to my friends and classmates who I have gotten to share my life with over the past three and a half years,” she said.
Outside of the classroom, Joni enjoys riding her horse in the mountains; fishing with her husband, Alvin; reading; and helping friends and family prepare for special events by styling their hair. She also shares her home with her pets, including Ashes, a domestic longhair cat that taught himself how to use the toilet.