About Us

Our Mission

The blendVET Foundation empowers underresourced students and their support networks by creating pathways into veterinary medicine through mentorship, leadership, and immersive learning experiences.

Our Values

Empowerment

Mentorship

Community

Collaboration

Innovation

Our Board of Directors

Krista Purnell, MA

Secretary

  • Krista Purnell is a dedicated lifelong educator on a mission to expand opportunity, access, and empowerment for students, teachers, and administrators. With nearly 25 years of experience in education, she began her career as a middle school math teacher before moving into roles as a Staff Developer and Instructional Coach. Her passion for educational equity eventually led her to the educational nonprofit sector, where she continues to drive meaningful change by leading successful teams by building trust, cultivating strong relationships, and guiding individuals and teams toward their highest potential.

    A proud University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate, Krista also holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She is also an alumna of the American Express Leadership Academy where she has previously served as a member of multiple sub-committees. Krista also volunteers with Made in South L.A., an organization that trains students in technology and multimedia. 

    When Krista is not at work or enjoying life in Los Angeles, she loves traveling the world and spending quality time with her nieces and nephews.

Matt Guagliardo, M.S.Ed, MSW

Treasurer

  • Matt Guagliardo is an animal welfare professional and social worker in the southern Finger Lakes of Upstate New York. With a career built on fostering empathy, advocacy, and education, Matt is committed to enhancing the well-being of individuals, nonhuman animals, and communities.

    Currently, Matt is a school-based therapist at a middle school. He also serves as a Community Educator at the Chemung SPCA, providing educational programs for younger community members. These programs range from teaching healthy boundaries and safe interactions with animals to elementary students, to an “Intro to Shelter Med” for high school students. Matt also leads an animal advocacy club for high school students where they explore the relationships between animal welfare, the environment, and social justice. Matt sees the importance of representation in education and is committed to the blendVET mission of increasing the pathway of underrepresented youth into veterinary medicine.

    Matt received a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed) from Elmira College in New York and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Binghamton University in New York.

    Matt is a dedicated community leader active with Rotary and a board member for his local community arts organization. He is also treasurer for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and a member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators.

Jovanna Radillo, DVM, MPPA

President

  • Dr. Jovanna Radillo is a first-generation Mexican-American and bilingual Small Animal General Practice veterinarian, proud of her cultural heritage and humble beginnings. With over 20 years dedicated to advancing animal care and welfare, Dr. Radillo draws on her extensive educational and corporate leadership background and diverse experiences to make a meaningful impact in her field. She is passionate about promoting a sense of belonging in veterinary medicine, ensuring that all communities are represented and that every voice is heard.

    Dr. Radillo earned her Bachelor of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity, with a Minor in Comparative Literature, from UC Davis in 2004. She then furthered her education at Sacramento State University, where she obtained a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration in 2007. Her thesis focused on utilizing City of Los Angeles resources to enhance veterinary care for low-income communities, showcasing her commitment to social equity. In 2012, she completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Radillo enhanced her executive leadership skills by participating in the Managerial Acceleration Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management from 2021 to 2022, equipping her with essential tools to lead effectively in the non-profit and corporate sector.

    With over a decade of experience as a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Radillo specializes in fostering a healthy team culture, empowering and developing talent, and providing culturally competent care. She is deeply committed to mentoring aspiring and early-career veterinarians, advocating for increased representation in veterinary medicine to improve access to quality medical care. Her dedication to education reflects her belief in empowering future generations within the veterinary profession.

    Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Radillo maintains an active lifestyle through weightlifting, boxing, and hiking. A self-proclaimed foodie, she enjoys crafting, baking, and cooking, and is an enthusiastic supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers, often cheering passionately at Dodger Stadium.

    Residing in San Diego, CA, with her two dogs, Sunny and Nino Rey, and her two senior cats, Napoleon and Hector, Dr. Radillo epitomizes a passionate animal advocate and respected community leader. She is dedicated to driving the blendVET mission forward, creating lasting change for future generations of veterinarians and the communities they serve.

Tonya Noldon-Randall, JD

Board Member

  • Tonya Noldon-Randall is the proud mother of fraternal twin boys, one of whom aspires to become a veterinarian. As such, Tonya is excited to bring a parent’s perspective to the blendVET board and to work on behalf of youth interested in veterinary science careers, especially those whose communities have historically been underrepresented in this field. Tonya has served underrepresented communities in Florida as a math teacher in Title I public schools through Teach for America and as a legal educator at an historically black college of law.

    Tonya is a New York City Bronx native who graduated from Cornell University with an Economics degree and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Lauren Davidson DVM, MS, DACLAM

Board Member

  • Dr. Lauren Davidson is the Animal Program Director and Attending Veterinarian for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. She also serves in the Unites States Public Health Service (USPHS). In her role as Animal Program Director, Dr. Davidson provides veterinary care to animals used in research and works with scientists to ensure humane animal care and use. Dr. Davidson received her veterinary degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM) and a master’s degree in comparative medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. 

    With over 20 years of experience in laboratory animal medicine, Dr. Davidson has presented and published on topics such as rodent behavior and housing, public health deployments to control endemic rabies in Indigenous communities, institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs), management and leadership. Dr. Davidson is also a proud Cornell University alumna (B.S. Animal Science, 1995) and serves on the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean’s Advisory Council. She received the UFCVM Distinguished Alumni Award for her service as an Officer in the USPHS Commissioned Corps in 2015 and has shared her knowledge and experiences while on unique deployments in Native American communities and abroad with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, promoting the One Health initiative to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment.

    Dr. Davidson is active in several professional organizations including the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM), the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP), and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). She is passionate about mentoring students interested in veterinary medicine, science, and technology, and is especially enthusiastic about mentoring veterinary students interested in advancing in the exciting field of biomedical research.

Our Team

Niccole Bruno, DVM

Executive Director

Briana Golob, MSW, LCSW

Program Director

  • Niccole Bruno, DVM, is a veterinarian, leader, and visionary founder whose career is dedicated to elevating the veterinary industry by increasing access to care and opportunities to join the profession - especially people from underresourced communities. Over a decade in small animal practice, Dr. Bruno distinguished herself as a clinician known for strong clinical skills, compassionate communication, and commitment to an inclusive, team-centered hospital culture. As a medical director and hospital leader, she mentored veterinarians, technicians, and support staff, championing professional development and building workplaces where diverse voices and perspectives were valued.

    Inspired by her experiences in practice and her passion for advancing equity and belonging in veterinary medicine, Dr. Bruno launched blendVET PLLC, an organization focused on education, consulting, and programming that helps veterinary teams create more inclusive environments. Through blendVET, she collaborated with practices, conferences, and educational institutions to design training, curricula, and speaking experiences that centered on inclusion and access, while always staying grounded in the realities of clinical practice and client care.

    Recognizing the growing need to reach future veterinary professionals, Dr. Bruno sought to develop the blendVET Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to building pathways into veterinary medicine for students from all backgrounds. The Foundation’s programs introduce youth to veterinary careers, provide culturally responsive education and mentorship, and partner with schools, communities, and industry to expand representation in the profession. As Founder and Executive Director, she brings her clinical experience, leadership background, and educational vision together to create high-impact initiatives that center representation, belonging, and opportunity.

    Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Bruno is a proud wife and mother of two children, who continually inspires her commitment to creating a more inclusive future for the next generation. Her family also includes a beloved cat, Sushi Roll, who serves as a daily reminder of the human–animal bond at the heart of veterinary medicine.

  • Bri Golob, MSW, LCSW (FL), LICSW (MA) is blendVET Foundations’ Pathway Director and a veterinary social worker committed to social justice and mental wellness in the veterinary industry. Bri brings experience in nonprofit programming, higher education, and clinical social work to her role with blendVET Foundation.

    Since joining blendVET in 2024, Bri has helped grow the Believe & Belong Youth Pathway program and now leads the back-end event planning and scholar support that keep the program running smoothly. She leverages her background in nonprofit programming and academic advising to empower blendVET scholars as they pursue their dreams in veterinary medicine.

    Bri lives with her spouse, whipador mutt Pumba, and a flock of barred rock hens (Amelia Earhart, Clara Barton, Bonnie & Claudia, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Annie), and hopes to welcome a new puppy after the loss of her first dog, Cole, in January 2026.