Cheyenne Summers

Hometown: Nokomis, IL

Advisor: Dr. Sarah Reed

About

Cheyenne is a PhD candidate in Dr. Sarah Reed’s lab. She serves on the Executive Board of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) as a Graduate Director. She is passionate about reproductive physiology, fetal programming, endocrinology, equine reproduction, and metabolism. Her dissertation research focuses on the impact of maternal body condition and metabolism on parturition, lactation, and offspring developmental programming in the horse. Cheyenne has also worked on ovine projects investigating multi-generational effects of maternal nutrition on fetal programming, as well as projects investigating metabolic alterations in women with idiopathic subfertility utilizing a mouse model.

Cheyenne has a background in mare and foal care, equine breeding facility management, and broodmare and stallion management. Before joining the University of Connecticut, Cheyenne worked as a Research Specialist in Agriculture at the University of Illinois. There, she managed an AALAC-accredited equine breeding and foaling facility. She taught multiple undergraduate courses, worked alongside industry professionals, and facilitated research between university horses and veterinary researchers.

In her free time, Cheyenne enjoys hiking in the mountains, weightlifting, and riding her horse named Tim.

Education

• BS, University of Illinois, 2019
• MS, University of Illinois, 2021