Meet Azariah Spurlock: The Future Public Health Veterinarian Inspiring Kids with Coloring Books
If you’ve ever met someone who can juggle vet school, tutoring, leadership roles, and writing a book—all while planning to protect public health—you’ve probably met Azariah Spurlock. A proud member of NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2027, Azariah is laser-focused on becoming a Public Health Veterinarian, working to keep our food systems safe and animals healthy.
But her story didn’t start in a barn or a busy clinic. Growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, veterinary medicine wasn’t even on her radar. That changed when she moved to North Carolina in 2019 for college. At NC Agricultural and Technical State University, she earned not one, but two bachelor’s degrees—in Animal Science and Laboratory Animal Science—proving early on that she’s unstoppable.
Now in vet school, Azariah wears many hats: Study Coordinator for the Class of 2027, Treasurer for VETS and SNABV, and a tutor for fellow students. And when she’s not hitting the books? She’s spending time with her two dogs, Bella and Scrappy.
Coloring Outside the Lines with “Ride Along with Dr. Ag”
Azariah isn’t just chasing her own dream—she’s creating pathways for others. Her book, Ride Along with Dr. Ag, is an interactive veterinary coloring book that takes readers on a day in the life of a large animal veterinarian. It’s fun, it’s educational, and it’s all about representation.
Growing up, Azariah didn’t see veterinarians who looked like her. “I didn’t know this career was even possible for me,” she says. That realization sparked the idea for her book: a way to help kids—especially underrepresented students—see themselves in veterinary medicine.
Her motto? “If they can see it, they can believe it—and most importantly, become it.”
Life Lessons & Big Dreams
When stress hits, Azariah’s favorite remedy is simple: doing nothing. It’s her way of resetting after a long day. She also draws inspiration from books like Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, which taught her to embrace life’s twists and turns and find meaning in every step.
Her mission? To protect public health through One Health, connecting animal, human, and environmental well-being. She also wants to teach and advocate for sustainable food systems and disease prevention.
Five years from now, she pictures herself as Dr. Azariah Spurlock, Public Health Veterinarian, running a small farm, expanding her coloring book series, and inspiring future veterinarians across the country. And she’ll be wiser—which she’s very excited about.
Azariah isn’t just building a career—she’s building a legacy of education, empowerment, and purpose. From classrooms to coloring books to food safety, she’s coloring outside the lines to create a brighter future for everyone.
