Maria Libonate, RVT

Maria Libonate, RVT, is an Instructional Designer with VCA Animal Hospitals. She has been in veterinary medicine since 2007, starting as a veterinary assistant in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After moving across the country in 2013, Libonate began her career with VCA working for a general practice in Los Angeles. She obtained her RVT license through the alternate route with Platt College in 2016 and was shortly promoted to Vet Tech Supervisor after that. In 2019, Libonate left the hospital setting to work in the Knowledge & Capability Development department, where she could use her RVT skills and knowledge in a different capacity. When the pandemic hit, Libonate decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design & media arts with Southern New Hampshire University online and graduated in 2024. In 2025, Libonate became a Co-Lead for the VCA Pride Associate Resource Group (ARG), where she could champion her passion for DEI and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. Instructional Design has also become a passion as she continues to work in the veterinary field by creating engaging training for hospital and support staff across North America. She also occasionally works relief shifts in local hospitals to get her vet tech fix! In her free time, Libonate loves to read, watch a good TV show or movie, play video games, enjoy good eats (and boba!), spend time with her wife, Jamie, and get lots of cuddles from her cats, Zayn, Cannoli, and Zeppoli.