For her exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to veterinary education and student affairs, Dr. Erin Burton was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award at the 2025 Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) Annual Conference. 

The award recognizes a College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member who provides outstanding service to Minnesota veterinarians; who gives their time and talent to the veterinary profession; who is a leader who makes a difference in the profession; and who is a dedicated contributor to organized veterinary medicine. 

“Dr. Burton is deeply committed to supporting students in every facet of their journey. She's closely involved with the MVMA, including her work on the scholarship award committee and her effort in fundraising for student scholarships,” MVMA President Dr. Ann Brownlee said during the award presentation. “Dr. Erin Burton exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding faculty member through her leadership innovation and unwavering commitment to veterinary education and student success.”

Burton is CVM’s senior associate dean of academic and student affairs and an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. In her role, Burton provides strategic leadership and coordination of the DVM program and oversight of the Office of Academic and Student Affairs, which includes admissions, student affairs and wellbeing, curriculum, educational policies, and outcomes assessment.

Burton is an award-winning educator and course coordinator and a nationally recognized expert in Competency-Based Veterinary Education Model (CBVE), particularly in her work with Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) to improve coaching feedback.