Burns-Maynard Veterinary Scholarship Established at Arkansas State University

JONESBORO – Future students of Arkansas State University (A-State) entering the College of Veterinary Medicine will have the opportunity to benefit from a new endowed scholarship established by Alan and Terri Burns.

The $30,000 gift to establish the Burns-Maynard Veterinary Scholarship is designed to support students from Greene and Craighead counties pursuing a veterinary education at A-State. The scholarship reflects the couple's desire to give back to the community and university that have played an important role in their lives.

Alan Burns, a 1993 graduate with a degree in zoology, and his wife, Terri Maynard-Burns, who earned a degree in elementary education in 1988, both have deep roots in Northeast Arkansas. Alan is from Greene County, while Terri is a Jonesboro native. They currently live in North Carolina.

"We wanted to give back to the community and the university, both of which mean so much to us," said Alan Burns. "We had been looking for the right opportunity and program to support. With the new veterinary school getting up and running at A-State, this was the perfect time and program for us to help get it started."

The couple hopes to support students who might not otherwise be able to continue their education without financial assistance.

"We see this veterinary scholarship as a meaningful way to give back to the Northeast Arkansas community where we grew up," said Terri Burns.

"We are deeply grateful to the Burns family for supporting our future Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students," said Dr. Heidi Banse, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Alan Burns has worked for more than 30 years with pharmaceutical companies in management and executive roles, developing and commercializing drugs that improve patients' quality of life. A former teacher, Terri Burns is passionate about supporting students and families as they pursue their educational goals.

"Regardless of size, every contribution helps make a difference in someone's life, and in this case, perhaps in the lives of animals as well," said Alan Burns, encouraging others to consider supporting veterinary education.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is expected to open in fall 2026 and will enroll 120 students in its first class. A groundbreaking ceremony for the modern 56,000-square-foot facility was held on March 12.

You can learn more about this and other giving opportunities at A-State through the Office of Development, at 870-972-3940 or Development@AState.edu.