University of Minnesota SAVMA Chapter
Mission Statement:
The Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) exists to support, empower, and inspire all veterinary students in improving their lives, education, and career, along with securing a better future for our profession through collaboration with our parent organization, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Class of 2026 White Coat Ceremony 2022
What is SAVMA?
SAVMA (Student American Veterinary Medical Association) is a non-profit, student-run organization. Here at Minnesota, we are all members of the SAVMA Chapter as well as the national SAVMA organization, which includes over 10,000 student members worldwide!
The Minnesota chapter is active in community philanthropic efforts, offers student externship and travel grants, hosts informative lunch seminars, plans social events, and supports student camaraderie.
National SAVMA is the Student American Veterinary Medical Association, comprised of students from schools all over the nation and some from Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and other countries. The national SAVMA organization exists to support, empower, and inspire all veterinary students in improving their lives, education, and career. SAVMA works toward securing a better future for our profession through collaboration with our parent organization, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). More information can be found on their website: https://www.avma.org/about/SAVMA
Meet Our Executive Board
Bella Kappenman
President, c/o 2026
Hometown: Brookings, SD
Track interest: Small animal
Email: kappe149@umn.edu
Best Piece of Advice: "Everything is hard until it is easy! When something becomes easy, notice how far you've come."
Regina Kurandina
President Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: White Bear Lake, MN
Track Interest: Mixed animal theriogenology
Email: kuran008@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: I love spending time with my dogs! Most of my free time is spent training for various dog competitions or taking them lure coursing.
Alexandria Yu
Senior Delegate, c/o 2026
Hometown: Walnut, CA
Track interest: Small animal emergency
Email: yu0154400@umn.edu
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls once it hits October!
Jennifer Johnson
SDSU Senior Delegate, c/o 2026
Hometown: Gravity, IA
Track interest: Mixed-predominantly large animal
Email: joh22089@umn.edu
Favorite vacation: A family vacation to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was beautiful and quickly became one of my favorite places. I can't wait to go back.
Mikayla Schlosser
Junior Delegate, c/o 2027
Hometown: Maple Plain, MN
Track interest: Poultry Production
Email: schlo315@umn.edu
Fun fact: I was the Minnesota State Poultry Princess (2017-2018).
Aidan Freisen
SDSU Junior Delegate, c/o 2027
Hometown: Olivet, SD
Track interest: Large animal
Email: fries322@umn.edu
Fun fact: I play the guitar!
Divya Wagle
Treasurer, c/o 2026
Hometown: Piscatway, NJ
Track interest: Small animal
Email: wagle027@umn.edu
Best advice that you ever received: Give yourself the advice that you would give your best friend.
Hannah Peterson
Treasurer Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: St. Michael, Minnesota
Track interest: Small animal
Email: Pet01117@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: Snorkeling between two tectonic plates in Iceland!
Sejla Pujagic
Secretary, c/o 2026
Hometown: Urbandale, IA
Track interest: Mixed
Email: pujag001@umn.edu
Fun fact: I used to be a horseback trail guide in the Rocky Mountains over the summertime.
Abby Veath
Information Officer, c/o 2027
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
Track interest: Small animal Rehabilitation and General Practice
Email: veath003@umn.edu
Fun Fact: I competed at the world class level for color guard in highschool.
Heather Kim
Fundraising Commitee Chair, c/o 2026
Hometown: Rocklin, CA
Track interest: Small animal
Email: kim01849@umn.edu
Best advice that you ever received: Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue—if you care for yourself at all—and do it while you can.
Haley Rubia
Membership Officer, c/o 2026
Hometown: La Mirada, CA
Track interest: Small Animal and Exotics
Email: rubia010@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: Snorkeling on a bangka in the Philippines in 2016
Lynn Willems
Membership Officer Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Track interest: Small Animal General Practice or Neurology
Email: wille589@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: Hiking Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu in Peru
Jena Hauch
Philanthropy Officer, c/o 2026
Hometown: Maple Grove, MN
Track interest: Small Animal with interest in general practice or community medicine
Email: hauch046@umn.edu
Favorite vacation: Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
Lauren Loughlin
Philanthropy Officer Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: Lewis Center, OH
Track interest: Mixed animal with a focus in small animal. I am also exploring several specialties including radiology, ophthalmology, and surgery.
Email: lough106@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: Enjoy exploring different coffee shops in the cities
Gwyn Knott-Byars
IVSA Chair, c/o 2026
Hometown: Smithtown, NY
Track interest: Small animal surgery/non-profit
Email: knott115@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: My honeymoon, we did a cruise through northern Europe.
Lucia Meester
IVSA Chair Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: Marco Island
Track interest: Small animal
Email: meest019@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: I went to Scotland for a summer and visited Inverness, which is the town near where Nessie lives.
Divya Ghosh
DEI Chair, c/o 2026
Hometown: Rochester, MN
Track interest: Small animal
Email: ghosh094@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: Spending time with friends!
Emma Banks
DEI Chair Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
Track interest: Mixed - equine focused
Email: knott115@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: Bouldering!
Doug Chamroeun
Wellness Chair, c/o 2026
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Track interest: Dermatology
Email: mart3592@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: Spend time with my handsome son, wife and bunnies!
Caitlyn Thompson
Wellness Chair Elect, c/o 2027
Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Track interest: Small animal or Mixed
Email: thom6424@umn.edu
Fun Fact: I use to be Head Coach for a middle school volleyball program from 2016-2018!
Alaina Frank
2025 Class Representative
Hometown: Northfield, MN
Track interest: Small animal
Email: falck028@umn.edu
Outside of Vet School: Trying out new recipes
Ella Lee
2026 Class Representative
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Track interest: Small animal
Email: lee01360@umn.edu
Favorite Movie: Zootopia
Casondra Snow
2027 Class Representative
Hometown: Mayer, MN
Track interest: Large animal primarily swine
Email: snow0078@umn.edu
Favorite vacation: Caye Caulker, Belize
Dr. Erin Burton
Faculty Advisor
DACVP, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Clinical Pathology
DVM, Ross University
MS, Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri
BS, Biology, Arizona State University
Email: burt0233@umn.edu
Favorite Vacation: We (Dr. Burton and her husband) went to Belize and Guatemala for our honeymoon. We stayed in a beautiful border town called San Ignacio for a portion of the trip. My husband and I went on this incredible 15 mile kayak and bird tour through the jungle. I have never seen so much beauty in one place.
Dr. Emily Barrell
Faculty Advisor
DACVIM, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Large Animal Internal Medicine (LAIM)
DVM, Colorado State University
MS, Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University
BS, Equine Science, Colorado State University
Email: ebarrell@umn.edu
Most used emoji: 🙄 The eyeroll. Obviously.
Sponsors
External Links
UMN College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA)
SAVMA's The Vet Gazette
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
Veterinary Information Network (VIN)
GOALE Mentors 2022