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Dr. Kimberly Braxton joined the university in 2018 as campus veterinarian, assistant professor in the department of agriculture, IACUC AV, and PreVet student advisor. In November 2022, Dr. Braxton was appointed as Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for UMES. As FAR, she is a liaison between the university and the athletics department focusing on student-athlete welfare and development particularly with respect to academic success, integrity and eligibility. Dr. Braxton has a special connection to the FAR role as she is an alum volleyball student athlete of the University of the Maryland Eastern Shore. 

A Maryland naive, Dr. Braxton earned her bachelor’s degree at UMES and her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. Braxton completed an externship at the Indianapolis Zoo as well as studied overseas at the Czech Republic Veterinary School and Zoo Brno and Prague Zoo. She practiced small animal medicine for 10 years in Charles County MD and then relocated to the eastern shore to accept her current role as campus veterinarian and professor. Dr. Braxton currently teaches Animal and Avian Disease, Introduction to Animal science, Introduction to Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Terminology, and Agriculture and Animal Science Special Topic courses. 

Working with students is one of Dr. Braxton's greatest passion outside working with her four legged patients. As the Pre-Veterinary students advisor, Dr. Braxton has invited multiple veterinary related guests to inspire students, set up /offered animal related internships, planned engaging learning activities as well as successfully got a handful of students accepted to veterinary medical school in the last 3 years.  Dr. Braxton established veterinary pipelines to 2 top veterinary schools (Purdue and Ross) and is currently working on creating one with Virginia Tech. These pipelines allow UMES' equal minded underrepresented students a step forward toward their goals of becoming veterinarian.

Dr. Braxton is always speaking on the issues of diversity within the veterinary profession as well as the whole agriculture field. Representation matters to Dr. Braxton and she is able to speak with such passion on this topic because the fact is, she herself has a common story as the students she teaches. Attending University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), an agricultural top HBCU and through a multitude of diversity and inclusion opportunities, Braxton was able to achieve  success in the agriculture profession. Dr. Braxton says this was one of the the reason she returned to the eastern shore, to help underrepresented students enter and succeed in the agriculture/veterinary profession. Dr. Braxton is committed to opening door for students, just as someone was committed to making she sure has a step forward/ door open. 

Dr. Braxton currently serves as a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAC) and American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners ( AASRP). Dr. Braxton is involved in multiple animal related research projects across the UMES campus, including collaborating with the School of Pharmacy, Department of agriculture and university Extension. She serves as the faculty advisor for the pre-vet clubs and Co Advisor for MANRRS ( minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related science) organization, promoting professional development and helping minorities enter in the vast profession of agriculture.  

Dr. Braxton and her 13 year old pitbull resides in Salisbury MD. For fun, Braxton tried to play volleyball as much as she has time for as she also works as a relief clinical veterinarian for local animal clinics and human societies in the area. Dr. Braxton is also completing her Master's in Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) through Drexel University. Dr. Braxton has received the best community stem partner award in 2021 after she was able to hold her yearly vet camp through COVID — turning her office into a virtual exam room. 

Dr. Braxton strives to provide excellent service and always goes above and beyond for UMES students, colleagues and constituents. Her efforts on the campus continue to lead to multiple partnerships that will provide support and opportunities for students from disadvantage backgrounds to enter into both agriculture and veterinary medicine.