- Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from United States Merchant Marine Academy, 1985
- J.D. from Temple University, 1993
- USCG Unlimited Master License
- 15 years sailing experience on various merchant marine vessels, 12 years experience working shoreside in a shipping company office.
- Member of the Nautical Institute
- Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Master of Arts from Cambridge College
- Master Mariner - Oceans, Unlimited Tonnage, Tankerman PIC, DL, DG
Dr. Heather (Schrum) Burton is currently Chair of the the Marine Science, Safety & Environmental Protection Department at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She teaches Earth Science, Oceanography, Coastal Ecology, Communicating Ocean and Climate Science, and several marine biology courses. She has coordinated and taught Experiential Learning field courses in St. John, Maine, and Bermuda. Dr. Burton received her B.A. in Geology (Mathematics minor) from Hamilton College and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include marine biogeochemistry, particularly the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Dr. Burton has participated on oceanographic research expeditions to the Southern Ocean, Equatorial Pacific, Atlantic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 1994 Master of Science in Emergency Management, Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2016, USCG Unlimited Chief Mate , 1600 Ton Master's
2018 Graduate of Emergency Management MMA Program. In 2015, retired Deep Sea Master, Served as Master aboard M/V Maersk Arkansas in the Eastern Mediterranean container feeder service. Responsibilities included overall command, safe and efficient operation of vessel, navigation, crew management and ensuring vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag state policies. Managed ship's accounting, payrolls, and inventories. Also, safe docking and undocking of vessel when pilots unable or incompetent to do so in Port Said, Egypt.Served as Master aboard M/V Maersk Arkansas in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. Vessel was tasked to transport US and NATO military equipment and supplies bound for Afghanistan via Port of Riga Latvia and Klaipeda Lithuania. As Master, responsible for safe navigation when transiting the Kiel Canal twice a week on routine service without incident. The Kiel Canal, at 62 miles long, is the most congested canal in the world with the highest amount of vessel accidents. Also, had to maneuver around ice flow during harsh Baltic winters. Currently, Associate Professor teaching Bridge Resource Management to First Class Deck Cadets in FMSS 360 in prepping them for maritime industry