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The University at Albany community is mourning the death of Erin Couture, a longtime educator and administrator whose work left a lasting mark on students, colleagues, and student-athletes across campus.
Couture joined the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC) in 2018 as an academic advisor and later became Director of Student Experiences. In that role, she was responsible for leading CEHC’s experiential education, internationalization, and professional development initiatives, playing a key role in shaping applied learning opportunities for students.
Her responsibilities included managing professional development programming and overseeing applied learning coursework for undergraduate and graduate students. Couture also directed CEHC’s internship, peer education, capstone, and undergraduate research programs—core components of the college’s applied learning curriculum. In addition, she coordinated and supported numerous CEHC events each semester aimed at increasing student engagement and academic enrichment.
Colleagues described her as detail-oriented, collaborative, and deeply committed to student success. Many credited her leadership with expanding opportunities that helped students prepare for careers and graduate study.
Couture earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from The College of Saint Rose and a Master of Science in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. Her academic background informed a student-centered approach that emphasized access, mentorship, and professional growth.
After her tenure at CEHC, Couture joined UAlbany Athletics as an Academic Coordinator. In that position, she worked closely with student-athletes, including members of the University at Albany Men’s Basketball program, supporting them in balancing academic responsibilities with athletic commitments. The athletics department and men’s basketball program have publicly expressed their sorrow, recognizing her dedication to the academic success and well-being of the students she served.
The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Couture’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the University at Albany community, highlighting her professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to education. University officials, colleagues, and former students say her legacy will endure through the programs she helped build and the many lives she influenced during her career.