The lead marketing specialist is praised for her creative social media campaigns, which promote the school’s reputation for excellence and build community.
It’s a social media trend many of us are familiar with: children holding up chalkboards on the first day of school, proudly showing off what they want to be when they grow up. Liz Myers, MBA, lead marketing specialist, Office of Communications and Marketing, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), put her own twist on it the first day of classes last year, asking UMSOP students and faculty to fill out chalkboards and pose for photos to post on the school’s social media accounts. About 70 were eager to participate, and the answers varied from industry pharmacist, dean, and scientist to astronaut and millionaire.
Myers’ creativity on social media has helped promote UMSOP and build the school’s community, leading her to be named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Employee of the Month of November.
She learned the news at a videoconference Nov. 17 in which she thought she’d be attending a meeting about branded swag for an upcoming event but was instead surprised by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS; UMSOP Dean Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD; and about three dozen colleagues from across the school.
“We’re not talking about swag. We’re talking about man-on-the-street interviews and white coat ceremonies and all these things you wonderfully get involved with at the school,” Jarrell said.
Becky Ceraul, assistant dean, Office of Communications and Marketing, and Myers’ supervisor, praised her for transforming the way UMSOP connects with its audiences. She said Myers invests tremendous time, energy, and imagination into customizing content for each social media platform, ensuring that every post resonates with current and prospective students while reinforcing the school’s reputation for excellence in research, education, and practice.
“Liz’s work managing the school’s social media channels has been exemplary — creative, strategic, and deeply impactful for recruitment, branding, and community building,” Ceraul said in nominating Myers for the award. “With so much content competing for attention, Liz helps the school break through the noise to authentically reach our audiences.”
In addition to the First Day of School campaign, which Myers said is her favorite, her successes include “Barbie Goes to Pharmacy School,” a playful campaign inspired by the 2023 “Barbie” movie; the UMSOP Photo Contest, which engaged faculty, staff, students, and alumni and resulted in the school’s first branded calendar; and creative annual traditions such as American Pharmacists Month videos, Teacher Appreciation Day features, and Women in Science spotlights.
“Each of these efforts strengthens community pride and showcases the school’s vibrant personality,” Ceraul said.
Myers also is a “roving reporter,” conducting interviews with students, faculty, and staff.
“These man-on-the-street videos are equal parts fun and informative,” Ceraul said. “This blend of professional storytelling and pop culture relevance makes the school’s channels relatable and authentic. Students often tell us their goal is to make it onto the school’s social media, a testament to how engaging and inclusive Liz’s work is.”
During the surprise videoconference, Michel called Myers a fabulous colleague and said she does a phenomenal job sharing the school’s happenings.
“You have very creative ways of sharing and interacting with everyone,” Michel said. “And I think that’s really a testament to you that people want to get on the school’s social media.”
Myers also closely monitors analytics — tracking what drives reach and engagement — and uses that data to refine strategies and adopt new approaches. Her data-driven methods have led to consistent growth in followers, engagement rates, and overall reach.
Myers said she likes the balance her job gives her of not only being creative but also diving into the data.
“I like the science behind it,” she said. “I like looking at the numbers and analyzing what’s working and what’s not.”
Myers’ colleagues praised her for her teamwork and collaboration, saying she is always willing to lend a hand.
“Liz is a collaborator and role model,” Ceraul said. “She shares new skills and social media insights, whether it’s a creative editing trick or an algorithm update, and encourages colleagues to experiment. She has also supported major initiatives such as online giving campaigns, conferences, and the recent launch of the MS in Artificial Intelligence for Drug Development. Her willingness to collaborate and her contagious enthusiasm exemplify UMB’s spirit of teamwork and service.”
As the lead marketing specialist for UMSOP, Myers not only manages the school’s social media but also the marketing efforts for student recruitment for the school’s 11 academic programs, ensuring that the recruiting team has the resources it needs and working with the third-party advertising agency. She also manages branded giveaway items, internal and external email marketing, and content on the school’s personal URL website, which personalizes content for prospective PharmD students.
“We make sure that we’re portraying the University in the best light, and that we’re giving prospective students reasons to apply to the school,” she said.
Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS, associate professor and associate dean for recruitment, admissions, and integration, said, “I’m grateful for all that you do to help us bring great students to the school.”
Myers said she was surprised and excited to win the Employee of the Month award, calling it surreal.
“I put a lot of thought into and try to make sure that all of my work does incorporate our purpose,” Myers said. “I focus on ensuring the strategy is getting our messaging out there in the right way and to the right people. When someone notices and recognizes the time and effort I put in, it makes me feel like everything I’m doing matters, and that the effort and attention to all the little details does make a difference.”
She thanked Ceraul and the other members of her office — Tae Kerney, videographer and producer, who helps her ideas come to fruition, and Pam Carder, senior web content specialist, who writes content that Myers translates to social media.
“It’s a team effort,” said Myers, who will receive a certificate and $250 in her next paycheck as rewards for her Employee of the Month honor. “None of anything I do would happen if we didn’t have the team that we have.”