College Strengthens Efforts to Address Alumni Needs
The UK College of Pharmacy recently hired Rosa Mejia-Cruz and Kacie Miller in an effort to create a more robust focus on student and alumni development and success. In addition, Nicole Keenan has been promoted to the role of Director of Student Success and Career Development.
Keenan will work with students to help identify, prepare for, and procure various professional opportunities and career placements, including but not limited to residency training, fellowships, and graduate programs. She will also oversee initiatives involving student health and well-being.
Mejia-Cruz, the new director of alumni relations joined the College on May 13, 2019, with a goal of increasing alumni engagement and providing additional value to our alumni network. She will work closely with Keenan and the College’s Office of Student Success & Wellness to help new graduates navigate a more competitive job market. Keenan and Mejia-Cruz hope to foster a young alumni network that provides career tools, access to resume workshops, career counseling, mentorship opportunities, and resources for alumni to engage at every stage of their career.
Mejia-Cruz brings several years of experience in student engagement and most recently served as a recruiting and admissions coordinator at the College of Public Health. Mejia-Cruz came to UK from Houston, Texas where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from Sam Houston State University. “I am thrilled to be at a college with such a great reputation and alumni base. I look forward to connecting with graduates and discovering how the College can continue to add value,” said Mejia-Cruz. She noted, “With how competitive the job market is, I think it’s important that our alumni be able to take full advantage of the incredible network we have. I want to ensure they get the resources they need from us.”
Mejia-Cruz’s role will also include managing the dean’s annual tour throughout Kentucky, as well as Homecoming events, overseeing alumni boards, and connecting alumni to current students. Alumni are encouraged to contact Mejia-Cruz with questions regarding class reunions, volunteer opportunities, or to update the College on professional accomplishments. Mejia-Cruz will also manage job postings within the College’s closed LinkedIn Group and assist with regular communication between the College and alumni.
In addition to Mejia-Cruz, Kacie Miller was recruited to the College to serve as the assistant director of philanthropy, a new position created to help the College’s mission of increasing scholarship opportunities for students. Miller will work alongside senior director of philanthropy Mary Beth Neiser, helping match student need with alumni giving priorities. Miller will also help develop the College’s monthly giving subscription program, which aims to provide a simple and more affordable giving option for alumni and friends.
Miller joined the College in January 2019. She previously worked with UK’s Office of Technology Commercialization and UK’s Office of Philanthropy. She has several years of experience in fundraising with corporate and foundation donors. Prior to coming to UK, Miller worked in marketing and communications at liberal arts colleges throughout Kentucky. A lifelong Kentucky native, she received a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and an M.S. from the University of Kentucky. “I’m excited and honored to join the College of Pharmacy. The College has an outstanding reputation throughout the country and I’m looking forward to meeting our alumni and helping them find ways to get involved with our current students and educational programs and initiatives."
R. Kip Guy, dean of the UK College of Pharmacy noted, “With the nationally tightening job market in pharmacy and continued increases in costs of pharmacy education, the College has recognized that we need to do more to prepare our students to successfully compete for jobs and to help our alumni to retain and transition between jobs. We also need to ensure that we can offset the increased tuition costs for attending the College with need-based financial aid. These hires represent a concerted effort to organize our efforts to best serve our past, present, and future students."