Brierley, leader in strategic communications and alumni relations, retires

She began her career at UB in 1993 as a program development project manager and recruitment coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine. In 2001 she joined SPPS and held various key roles, including assistant to the Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Research (2001 – 2003), director of the Office of External Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Dean (2003 – 2012), and has served as assistant dean, Communications and Alumni Relations, since 2012.

Throughout her tenure, Brierley has been a driving force at UB SPPS, leading numerous school-wide initiatives in two key areas: Strategic Communication Planning and Oversight—including content direction across print, digital, and social media; brand management; event promotion; and crisis communication—and Alumni Relations Planning and Oversight—including alumni engagement, events, data management, and strategic communications.

Brierley’s other school-wide accomplishments include the Pharmacy Building New Build Project Planning and Oversight, a 10-year, $70 million capital project; the oversight of the Faculty-Staff Award Nomination Process which resulted in over 20 successful professional awards; and direction of the Annual Student Scholarship Golf Tournament, a 16-year outreach program which generated over 80 student awards.

“It has been my sincere pleasure to serve the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for the past 23 years,” says Brierley. “My gratitude for the experiences and opportunities presented to me here are immeasurable. I will forever cherish these years along with the many colleagues I have worked with, and the friendships made.”

Her professional involvement includes various school-based committees along with university service to the Senior Communicators Advisory Council, the Alumni Officers Committee, the Professional Staff Senate Awards Committee and the Community Relations Advisory Committee. Nationally her professional involvement included the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) where she served as chair elect, chair and past chair of the Administrative Services Section (2018 – 2021) and the New Investigator Award Review Committee.

Brierley has been an active member of numerous professional organizations including the Public Relations Society of America, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, AACP Administrative and Financial Officers Special Interest Group and the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society.

She has been recognized for her exemplary service with awards including the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2018 and the UB SPPS Staff Member of the Year Award in 2022.

“On behalf of the entire SPPS family, I want to express our gratitude for all that Becky has done for the school over the years,” says Gary Pollack, PhD, dean of UB SPPS. “Added to that is my personal gratitude for the help and guidance she has provided me over my first three years as dean.”

As Brierley embarks on this new chapter, her legacy of dedication and leadership will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on our UB SPPS community.