Elizabeth Burns

Executive Director of Orientation and New Student Programs

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

About

Experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Strong education professional skilled in Event Management, Public Speaking, Leadership Training, and Instruction.

Experience

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (18 yrs 10 mos)
    • Executive Director of Orientation and New Student Programs
      Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Adjunct Faculty, College of Arts and Sciences
      Aug 2016 - Present · 9 yrs 11 mos

      • Teach Public Speaking (CMST 101) in an online environment • Taught English Composition I and II (EH 101 and 102) in a classroom environment

    • Director of New Student Orientation
      Apr 2011 - Jun 2025 · 14 yrs 3 mos

      • Plan, execute, and speak to 27 375-person orientation sessions throughout the year • Pivoted to online orientation utilizing Canvas and Zoom in 2020-2021 • Collaborate with a diverse range of campus partners and stakeholders to plan content • Responsible for developing program budget and securing sponsors • Run regular reports to monitor enrollment data and compile evaluation data to develop historical reports and make data-based strategic programming decisions • Develop and edit departmental and divisional publications • Utilize customer relationship management software and serve as primary contact for orientation website and database development • Select, train, evaluate, and supervise professional staff member, graduate intern, 6 undergraduate student assistants, and 18 undergraduate Orientation Leaders • Facilitate extensive leadership and professional development program for student staff

  • Adjunct Faculty, Hall School of Journalism and Communication at Troy University
    Jan 2014 - May 2018 · 4 yrs 5 mos

    • Teach Fundamentals of Speech (COM 2241) in an online environment

  • Adjunct Faculty, Communications Department at Jefferson State Community College
    Aug 2013 - Dec 2016 · 3 yrs 5 mos

    • Teach Fundamentals of Public Speaking (SPH 107) in a classroom environment • Teach Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SPH 106) in a classroom environment • Teach Basic English (ENG 093) in a classroom environment

  • Marketing Associate at FlightSafety Academy
    Sep 2006 - Sep 2007 · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Recruited prospective students via e-mail, phone and personal contact • Coordinated special events and conducted presentations and tours for prospective students • Drafted press releases and other articles as needed

  • Public Relations Specialist at UDA Technologies
    Sep 2004 - Aug 2006 · 2 yrs

    • Public Relations: built relationships with media contacts, drafted and distributed press releases, performed media scanning • Marketing: coordinated advertising initiatives, created comprehensive marketing plan, developed marketing materials • Customer Service: developed interpersonal communication skills through direct phone sales, improved customer experience with written and verbal correspondence • Employee Training: created training manual and led training initiative for new employees