Mary Elizabeth Ray, PharmD serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She leads and oversees academic functions related to curriculum, assessment, and accreditation for the Doctor of Pharmacy program. She has published and presented at a national level on a variety of topics in assessment and pharmacy education, including examination development and delivery, curriculum mapping, student learning portfolios, and student social isolation and well-being. Dr. Ray has held leadership roles within the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and has served as a site team reviewer for the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). She was the recipient of the prestigious AACP Rufus A. Lyman award for best publication in the American Journal of Pharmacy Education in 2023.

Ray formerly held appointments as a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Experiential Education at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy, Erie, PA and as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Dr. Ray has significant experience in curriculum design, teaching, and assessment in both didactic and experiential environments, student affairs (admissions, progression, student accountability, awards, and co-curriculum), and faculty governance and mentoring.

Prior to assuming her full- time academic leadership positions, Dr. Ray's clinical practice included inpatient internal medicine and long-term care with emphasis areas in pain management and psychiatry. In addition to time in academia, she spent several years working as a Senior Medical Liaison within the pharmaceutical industry, providing medical, scientific, and research support services for Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Allergan. Dr. Ray graduated from Duquesne University with Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. She completed a residency in pharmacy practice at Hamot Medical Center, Erie PA.