Mary Elizabeth Ray, BS Pharm, PharmD
Introduction
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.
Current Positions
- Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Science
- Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Office of Professional Education
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Doctor of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Selected Awards & Honors
- Collaborative Publication Award - 2025 - Assessment Special Interest Group, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- AACP Rufus A. Lyman Award - 2024 - presented annually to the authors of the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education in previous year
- Teaching in Higher Education Conference Award - 2023 - Council on Teaching, University of Iowa
- Faculty Choice Award for Outstanding Research Poster - 2023 - Discovery Poster Research Day- mentor
- Collaborative Publication Award - 2022 - Assessment Special Interest Group, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- Collaborative Publication Award - 2020 - Assessment Special Interest Group, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award - 2020 - University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
- Excellence in Assessment Award - 2018 - Honorable Mention Student Learning Portfolio, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- University of Iowa Inventor Award - 2018 - NewView™ electronic syllabus with integrated mapping
- Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award - 2001 - Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University
Professional Memberships
- Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA)
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
Selected Publications
- Sobieraj D, Ellington TM, Chen AMH, Kelsch, M, Lebovitz, L, Spinler S, Ray M. Evolving standards: A deep dive into NAPLEX blueprint changes and implications for the academy. Am J Pharm Educ. Submitted Nov 2024. Accepted, Pending Publication
- Darley A, Farland M, Ray M. COEPA Domain 2 (Skills): Best practices for assessing person-centered care. Am J Pharm Educ.2025;89(4):101383. https://doi:10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101383
- Llayton C, Ray ME, Arnoldi J, Arif S, Edwards A, Hall L, Loyer M, Weston GS. Infrastructure and resourcing of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives across US pharmacy schools. Curr Pharm Teach Learning. 2025; 17: 102242. Published online 12-25-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2024.102242
- Stratton T, Lebovitz L, Vellurattil RP, Ray ME, Higginbotham, M, Klepser D. Initial employment plans of PharmD graduates from ten public colleges/schools of pharmacy, 2018-2022. Am J Pharm Educ 2024; 88 (3):100663. Available online Feb 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100663. Recognized with AACP Assessment SIG Collaborative Publication Award for 2024.
- Sobieraj DM, Chen A, Kelsch M, Lebovitz L, Spinler S, Ray ME. NAPLEX preparation program characteristics and resources associated with first-time exam pass rates. Am J Pharm Educ. 2023;87:12. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.100580. Recognized with 2024 AACP Lyman Award for 2023 AJPE Publication of the Year.
- Lebovitz L, Chen A, Carey L, Carter J, Kelsch M, Ray ME, Spinler S, Sobieraj DM. A description of NAPLEX and MPJE preparation strategies among US colleges and schools of pharmacy. Am J Pharm Educ 2023;87:6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.100067
- Stratton T, Janetski B, Ray ME, Higginbotham, M, Lebovitz L, Martin B. Detection of academic early warning signs and effective intervention “takes a village.” Am J Pharm Educ 2022; Oct;86(7):8743. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8743
- Ray ME, DuBrava L, Jacks M. Leveraging a required e-portfolio course to meet multiple needs: student assessment, curricular improvement, and accreditation. Curr Pharm Teach Learning 2020:12(12): 1437-1446.. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2020.07.004.
- Janke KK, Kelley KA, Martin BA, Ray ME, Sweet BV. Response to Peeters and Schmunde: toward more clarity in the use of the terms assessment and program evaluation [Letter]. Am J Pharm Educ 2020; 84(9):8296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8296
- Witry M, Murry L, Ray ME. Considerations for the incorporation of mindfulness into pharmacy education and practice. Curr Pharm Teaching Learning 2020;12(3):247-250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2019.12.007