New student services specialists join UH Hilo College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has hired two new student services specialists to help the school with growing enrollment.

Liz Heffernan is the new director of student services, responsible for developing and administering student service programs in accord with accreditation standards that promote student success and retention.

Gina Patrick is the new academic advisement specialist, responsible for providing students with academic and personal support.

“Liz and Gina are people with excellent credentials, and bring with them knowledge and experience that will prove invaluable as we build a first-rate College of Pharmacy,” said Dr. John Pezzuto, the CoP dean. “Liz has extensive experience in student services including recruitment, advising, admission and program coordination. Gina’s expertise is in counseling, and she also has real-world experience working in a corporate pharmaceutical environment.”

Heffernan earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from George Washington University and her master’s degree in international administration from the School for International Training. She worked for Maui Community College as the coordinator for the Hana Education Center and as an academic advisor with Utah State University where she advised pre-health profession students and biology majors.

Patrick earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and her master’s degree in community counseling from Argosy University in Chicago. She has worked for Abbott Laboratories as a technical writer, and as a therapist with House Calls Counseling, an in-home psychotherapy provider, and at George Armstrong School of International Studies.

“The backbone of any institution is its people,” UH Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng said. “Liz and Gina are helping to lay the foundation for a College of Pharmacy that is already attracting the best and brightest students from the Pacific Basin and beyond.”