Communications Staff

#MBUfamily, if you have an interesting and important story to tell, Liesel wants to help. As AVP of External Affairs, she is the head storyteller for MBU. Liesel serves as liaison to media outlets and government agencies, develops and oversees content creation and delivery — including the MBU newsletter, magazine, and social media.

Beth is an innovative and passionate marketing executive with over 20 years of brand, integrated, and digital marketing experience. Fueled by the knowledge that data and creative go hand-in-hand, Beth oversees the marketing and advertising efforts to continue growing the #MBUfamily online and on campus.

Leighton connects MBU’s core message to target audiences through news stories and public communications. Not the easiest task in today’s busy world where less is more and competition for people’s attention is fierce. The MBU story, however, is an important one to tell and Leighton is more than up to the challenge. Leighton’s writing and editing skills are on display in MBU news, magazine, and marketing materials.

Hillary brings over a decade of design and content strategy experience to MBU and leads the integrated communications creative team with a passion for developing engaging, holistic campaigns; the drive to push the envelope and stand out in the noise; and a flair for the unexpected. She has led campus-wide rebranding initiatives in her higher ed career, developed vision and execution plans for national events, and isn’t afraid to dive in headfirst to create compelling content across print and digital platforms to tell the #MBUfamily story and bring our student-centered promise to life.

Mary Gail Dufresne (doo-frane) is a strategic communicator and public relations professional with over 20 years of experience. At heart, she’s a leader and storyteller specializing in the education, nonprofit and cultural sectors. Her passion is effectively telling organizational stories via traditional and digital channels to raise awareness, communicate impact, motivate action and inspire philanthropic investment.
Most recently, Mary Gail worked at the University of Central Florida, writing and building relationships for its Foundation and supporting its successful $500,000,000 Ignite Campaign. For 17 years, she was the Director of Community Relations at the Winter Park Public Library and was instrumental in the successful effort to secure and fund a $30 million new library and event venue for Winter Park.

A third-generation Florida native, Mary Gail was born in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, as the first of five siblings. She holds degrees in agriculture and communications from the University of Florida and studied business administration at Rollins College. As a lifelong Disney fan, she’s visited eight Disney theme parks in Florida, California and Tokyo. Her current pastimes include trail hiking (much flatter and swampier than the Virginia version), perfecting old Southern cooking, and spending time with her beagle/basset/dachshund mix, Hazel, and her lab/pointer/dane puppy, Charlie. As mom to human children, Anna and Owen, she is also relearning algebra II and how to multiply fractions. They live in Winter Park, about 15 minutes from Orlando.

Nicole is the voice of MBU across social channels and online. As digital content is the modern currency and MBU’s brand is still evolving, it’s a tricky gig. Good thing she has a passion for connecting with people and storytelling. So, let’s connect. ICYMI, the #MBUfamily’s story…it’s kind of a big deal — but we need you to help us do it. Send Nicole your social content and ideas at social@marybaldwin.edu.

As the project manager for the Office of Integrated Communications, Melissa has a lot of juggling to do. Design calendars, production timelines, communications sequences… she balances it all and helps streamline processes to bring the MBU brand to life. Do you have a story to tell but don’t know where to start? Melissa is ready to assist, armed with her calendar and cup of coffee.