Meet the Staff
Ann K. Masterman - Director of MarketingPapsy Mileti - Assistant Director, Market Research
Andrew Hale - Communications Manager
Lauren Rego - Marketing Specialist
Diego Meza-Valdes - Communications Technician
Wenli Zheng - Research Analyst
Sheryl Abad - Research Support Specialist
As the new Director of Marketing for the Office of Market Research and Communications, Ann is primarily responsible for managing the multiple market research and Communications projects and ensuring that the quality of these projects meets the needs of the various departments within the Division of Enrollment Management. She also manages six employees, oversees the budget and steers the future direction of the department.
Since assuming her Director role in September 2012, Ann is most proud of initiating and overseeing the design and implementation of this website! This website allows for greater transparency between the Office of Market Research and Communications and other departments within the University. It also provides a convenient avenue for departments to request projects to be completed. Her strengths lie in her organizational and project management skills. She also has a very positive attitude which she brings into the office atmosphere when collaborating with colleagues.
Ann has been working in higher education for the past eight years. After graduating from college, she worked as a project coordinator for a multi-national research project at UMass Medical School for two years. She then enrolled at UM for a graduate degree and worked in two different offices at UM for three years. Ann served as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission and also worked as a graduate assistant at the Graduate School. Ann then moved on to pursue a PhD at Boston College and simultaneously worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant for her professor and served as President of the Education graduate student organization.
Ann is in dissertation phase of her doctoral program and will earn her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Boston College in February 2013. She currently holds a Post-Master’s Certificate in College Student Life and Development in 2008 and a M.S. Ed. in 2007, both from University of Miami. She earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from Syracuse University in 2004.
An interesting fact about Ann is she was a competitive synchronized swimmer for 11 years! The question people always ask her is “how long can you hold your breath?” and her answer always is “until I pass out!”
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As the Assistant Director of Market Research in the Office of Market Research and Communications, Papsy is responsible for conducting market research and assessments of the programs and services provided by the departments within the Division of Enrollment Management. In addition, she develops new marketing campaigns and communication strategies based on this research to enable UM to maintain a competitive advantage in higher education enrollment.
In her current role, Papsy is most proud of developing and launching a social media communications strategy which resulted in an increase in UM Admission's ability to reach and engage prospective students. Her research and assessment work has also resulted in the improvement and redesign of the Admission's web page. This redesign enabled UM to more effectively communicate with parents of prospective students.
Prior to joining UM, Papsy was an account executive at a national marketing and public relations firm where she was responsible for the media outreach and social media communications for one of the agency's real estate clients, The Continental Group (TCG) in Florida. In this role, she generated strategic content for social media, press releases, and media pitching through market research and successfully garnered media placements in top media outlets. Papsy also managed all the marketing, advertising and public relations for ERJ Publicaciones, a book publisher for a Hispanic evangelical ministry based in Miami, Florida. As a publicist, she successfully created and executed a rebranding campaign, and co-produced viral videos, TV commercials, radio spots, and print promotions. Papsy was also the content generator, copywriter, and editor of monthly brochures, newsletters, and Communications.
Papsy earned her Master's degree in Global Strategic Communications from Florida International University in 2012 and her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami in 2005, where she graduated Cum Laude and majored in Marketing. Papsy speaks Spanish and Italian fluently and is a proud parent.Back to Top ►
As the Communications Manager in the Office of Market Research and Communications, Andrew designs and edits the Undergraduate Admission web site and other sites for Enrollment Management. He also manages the web site updates for the departments under Enrollment Management. Andrew looks for ways to improve UM’s website, researches UM’s competitors and analyzes web metrics using Google analytics. Andrew also provides marketing, graphics, pictures, video and content layout recommendations for the Division’s webpages.
Andrew is very proud of the development of the Faces of a ‘Cane web site. Faces of A ‘Cane is a website where prospective students are able to see videos, photo galleries and profiles (combination photos and text) of current students, faculty, administration and alumni at UM. Andrew brings both creativity and fun marketing ideas to the department to help advance the Division of Enrollment Management and UM in its enrollment marketing efforts.
Andrew has over 12 years of experience in the Marketing, Graphic Design & Web design field. He has worked in different marketing industries ranging from Insurance to Real Estate to his own web design business. He has gained a wealth of insight into the web design and graphic design field during this time. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Electronic Inter-media from the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL in 2000. The degree is a University of Florida Degree.
When he is not working in the Mar-Com office, Andrew is an avid sports fan of the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins. He also enjoys playing basketball and watching sci-fi and action adventure movies.
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As the Marketing Specialist for the Office of Market Research and Communications, Lauren manages and implements our department's communication strategies across web, video and social media channels. She also assists with the development, analysis, and implementation of both primary and secondary market research to inform the Division's enrollment strategies.
Lauren is most proud of collaborating with her colleagues on the Faces of a 'Cane website initiative, which will be utilized to market the value of a University of Miami education to prospective and admitted students. Lauren's strength is her ability to be a team player and is a key contributor to enable the Office to achieve its goals and objectives.
Prior to her role as a Marketing Specialist, Lauren worked for the Seminole Production Department during her undergraduate education at Florida State University. At FSU, she immersed herself in marketing for the Seminole athletics department and in 2007 she was named Associate Producer. Upon graduation, she received an offer to work for the market research department at the Walt Disney World Resort. During her two years as a cast member, she received several Guest Service Awards for going above and beyond her responsibilities.
Lauren is in the process of earning her Masters degree in Public Relations from University of Miami which she will complete in 2014. Lauren earned her Bachelor's degree in Communications from Florida State University in 2007.
A fun fact about Lauren is when it comes to Disney trivia no one in the office is as knowledgeable as she is.
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As the Communications Technician for the Office of Market Research and Communications, Diego creates and produces strategic video and photography content that is used to enhance UM’s value. The videos provide prospective students with snapshots of the Academics, Outcomes and Value of a University of Miami education. He captures this value by documenting the achievements of current students, faculty, alumni, and staff, as well as special on-campus events and traditions.
Diego is most proud of the “Excellence is U” video the department released in September to the public. This video is a visual journey through the rich history of the University of Miami. Diego compiled and merged both old and new footage to showcase just how far our University has come!
Prior to his role at the Division of Enrollment Management, Diego was a Producer/Cinematographer for an Untamed Science Video Series at Pearson Publishing. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Motion Pictures/Art from the University of Miami in 2008.
Diego is an avid movie fan so he can jump in and out of just about any conversation about movies! He is a self-proclaimed film nerd and can also replace the Water Jugs for the department like no other. Diego is proudly the second most knowledgeable Disney fan at the office and he loves horror movies.
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Wenli is the Market Research Analyst in the Office of Market Research and Communications. She conducts in-depth data analyses using traditional and advanced methods and assesses the outcomes of various enrollment management projects. She helps design market research surveys, prepares reports and presentations on primary market research findings. Wenli also illustrates data graphically and translates complex findings into written text. Where appropriate, she recommends strategies based on the research findings to the Directors and Dean.
One of Wenli's recent projects that she is most proud of is an analysis of the Admitted Student Questionnaire results in 2011 for the School of Business. Wenli prepared a report of the data to help inform the School of Business about the factors that influence undergraduate students' decisions to enroll at UM. Wenli's strongest attribute is her excellent analytical and critical thinking skills. She is very experienced with statistical programming which manipulates and analyzes large and complex data files.
Wenli has been working for UM since February 1999. Before her current role, she first worked as Data Base Analyst in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine from February 1999 to September 2006.
Wenli's educational background includes two earned Master's degrees from the University of Miami. She earned an MBA with a specialization in Computer Information Systems and Logistics in 1998 and a Master's in Computer Information Systems Database in 2001.
A fun fact about Wenli is she likes to play poker games, and her dream is to one day win the WPT (World Poker Tour) championship.Back to Top ►
As a Research Support Specialist, Sheryl's role in the Office of Market Research and Communications is to assist the Dean of Enrollment Management and the Director of Marketing with a variety of special projects in the Division of Enrollment Management. Her responsibilities include research, data collection and data presentation. She is the point person for completing all of the Institutional Surveys (i.e. US News, College Board, etc.) and The Annual Plan. Sheryl is also the copy editor for all reports produced by the Office of Market Research and Communications.
Of all the projects Sheryl has worked on, she is most proud of The Annual Plan. The Plan includes a summary of previous strategies and their corresponding results as well as forward-thinking strategies for each Office within the Division of Enrollment Management. It serves as a valuable tool that documents the Division's past, present and future and is generated on an annual basis.
Before working at UM, Sheryl's first job right out of college was as a computer programmer with Electronic Data Systems. She then worked for 12 years at a seminar company, which provided continuing education to accountants and attorneys and covered topics related to rules and regulations for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The positions she held (in order) were Computer Specialist, Registrar, Faculty Director and then President.
Sheryl received her Bachelor's of Science in Management Information Systems from Florida State University in 1989. She also completed a minor in Computer Science.
When Sheryl is not working alongside the wonderful people in her Division, you can usually find her spending time with her family and dogs. She is a native of Miami and enjoys running and anything to do with the ocean.
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