Roy comes to Catawba after more than a decade at Salisbury Academy, where she helped guide the school’s marketing and communications through a period of significant growth. During her tenure, Salisbury Academy added an upper school, completed a comprehensive rebrand and website redevelopment, elevated storytelling across channels, and expanded its partnerships across Salisbury and Rowan County.
“Lizzy knows Salisbury and understands the importance of relationships here,” said Meg Dees, vice president of advancement. “She has an uncanny ability to tell the stories of the people and work that give a place its character. I’m glad she is bringing that gift to Catawba College.”
Roy’s relationship with Catawba is not new. Salisbury Academy and the College have worked together in environmental education and sustainability, and in 2024 they were the only two North Carolina institutions recognized as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. Roy served as lead applicant for Salisbury Academy’s recognition, which honored the school’s work in environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and sustainability education.
For Roy, that connection to the natural world is personal as well. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, TJ, and their two daughters. That love of nature has also shaped her work at Salisbury Academy and helped deepen her connection with Catawba.
“Through our partnerships, I have had the opportunity to see Catawba’s work and its connection to this community firsthand,” Roy said. “I’m excited to be part of that work and to help tell the College’s story in a way that reflects the people, purpose, and opportunities that make Catawba distinctive.”
For President David P. Nelson, the appointment also speaks to a larger question about the purpose of the College’s communications work.
“This is an appointment of special importance at this time in the life of our college," said Catawba President David P. Nelson. “We are telling Catawba’s story to a growing number of people in order to celebrate the good work of our students, employees, and alumni and to help the next generation of students find their way to Catawba. Lizzy resonates with the work we do, and she’ll help us tell Catawba’s stories in compelling ways.”
Roy earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in communication from Denison University in Ohio and an MBA from Lakeland University in Wisconsin.
Her commitment to Salisbury extends beyond her professional work. Roy serves on the board of Lee Street theatre, volunteers as a local Scouting America troop leader, and serves on the outreach committee at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
About Catawba College
Founded in 1851, Catawba College is a four-year, private liberal arts college located on a 276-acre campus, including a 189-acre ecological preserve, in Salisbury, N.C. Ranked as one of the best colleges in the South, Catawba is a learning community of nearly 1,400 students from 35 states and 45 nations, providing students with opportunities shaped by the Catawba Ideal: Scholarship with Character and Culture for Service. Additional information is available at catawba.edu.
