“I want to be a liaison between students and alumni to show that school pride and
being involved continues well after graduation.”
– Elizabeth Myrick
Dr. Elizabeth Myrick, of Hot Springs, is serving her final year on the SAU Alumni Association Board of Directors, a position she has held since 2019. But she wants past, present, and future Muleriders to know that she isn’t planning to stop talking about Southern Arkansas University any time soon.
Dr. Myrick’s SAU journey began in 2006 when she and best friend Kayla Pipkins-Moury were awarded cheerleading scholarships. They moved into Bussey Hall determined to take advantage of everything SAU had to offer. “What you put into it is what you get out of it,” Myrick said, quoting the advice she took to heart from her beloved Phi Mu sisters.
And Dr. Myrick put in a lot. In addition to cheerleading for four years, two of which she served as captain, Dr. Myrick was a member of Phi Mu, Student Government Association, Residence Hall Association, Lambda Alpha Beta, and Tri Beta. She was also selected as a President’s Ambassador and Resident Assistant.
As a President’s Ambassador, Dr. Myrick reminisced about driving the golf cart around campus with prospective families, sharing her love for SAU. But those connections didn’t end with the tour. “Once those high schoolers became Muleriders, they knew someone already, and I could help mentor them when they got to campus as an RA,” Myrick said.
As an RA for Honors Hall and Fincher Hall, formerly East Hall, Dr. Myrick continued supporting new students and encouraging them to get involved. She credited “Daddy Dean” J. Courson, who was associate dean of housing and special projects at the time, for seeing her leadership potential. Courson’s personalized approach to teaching and mentoring students provided Dr. Myrick with lessons and skills she utilizes today. “He taught me how to handle conflict, be a leader among my peers, and do the right thing in hard situations,” Myrick said of Dean Courson. “All of those lessons have carried over into my career, and I’m thankful for that.”
Cheerleading Sponsor Ceil Bridges displayed a level of trust and unwavering support in Dr. Myrick’s cheer team that afforded them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. It was during her tenure that the team debuted at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals and placed fourth in Division Two. From Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to MTV to American Idol, the cheer squad sought opportunities to publicize the University and shine a light on SAU’s culture of belonging and caring.
Dr. Myrick graduated from SAU with her BS in biological science in 2010 and noted the dedicated faculty who helped her pursue her goal of continuing her studies in biology. One such professor was Dr. Claude Baker. It was his ecology classes that stirred Dr. Myrick’s love of science and cemented her decision to pursue a postgraduate degree. “Dr. Baker’s passion for science was contagious,” she recalled. “He made you believe your dreams were achievable.”
Dr. Myrick also earned a BS in medical technology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2011 and a doctorate of physical therapy from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017.
As a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Dr. Myrick enjoys connecting older alumni with new graduates. To alumni who have been away from the University, she wants to remind you that you can always return home. “SAU is home no matter where you are in the world,” Myrick said. “Come back, find your brick, and see all the good that’s happening on campus.”
Dr. Myrick resides in Hot Springs, working as a physical therapist at National Park Medical Center and CHI St. Vincent Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital. She enjoys traveling, tennis, mission trips, shopping with her sisters, playing with her two nieces, and worshiping and spreading God’s word with New Life Church Hot Springs.
