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Elizabeth Strand, Ph.D., joined SMU’s Cox School of Business as Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizations in 2020.  Professionally, she spent many years in the high-tech speech recognition industry, based in Silicon Valley, before transitioning her career to focus on nonprofit management and poverty alleviation efforts in Collin County, Texas.

Liz did her undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota, and she earned a master’s degree in linguistics and a Ph.D. in speech perception and cognitive science from Ohio State University. She holds a certificate of nonprofit management from Collin College.

Prior to joining the faculty at SMU, Liz was Senior Director of Speech User Experience at Microsoft, and Senior Director of Creative Strategy at Nuance Communications.  Liz currently holds leadership roles on a number of boards, including serving as president of the Community Lifeline Center Board of Directors, and vice president of the Texas Health Resources Community Impact Collin Leadership Council.

Liz and her husband Dean Cimini live in McKinney and have a college-age daughter, Olivia.  Liz enjoys gardening, running, spending time outdoors, and cooking big meals for her family and friends.  Liz’s personal motto is “Always Be Curious,” and she loves the intellectually-stimulating environment that thrives in the Cox classroom!