Associate Professor of Professional Practice
Meryl Blau is best known for helping high performers increase their mental toughness and emotional resilience. It’s no surprise that she serves as an Associate Professor of Practice for the Advertising Program at the School of Communication, a Master Mindpower Coach, and an international keynote speaker. Whatever she’s doing, Meryl navigates life with a singular compass—one that points toward excellence and the pursuit of mastery in every area of life.
Meryl’s passion for living at a high frequency shines through in her coaching, mentoring, and teaching. She believes in setting the bar high and pushing her students to reach it, knowing that a bar set too low is achieved too easily. She strikes the perfect balance between Jersey-girl tough love and just enough softness when it’s needed most.
Meryl holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Miami International University of Art and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. She also spent time studying at the Royal Academy of Art in London, where her exposure to diverse creative perspectives further shaped her teaching philosophy. Her interests center on art direction, portfolio development, and strengthening the conceptual muscle, all while weaving in Mindpower philosophies that blend mental toughness and emotional resilience. These teachings aim to prepare her students to excel in the workplace and beyond.
With a background as a creative industry professional, Meryl joined the School of Communication’s Advertising faculty in the fall of 2008. Before that, she worked as a Creative Director and Founder of Ronin Advertising Group, an Art Director for G2 (a division of Grey Advertising), and a Senior Art Director for MARC USA, among other industry roles.
Over her years at UM, Meryl has mentored thousands of students. At home, she’s a proud wife and mom to two teenage athletes, enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines as a soccer goalie mom and basketball mom.
Meryl Blau is on a mission to transform lives, empowering her students to shatter self-imposed limitations and redefine what’s possible in their lives and careers. This mindset has helped her alumni achieve notably successful careers in the industry, earning prestigious awards like Lions, Pencils, Emmys, Addys, and more. Most importantly, Meryl takes pride in playing the small role she’s played in helping her students’ smash boxes, land dream jobs, and build whole-life success.