It’s time to get to know another Blaster who’s an amazing asset to our team! Elisabeth McFarland is a PR Coordinator working out of the growing Raleigh, NC, Blast office. She supports our clients through media relations, content and events/awards. When she’s not working, Elisabeth can be found cheering on the Tar Heels or binge-watching Netflix.
Were you named after anyone?
I was named after my great-grandmother who was from Germany, hence the slightly different spelling (‘s’ vs. ‘z’). The name has been passed down in the family — it’s my grandmother and mother’s middle names — and I plan to continue the tradition.
What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
Ever since I was little girl, I wanted to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Simply put, I am a Tar Heel born and bred — I was fortunate to grow up in Chapel Hill and learned from an early age to hate that dark blue school eight miles down the road.
The day that I got accepted into UNC was one of the best days of my life. The next four years went by much quicker than I wanted, but in May 2016 I graduated from the UNC School of Media and Journalism with a specialization in Public Relations.
What makes you wildly happy?
It probably comes as no surprise from my answer above, but I am a huge North Carolina men’s basketball fan. I grew up going to games with my dad and dreamt of the day when UNC would win the National Championship while I was a student. Sadly, that never happened (we lost in the championship game my senior year to Villanova on a buzzer beater — I’m still recovering from that moment), but in 2017 we won the National Championship. I was lucky enough to be on Franklin Street when we won, and it was an experience I will never forget.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely Chick-fil-A.
What is your favorite family vacation?
Last fall my parents and I went to visit my sister who was studying abroad in Spain. We spent the first few days in Barcelona, and then took the train to Madrid where my sister was staying. We ate a TON of food and saw a lot of cool sites. I even got to practice a little bit of my Spanish. The best part, though, was probably seeing how much my sister had immersed herself in the culture in such a short amount of time. I look forward to going back one day (likely when my sister moves there permanently).
What did you want to be when you were small?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a professional golfer. I started playing when I was about eight years old, and it was a big part of my childhood. I don’t play as much as I used to, unfortunately, but I still play an occasional round with my dad.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
Does caffeine count as a necessity?…
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was “Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn, which is now a limited series on HBO starring Amy Adams. I couldn’t put the book down! It has been especially interesting now watching the story unfold on the TV screen.
