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Dear Wayne State University community,
In this role, Melissa will lead the new University Relations division and will be responsible for our overall external advocacy strategy and operational tactics, uniting our efforts and bringing together staff in Government and Community Affairs, Marketing and Communications, and the Board of Governors office. Melissa is currently chief of staff at WorkMoney, where she has helped steer a rapidly growing nationwide startup nonprofit aimed at enhancing the financial well-being of working Americans. Prior to her role at WorkMoney, Melissa served as chief of staff to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a position that required her nimble thinking, collaborative leadership style and organizational expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic and two election cycles. She also launched the Secretary of State’s Race and Equity taskforce and led the office’s efforts to convert more than 130 branch offices to an appointment model, drastically reducing wait times, enhancing efficiency and improving communication to the community. Melissa also served as special assistant to the president and vice president of strategy and operations at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, where she led governance activities for the foundation’s Board of Trustees, spearheaded the board’s diversification’s initiative and directed all functions of the president’s office. Before her leadership at the Community Foundation, she served as deputy chief of staff to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan during the city’s historic bankruptcy. She has a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and a master of public health, master of urban planning and Ph.D. in epidemiological sciences from the University of Michigan. I extend my gratitude to the members of the search committee, chaired by David Ripple, and to everyone who participated in the search or attended listening sessions with the candidates. The deep and broad input was invaluable in my decision making, and no doubt contributed to the recruitment of an outstanding pool of accomplished candidates. Melissa led the pack in her engagement with our stakeholder groups during the search process, and it is my pleasure to welcome her to our Wayne State community! I hope you'll also join me in recognizing and thanking Michael Wright for his dedicated, impactful service as chief of staff and vice president of marketing and communications. Michael has been an invaluable part of the executive team for more than 16 years. Among his many accomplishments, he led the launch of the Warrior Strong brand campaign, centralized university communications, and served as an organizational leader during times of transition and challenge, including the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has left a lasting mark on our university, and we wish him the very best in his retirement. Stay tuned for information on a reception honoring Michael that will be held later in March. Please join me in welcoming Melissa to our campus! Sincerely,
President |
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I am excited to announce the appointment of Melissa Smiley, Ph.D., as Wayne State’s chief of staff and university relations officer, effective March 4, 2024. Melissa brings an extensive background in community advocacy, executive strategy, organizational operations, and both state and local government leadership. Her appointment was approved electronically by our Board of Governors and is expected to be affirmed at their upcoming March meeting.