Albion College has named Melissa Anderson, a seasoned higher education leader, as its new vice president of marketing and communications.

In her new role, Anderson will be responsible for leading the development and execution of an integrated marketing communications strategy to support the goals and mission of the College. As a member of the College’s leadership team, Anderson will oversee all communications and marketing, including branding, internal and external communications, the website, digital marketing and content strategy, media relations and social media. She and her team will work closely with all departments to support academics, admission, belonging, philanthropy and student initiatives for one of Michigan’s leading private liberal arts colleges.

Anderson brings nearly 20 years of extensive experience, the majority of it in higher education, to Albion. She has expertise in branding, marketing strategy and implementation, crisis and issues management, website design and development, media relations, social media strategy, advertising, event management, compliance, board relations and community engagement at private liberal arts colleges and public universities.

“We are delighted to welcome Melissa to Albion to elevate our branding, marketing and communication initiatives,” said Albion President Wayne Webster. “Throughout her career, Melissa has brought tremendous expertise, passion and a focus on respectful, collegial partnerships with campus departments across all aspects of her work.

“Having previously worked with Melissa, I know her commitment to the liberal arts and sciences mission of our campus and respect her skills and experiences to help tell our story in the most compelling way.”

Anderson joins Albion from The College of Wooster, where she served as the vice president of marketing, communications and strategic initiatives. In this role, she centralized marketing and communications, led rebranding for the institution and its athletics programs, launched the college’s first integrated digital and print advertising plans, expanded media reach to connect with national and trade publications, led the development and launch of a redesigned website, spearheaded crisis communications for COVID-19 and other issues, led the planning of signature events during and beyond the pandemic and other initiatives.

Prior to that, Anderson served as vice president of marketing and communications at Ripon College where she led annual integrated marketing campaigns, revamped overall communication and visit experience strategy for admissions, planned and hosted large donor recognition events, established a downtown retail store, oversaw information technology and other activities. She also served as interim vice president for advancement, leading successful fundraising campaigns for a new athletics, health and wellness center, and helping to grow the annual fund and alumni engagement.

Prior to her time at Ripon College, Anderson was the director of integrated marketing communications at the Wisconsin School of Business at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she managed all earned and paid media branding and marketing initiatives, enrollment marketing and digital campaigns. She led a web redesign and implementation of a new content management system, or CMS. She also established the school’s first web and new media team, which ultimately grew into the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications.

Anderson holds a bachelor’s in English and psychology from Ripon College and a master’s in social sciences from the University of Chicago.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join President Webster’s administration and the amazing Albion community at this important time in our history and during this time of rapid change in higher education,” Anderson said. “Albion College has played a transformational role in the lives of so many individuals, and I am eager to connect with Albion students, colleagues, alumni and other supporters to ensure we are finding the right opportunities to share the value of an Albion education with the world.”