Rice University’s Office of Public Affairs is elevating its global reputation and perception-building efforts by hiring Melanie Schramm in the recently created position of associate vice president for marketing and brand strategy. She officially started July 15.
“Melanie brings seasoned experience to our growing team, and she provides the insightful, forward-thinking and data-driven strategy and approaches that will advance and focus Rice’s marketing and branding in exciting ways,” said Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president for public affairs. “We look forward to the knowledge and skill Melanie will bring to the university as it continues to make impressive strides and impact both nationally and around the world.”
In this role, Schramm will launch a global advertising campaign, raise Rice brand positioning and awareness among key audiences and stakeholders, oversee the brand innovations and guidelines across the university, and enhance the marketing team’s day-to-day efforts.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to join Rice University and become a part of this prestigious institution,” Schramm said. “The opportunity to work alongside a team of dedicated, creative and brand-minded professionals committed to excellence in education and research is truly inspiring. I look forward to contributing to the university’s continued success and growth.”
Prior to joining Rice, Schramm worked for Carnegie Mellon University as associate vice president of marketing, where she oversaw the university’s marketing and branding initiatives. She led coordination efforts to advance brand growth and internal alignment while engaging worldwide audiences via earned, owned and paid media efforts.
Schramm also brings diverse marketing leadership experience from her previous positions at other nationally ranked and top-tier universities including the University of Florida, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Virginia Tech and Ohio Northern University.
A search committee of faculty, staff and Rice Board of Trustees members selected Schramm after a nationwide search was launched in April by WittKieffer, one of the country’s premier executive search firms. The search committee was chaired by Spaulding Chevalier.
Schramm earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and a master’s degree in education from the College of William & Mary.