Building Meaningful Connections Through Strategic Communications
Melanie Moran brings 25 years of leadership in communications strategy, partnering with clients to craft compelling messages, build effective organizational practices, and engage diverse audiences. As Vice President and Senior Strategist at Mackey Strategies, Melanie works closely with institutions to develop comprehensive strategies that inspire action and strengthen relationships with key constituencies.
With a background spanning higher education and the public sector, Melanie is a skilled communicator and strategist who helps organizations distill complex ideas into impactful narratives. Her approach combines deep expertise with a collaborative, client-focused mindset, ensuring each institution’s unique voice shines through.
Strategic Leadership and Experience
Before joining Mackey Strategies, Melanie served as Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations at Vanderbilt University. In this role, she led the university’s communications and engagement efforts, overseeing:
Leadership Communications: Shaping messaging for the university’s senior leaders.
Editorial Strategy and Visual Media: Developing content that elevated Vanderbilt’s academic mission and brand.
Media and Social Relations: Enhancing the university’s public presence across traditional and digital platforms.
Donor and Alumni Communications: Strengthening connections with Vanderbilt’s most dedicated supporters.
Signature Events: Creating memorable experiences that highlighted the university’s achievements and priorities.
Prior to her work at Vanderbilt, Melanie served as speechwriter to the governor of Tennessee and led communications for the state’s environmental agency. These roles honed her ability to articulate complex policy issues and reach diverse audiences.
Expertise in Action
Melanie’s work at Mackey Strategies centers on helping clients clarify their messages and deliver them with impact. Her expertise includes:
Executive communications
Message audits, development, and storytelling
Comprehensive communications strategy and implementation
Activating media platforms for targeted constituent engagement
Crisis management
Senior interim leadership roles
Event planning and execution
Her ability to synthesize institutional priorities into cohesive strategies ensures that every communication resonates with its intended audience, from donors to students to policymakers.
Education and Values
Melanie earned an M.P.A. in environmental policy from Indiana University Bloomington and a B.A. in political science from Penn State University. Her education, combined with her extensive professional experience, equips her to approach communications challenges with insight, creativity, and precision.
Melanie’s collaborative approach, thoughtful and caring temperament, and deep expertise help institutions come to strong self-understanding and amplify their strengths and goals for outcomes that make a difference.
