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Member Spotlight: Melissa Greco Lopes

In this member spotlight, we’re highlighting our newly appointed PRSA Chapter President, Melissa Greco Lopes. Check out her full interview on our website here:

What is your title and describe your role and responsibilities at St. John Fisher College?

I am the assistant director of marketing and communications for St. John Fisher College, but I like to say that I’m one of Fisher’s biggest cheerleaders! My role on the team includes media relations, internal communications, reputation management, and crisis communications, among others. I work with deans, professors, administrators, students, and alumni to tell the story of how Fisher provides a transformative educational experience.

When did you first get involved in the Rochester PRSA Chapter, and as newly appointed President what are you most looking forward to this coming year?

I have been a member of the Rochester PRSA Chapter for just over a decade and am so honored to be stepping into the role of president this year. I’m looking forward to continuing our chapter’s work around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion both in our profession and community and supporting our programming committee as they plan innovative workshops and events.

Do you have any goals for the Rochester PRSA this year that you'll oversee as President?

The 2021 Board is committed to improving the chapter experience for our members. We’ve been brainstorming ways to create a more robust website, offer programming that meets the needs of professionals today, and provide a sense of community for our members. As president, my goal is to support the Board and our committees in these efforts and keep moving the chapter forward.

You recently achieved your APR accreditation, tell us about this process and why you wanted to pursue it?

I have been fortunate to work for employers that offer tuition assistance, and early in my career used that benefit to obtain a master’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. The APR was a natural next step in my academic journey as accreditation would help sharpen skills and crystalize the strategies and theories espoused by those at the pinnacle of the profession.

It turned out to be one of the best professional decisions I have ever made. Through an online APR course, I was able to meet professionals from around the country, learn best strategies for taking the exam, and hear from current APRs. The experience taught me so much, and I was immediately able to apply those learnings to my position at Fisher.

Studying the content and working on my portfolio reminded me about all the things I love about public relations and renewed my passion for the profession. For anyone thinking about taking the APR: Take the leap. You won’t regret it!

Coming off a challenging year, do you have any advice or insights you learned that you would like to share with fellow members in our industry and our chapter? 

The success of our profession is often a reflection of the relationships that we build, and at a time when we’re isolated from our work environments and each other - those relationships are all the more important. My advice: reach out to your fellow colleagues here at PRSA Rochester. The communications industry in Rochester has always been supportive, so connect with us and each other:  for advice, networking, job recommendations, an email address for a reporter, a question about a new platform or tool, or just a chat. We’re a stronger, better community when we work together.