Melissa Fincher has developed deep trusting relationships through years of higher education, nonprofit, and academic medicine collaborations. Her varied experiences make her uniquely qualified to support clients in attracting high-caliber leaders for today?s dynamic and demanding higher education environment. Among her areas of expertise are marketing and communications, advancement, and arts leadership. A New Jersey native, she started her career at her alma mater, Rutgers University, as a member of the undergraduate admissions team. She then served Johns Hopkins External Affairs and Development, first as a member of the senior leadership team developing critical institutional partnerships and executing priority projects and then as a human resources consultant with a primary focus on talent acquisition and career pathing. Immediately prior to joining WittKieffer, Melissa was a talent and organizational development consultant at The Ohio State University. In this role, she developed strategic initiatives to grow, develop, and diversify a workforce of more than 1,000 full-time employees. Melissa led organizational design and assessment efforts including integration strategies for merged organizational models, a comprehensive reclassification and salary study, and workforce planning. Melissa is a conservatory-trained fine artist, having studied art and architecture in Paris. She has a master?s degree in arts administration with a concentration in community cultural planning and philanthropy. In 2025, she completed Cornell University?s Dialogue for Change Certificate, a cohort-based professional program focused on human connection, social identity, intergroup dialogue, spheres of influence, allyship, and privilege. Distinctions WittKieffer Quality Award Winner Education M.S., Arts Administration, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA B.F.A., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Expertise Academic and Education Leadership Arts Leadership and Museums Deans and Academic Leadership Development and Advancement Human Resources Marketing and Communications Social Impact and Nonprofits Vice Presidents and Officers.