ITHACA, NY, December 02, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Melissa A. Thompson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Thompson has established herself as a dedicated program coordinator at Cornell University, where she has served since 2023. In this capacity, she manages a wide array of responsibilities, including overseeing and building TCAM registration, maintaining and updating TCAM websites, and providing comprehensive customer service via email. Her role extends to creating detailed registration schedules for staff and volunteers, preparing staff briefings, executing events, and supporting the Volunteer Programs team. Additionally, Ms. Thompson updates websites for alum trustee elections, assists with volunteer onboarding, and endorses the Cornell University Council by developing agendas, PowerPoint presentations and reservations. She is also responsible for managing Concur for expense reports and P-card submissions.

Her expertise in updating and managing websites and toolkits, utilizing AlumnIQ for event registration, leading Trustee Council Annual Meeting registration for approximately 700 attendees, and creating backend registration processes in AlumnIQ is particularly noteworthy. Achieving such proficiency in these technical and organizational areas highlights her commitment to excellence in higher education administration.

Before her current position, Ms. Thompson was an assistant account executive at W Communications from 2022 to 2023. She initially joined the organization as an intern in 2022, gaining valuable experience in public relations and communications. Earlier in 2022, she worked as an associate account coordinator at Magrino Public Relations, further honing her skills in client relations and project management.

In 2021, Ms. Thompson interned at Hawkins International Public Relations, where she contributed to travel public relations campaigns. That same year, she held a temporary clerical files position at Mutual of America Financial Group, gaining administrative experience in a corporate environment.

Her professional journey began during her academic years. From 2019 to 2020, Ms. Thompson was a student assistant at the State University of New York College at Cortland. In 2018, she completed an administrative internship with Matt Murphy Productions/Marquee Merchandise, followed by an administrative internship at Porch Light Productions Inc. in 2017. Also in 2017, she contributed as a staff writer for the Dragon Chronicle.

Since 2017, Ms. Thompson has also been a CCD teacher for religious education, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and youth development alongside her professional pursuits.

Ms. Thompson's career trajectory reflects resilience and adaptability. Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 presented significant challenges, as limited job opportunities in higher education made it difficult to find employment. Despite these obstacles, she remained patient and persistent, ultimately securing her current role at Cornell University, a milestone she considers her most notable achievement.

Her professional affiliations include membership with Roundtrip Collective since 2021 and Toastmasters International. These organizations have provided her with additional platforms for professional growth and networking within her field.

Ms. Thompson's educational background has been instrumental in shaping her career path. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communication from the State University of New York at Cortland in 2020. During her junior year in 2019, she studied abroad at The Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy, completing general education coursework that broadened her global perspective. This formative experience continues to influence her career aspirations.

In addition to her undergraduate studies, Ms. Thompson completed the Travel Career Course with Roundtrip Collective in 2021 and holds the PRC Agency-Ready Certificate from the Public Relations Council. These academic achievements and certifications have equipped her with both practical skills and industry knowledge essential for success across diverse roles.

Reflecting on her journey into higher education administration, Ms. Thompson credits her early experiences in public relations—particularly travel public relations—for sparking her passion for working with students and helping them navigate their own paths. Her time at Cornell University has deepened this fulfillment through collaborative work within the engagement initiative team.

Ms. Thompson attributes much of her success to the support of her current coworkers at Cornell University—whom she regards as the best colleagues she has ever had—and especially values the encouragement provided by her supervisor. She also acknowledges her mother as a significant role model whose guidance has been pivotal throughout her life.

Beyond her professional commitments, Ms. Thompson has been civically engaged as a religious education teacher at the Church of the Nativity since 2015 and previously served as public relations chair for the Student Activities Board from 2019 to 2020 during her time at the State University of New York College at Cortland.

Her achievements have been recognized through various honors, including scholarships and a Drama Club Award during her senior year.

Born in Ridgewood, Ms. Thompson enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her cat. Currently working in the alum affairs department at Cornell University, she aspires to become a study abroad adviser, combining her passions for travel and student mentorship to help others navigate international experiences, as she once did herself.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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