Melissa O'Rourke

For the last three years, I have been working as a Communications Coordinator at Columbia University’s School of Nursing. I manage all our social media channels, starting from creating the graphics/taking photos, writing the captions, and monitoring the performance after posting. In addition, I expanded our video content by creating a TikTok account and frequently posting on Instagram Reels. These videos garnered 33k views on TikTok and 143k on Instagram in 2023, and 32k on TikTok and 153k on Instagram in 2024. Other projects I work on are designing and sending out our monthly newsletter, ensuring our website is up to date, and taking photos of activities and events on campus. 

Previously, I worked in a similar role at Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island, a K-12 school. I promoted awareness and helped to increase enrollment in the Academy through social media, emails, advertisements, and printed materials. I led big design projects such as the COVID-19 Reopening Plan, Annual Report, Journal Ad Book, Calendar Drive, and a website rework. 

My diverse past experiences will also help to guide me in this role. During my time at Sacred Heart University, I was the photo editor and writer of a student-run paper The Spectrum. This role allowed me to learn how to work on my own but also with a team under a tight deadline. It also helped me to develop the ability to write in different voices and a keen eye for photos and videos. I also have internship experiences at NBCUniversal for shows such as Jerry Springer and Maury (I have many funny stories to tell), a start-up app called Wault, and the Brooklyn Cyclones. 

For the last two years, I have been working as a Communications Coordinator at Columbia University’s School of Nursing. I manage all our social media channels, starting from creating the graphics/taking photos, writing the captions, and monitoring the performance after posting. In addition, I expanded our video content by creating a TikTok account and frequently posting on Instagram Reels. These videos garnered 33k views on TikTok and 143k on Instagram in 2023, and 32k on TikTok and 153k on Instagram in 2024. Other projects I work on are designing and sending out our monthly newsletter, ensuring our website is up to date, and taking photos of activities and events on campus. 

Previously, I worked in a similar role at Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island, a K-12 school. I promoted awareness and helped to increase enrollment in the Academy through social media, emails, advertisements, and printed materials. I led big design projects such as the COVID-19 Reopening Plan, Annual Report, Journal Ad Book, Calendar Drive, and a website rework. 

Sacred Heart University Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies; Concentration in Advertising and Public Relations l Minors in Journalism and Marketing 
Graduated: May 13, 2018, Magna Cum Laude
GPA:  3.7
Honors/Awards:  Sacred Heart University Dean’s List, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Fall 2017
Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association Honor Society