LSUS hires Melinda Harbaugh as new Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communication and Partnerships

LSUS hires Melinda Harbaugh as new Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communication and Partnerships

SHREVEPORT - Melinda Harbaugh has been hired to fill the newly created Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communication and Partnerships at LSU Shreveport, Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith announced Wednesday.

Harbaugh brings nearly two decades of higher education experience along with marketing and public relations experience in the private sector.

The Louisiana native returns to her home state after serving as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Valdosta State University.

"Having grown up in Thibodaux in a family deeply connected to higher education, Louisiana has always been home to me," Harbaugh said. "I see tremendous energy and opportunity at LSUS and throughout the region, and I'm excited to bring my Louisiana roots, outside perspective, and broad career experience to help tell the LSUS story, build strong partnerships, and contribute to what comes next.

"This position brings together so much of what I care about: higher education, strategic communication, creativity, relationship building, and leveraging the resources of a university to make a meaningful impact on the community it serves."

Harbaugh will oversee LSUS's efforts in marketing, communication, university-level strategic planning as well as important outreach activities to the region such as Red River Radio and the new Center for Northwest Louisiana Regional Impact.

"This revamped position will provide LSU Shreveport with a more coherent approach to community partnerships as well as free up other members of the executive leadership team to spend more time advocating for LSUS with elected officials and other community leaders," said Dr. Robert Smith, LSUS Chancellor. "Melinda brings more than 20 years of experience, which includes executive-level experience at Valdosta State."

Harbaugh served in the President's Cabinet at Valdosta State, co-leading the university's five-year strategic plan.

She'll be the point person on LSUS's strategic plan in her new role.

Other accomplishments at Valdosta State include establishing marketing and communications as a comprehensive institutional function, which includes launching the school's first national marketing campaign and elevating the university's creative and communications work to strengthen VSU's engagement within the community.

Her team earned national recognition as recipients of nine Collegiate Advertising Awards.

Harbaugh also directed VSU's Center for South Georgia Regional Impact.

After a decorated marketing and public relations career with entities like The Moran Group (Baton Rouge) and the symphony orchestras of Baton Rouge and Dallas, Harbaugh broke into higher education at Lower Columbia College (Wash.).

The tenure-track library faculty member worked her way into leadership, eventually as the Dean of Instruction and Learning Resources.

Harbaugh managed multiple programs (performing and visual arts and language and literature for example) in addition to entities such as the Rose Center for the Arts, the Forsberg Art Gallery, the College in the High School program and Library and Learning Commons.

Harbaugh will officially start at LSUS in mid-September.