Melanie Richards
Vice President for Engagement (2026-2028)
Melanie B. Richards, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Marketing and Director of the School of Marketing and Media at East Tennessee State University. There she leads interdisciplinary programs, advances strategic growth initiatives, and builds partnerships that connect students, faculty, and industry. Her leadership style is both data-informed and mission-driven.
Within the Academy of Marketing Science, Dr. Richards currently serves as Director of Career Development, overseeing the AMS Job Board and leading initiatives that enhance professional value for all members. She has also contributed to the Academy as a track chair, session chair, and manuscript reviewer for many years, supporting the rigor and scholarly impact of its conferences.
Outside of ETSU, Dr. Richards brings more than 20 years of experience across nonprofit and for-profit sectors to this role, including leadership roles at Teach For America and the American Cancer Society, as well as research roles with Delta Air Lines and BBDO. Across her career, she has repeatedly built and led insight, analytics, and strategic planning functions to improve brand/customer experience and drive data-informed growth for organizations.
As a candidate for VP of Engagement, she is committed to advancing sustainable strategies that strengthen member experience, retention, and engagement while reinforcing AMS’s value as a connected scholarly community.
