Marketing
Marketing is responsible for leading the university's central strategic marketing planning and implementation to enhance and deepen the global awareness and reputation of Carnegie Mellon University. Marketing oversees marketing planning, ideation, tactical execution and measurement of university priorities. The team drives cross-university marketing efforts in partnership with all schools, colleges and units. In collaboration with the division's Creative and Communications teams, Marketing is focused on university branding, strategic initiatives, the visitor experience and online strategy.
Melanie Schramm serves as Associate Vice President for Marketing, leading Carnegie Mellon brand strategy and marketing. Focused on integrated communication and marketing efforts, she leads a team of innovative thinkers and doers with an eye for implementing the best content marketing strategies for CMU. Melanie is eager to share her passion and skills in higher education marketing while working to continue to build upon Carnegie Mellon’s stature and brand recognition.
Lara Steiner
Senior Director, Marketing Strategy
Lara manages marketing strategy. Although she is a native of Long Island, New York, hundreds of miles from Pittsburgh, Lara loves black and gold, and plaid. Prior to joining CMU, she worked in account management for chaotic and high-energy advertising agencies like Mullen, Dymun + Co and MARC USA. She has a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Penn State and makes an annual trip to her alma mater to take a picture with the Nittany Lion.
Kara Kessler
Senior Marketing Manager
Kara helps coordinate and manage major projects, such as the university's Tony Awards partnership and participation in the World Economic Forum. She earned her undergraduate degree in communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree in journalism and mass communications from Point Park University. Prior to CMU, she worked for UPMC and Allegheny Health Network, United Way of Allegheny County and H.J. Heinz Company. While at Heinz, she was a part of the corporate team who created the company's float for the 2000 Rose Bowl Parade.