Melissa Ritchie Shares the Recipe for Belonging with CEE Students: ‘Food is a Connector'

When Melissa Ritchie moved into her new office in Porter Hall last summer, she brought along her eclectic decor, including a well-stocked snack cart and a large photo of the sun-drenched Greek isle of Santorini. Repainting the electric-green walls never crossed her mind.

“Green is my favorite color and I’ve always been drawn to bright colors,” Ritchie said. “I want a space that’s cheerful and energetic for me to work in and comfortable for students to visit.”

Ritchie is in her sixth year as manager of master’s programs for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). She guides students through their journeys at Carnegie Mellon University, from admission and orientation to graduation and beyond. 

Her role also involves serving as a secondary advisor to the students, often stepping in when their primary faculty advisors are away. As a trusted mentor and advocate, Ritchie’s support goes beyond academics.

"I can't help with their homework — I’m the daughter of an engineer, but that talent didn’t get passed down,” Ritchie said with a laugh. “But, if they’re having a bad day, they can come here and talk."

Many CEE graduate students are international and often experience uncertainty and homesickness. Ritchie knows what it’s like. She studied in Greece as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, and later worked for eight-plus years in Athens. That experience shaped her approach to creating a welcoming, community-oriented environment.

“What helps a lot in this job is thinking back to when I was that kid far from home, trying to figure things out on my own,” said Ritchie, glancing at the picture of Santorini on the wall opposite her desk. “Navigating new surroundings and all the emotions that come with that is difficult. I offer empathy, and I'm always here to listen.”

Students drop into Ritchie’s office for a package of Pop-Tarts or Cheetos from her snack cart and often find themselves in long, candid conversations. Ritchie also takes part in student-organized chats over coffee and tea that allow students to step away from their everyday pressures.

“These gatherings are vital touchpoints where students can talk, reflect and feel seen — not only as scholars, but as whole people,” said Kaz Shindle, program manager for community engagement for the College of Engineering. “Her ability to foster trust and open dialogue helps students navigate academic and personal challenges.”

Ritchie believes the key to connection is simple: “You just have to find a common thread. I think food absolutely is a good connector.”

Three years ago, Ph.D. student Matt Takara proposed that CEE host a cultural food-sharing event. “Melissa’s attention to detail and proactive support ensured its success,” Takara said. “She’s widely respected and appreciated for her warmth, approachability and genuine care for the well-being of everyone in our community.”

The “Cultures and Cuisines Around the World” event was held in March 2024 and drew about 30 students, staff and faculty. 

The following November, Ritchie helped organize CEE’s “Friendsgiving” potluck in Tung Au Lab. Students could request a $25 stipend to buy supplies and ingredients. They created slides to explain their dishes, connecting the food to their cultures and personal experience.

More than 70 people participated in the 2024 Friendsgiving, sharing homemade dishes such as nohutlu tavuklu pilav (a Turkish dish with chicken, rice and chickpeas), tahchin (a Persian baked rice cake), yakisoba (a Japanese noodle stir fry dish), shekerpare (a Turkish lemon cookie), soups, pasta and pumpkin pie.

This year’s Friendsgiving was held Nov. 19. The gathering was large and the food was fabulous, but the real magic is how it did more than simply fill everyone’s stomach.

“I love the connections people are making,” Ritchie said. “You’ll even see it with the quieter students, the ones who may be hesitant to speak or afraid to step outside their friend group. The connection is what’s great, and it truly defines our department. We’re very community-minded.”

Friendsgiving reminds Ritchie of when she cooked Thanksgiving meals for friends and fellow expatriates in Greece. “I'd go to the butcher shop and ask for a turkey and they’d go, ‘We don't eat turkeys here until December,’” she said. “But they still always found one for me.”

In Athens, Ritchie was an office manager for a logistics firm. After returning to Pittsburgh, she taught Spanish and student success courses at Butler County Community College (BC3). 

Her students at BC3 came from a wide range of demographics — kids from the city, kids from the suburbs, first-generation college students and older adults who’d been laid off from factory jobs. “It was about bringing everybody together, like, ‘You’re all here to figure out your life. You don’t have to know right now, but we’ll figure it out,’” she said.

Ritchie eventually moved into an advisor’s role at BC3, which opened the door to her current position at Carnegie Mellon. She is a graduate of the CMULead program and honed her communication skills via the Intergroup Dialogue Program in the College of Engineering and mediation training at The Conflict Lab in Lawrenceville. 

“Her example has inspired many of us to become more engaged and to take on leadership roles ourselves,” Takara said. 

What’s a good day at work? “Just engaging with the kids,” she said. It’s simple, small stuff, like getting an email out of the blue that reads, “Just wanted to say, have a great fall break” or when alumni who are visiting campus go out of their way to stop by her office.

“Those kinds of days are amazing,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie helps CMU students build careers, as well as a community they always can come home to.

“What sets Melissa apart is her ability to build trust and community across all levels of the university,” said Burcu Akinci, department head of CEE and incoming dean of the College of Engineering. “She is a steady presence in times of uncertainty, a source of encouragement in moments of doubt and a tireless advocate for creating spaces where everyone can thrive.”