Melissa Shaffmaster to Join Haverford as Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Melissa Shaffmaster will join the Haverford community as the College's inaugural vice president for marketing and communications, effective January 15, 2025. She comes to Haverford from Cornell University, where she currently serves as senior director of strategic communications in university relations.

"Melissa quickly distinguished herself in our nationwide search for this new position, which will lead College Communications with an expanded charge around enhancing Haverford's visibility and public profile," noted Haverford President Wendy Raymond in a message to campus. "She impressed the search committee – and me – with her deep and broad experiences at Cornell, spanning internal and external communication systems, navigating emergent issues requiring crisis communications, and helping a wide range of publics understand the institution’s mission and contributions to the greater good."

During the search, Shaffmaster evidenced considerable familiarity with Haverford’s history, values, culture, and people, and expressed a deep affinity for, and commitment to, the distinctive value of residential liberal arts colleges.  

“I'm delighted to join President Raymond and the Haverford College team in service of an institution renowned for its commitment to intellectual rigor, ethical leadership, and a strong sense of community," Shaffmaster says. "Haverford’s values resonate with me both personally and professionally, and I am honored to become a part of such an esteemed institution.”

Her role at Haverford will include managing the College Communications team, a group of 10 professionals with a portfolio that connects Haverford with a broad array of audiences. From admission and alumni to the general public that's reached via external news organizations, "Team CoCo" (as the group refers to itself) operates platforms including the College website, Haverford Magazine, social media, and myriad departmental publications. 

“I look forward to helping share the College's unique story, bridging its rich history as one of America's leading liberal arts colleges with its future ambitions," Shaffmaster says. "Haverford's legacy of shaping principled leaders is inspiring, and I'm excited to contribute to its continued impact and excellence.”

In her announcement, President Raymond noted that Associate Vice President Chris Mills '82, who has led Communications since 2007, will continue to be part of the communications leadership team. Mills has been deeply invested in elevating Haverford's public profile and its distinctive approach to liberal arts through innovative initiatives like the Kim Institute for Ethical Inquiry and Leadership, a centerpiece of the College’s strategic plan. 

Shaffmaster has led strategic communications at Cornell since 2015, overseeing teams that manage communications strategy, institutional messaging, issues management, social media, and visitor relations. She has led a variety of high-visibility communications and marketing initiatives that helped to advance Cornell’s reputation as a top research institution. Before joining Cornell, she held roles in public affairs and government relations. She has served as a board member of Gadabout Transportation, a nonprofit service for older adults and people with a disability within Tompkins County, N.Y., since 2018.

She received her bachelor’s degrees in English literature and visual communication from Lycoming College and a master’s degree in strategic communication from American University. 

A Pennsylvania native, Shaffmaster says she's eager to return to the area with her husband, Christian, and their daughter.