Melissa Smiley

Melissa Smiley

Melissa J. Smiley, Ph.D., is Wayne State University’s chief of staff and university relations officer. An experienced leader in both the government and nonprofit sectors and in overseeing and integrating communications, advocacy and operations, she heads WSU’s University Relations division, which includes Government and Community Affairs, Marketing and Communications, and the Board of Governors office.

Dr. Smiley was previously chief of staff at WorkMoney, where she helped steer a rapidly growing nationwide startup nonprofit aimed at enhancing the financial well-being of working Americans. Prior to that, she served as chief of staff to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a position that required her nimble thinking, collaborative leadership style and organizational expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic and two election cycles. She also launched the Secretary of State’s Race and Equity taskforce and led the office’s efforts to convert more than 130 branch offices to an appointment model, drastically reducing wait times, enhancing efficiency and improving communication to the community.

Dr. Smiley also served as special assistant to the president and as vice president of strategy and operations at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, where she led governance activities for the foundation’s Board of Trustees, spearheaded the board’s diversification’s initiative and directed all functions of the president’s office. Before her leadership at the Community Foundation, she served as deputy chief of staff to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan during the city’s historic bankruptcy.

Dr. Smiley received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and a master of public health, master of urban planning and Ph.D. in epidemiological science from the University of Michigan. She is a resident of Detroit’s Midtown community and has been an ardent supporter of Wayne State University for many years.