Melissa Tindell brings more than 30 years of communications leadership to her role as Interim Vice President for Communications and Marketing for the University of Tennessee System. She leads an award-winning team of professionals responsible for systemwide communications, marketing, media relations, digital strategy, open records and creative services.
Tindell’s work is deeply informed by her professional experiences in education, health care, government and corporate sectors, including leading communications for Knox County Schools, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Alcoa Inc. and Covenant Health.
Melissa is currently pursuing a doctorate in leadership and decision making from UT Chattanooga. She holds a master’s degree in strategic communications from UT Martin and a bachelor’s degree in communications from UT Knoxville. While earning her undergraduate degree at UT Knoxville, Melissa spent two years working for the UT Knoxville student paper, the Daily Beacon, as a sports reporter and its first-ever female sports editor.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Tindell is a frequent presenter on media strategy, crisis communications, public information and issues management. She has previously taught at several institutions, including Tennessee Technological University and Belmont University. Tindell is also a commissioned Stephen Minister and an active member of Faith Promise Church. Her faith informs both her leadership style and her daily life, serving as the foundation for her personal and professional decisions.
A graduate of the UT Executive Leadership Institute and a longtime member of the Public Relations Society of America, Tindell has earned more than 40 local, state, and national awards for her work.
She lives in Knoxville with her husband, Chad, and is the proud mom of an adult son, Christian, and rescue hound, Buddy.
