MARISSA C. BUCCILLI
Christiansburg,VA
Summary
Strategic educational professional with a strong background in program coordination and administrative operations in higher education and healthcare. Expertise includes accreditation support, compliance tracking, and stakeholder engagement. Skilled in developing educational materials, facilitating program evaluations, and organizing training initiatives. Committed to enhancing learner experiences and supporting institutional goals through effective project management and cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant, NSF COMPASS Center (Pandemic Prediction and Prevention)
Virginia Tech
05.2025 - 05.2026
- Supported multi-institutional $18M NSF-funded research initiative on pandemic prediction and prevention by designing qualitative research protocols that enhanced study rigor.
- Co-designed and facilitated dialogue-based activities with community advisory board members to identify learning needs and integrate feedback into communication strategies and institutional decision-making.
- Contributed to transdisciplinary research on trust, learning, and knowledge translation in public health, enhancing understanding of community engagement.
Instructor, Department of English
Virginia Tech
08.2023 - 05.2026
- Designed instructional materials and scaffolded assignments to engage and support diverse student populations in achieving learning objectives.
- Facilitated student-centered learning experiences that enhanced communication, critical thinking, and collaborative problem solving in technical and health-related contexts.
- Provided individualized mentorship and feedback that fostered student development and improved academic performance.
- Courses include: Introduction to Technical Communication (multiple terms, online and hybrid), Technical Editing and Style, Writing with AI (special topics), Outbreaks! Communicating Complexity in Infectious Disease (Teaching Assistant).
Learning Design and Innovation Intern
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
01.2024 - 08.2024
- Conducted needs assessment research to identify educational gaps in Cannabis Use Disorder for healthcare professionals, informing targeted curriculum improvements.
- Synthesized findings into actionable recommendations to enhance curriculum development and guide future grant initiatives in educational planning.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop learner-centered educational resources that addressed clinical audience needs.
Graduate Assistant, Community Outreach & Student Engagement
Virginia Tech
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Coordinated STEM-focused educational programming and outreach initiatives to enhance student engagement and facilitate active learning.
- Developed assessment tools, surveys, and reporting materials to measure program effectiveness and improve participant learning outcomes.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised undergraduate and graduate staff, overseeing daily program logistics and operations.
Educational Program Coordinator
Mappd, LLC
04.2022 - 05.2023
- Coordinated conference programming and produced weekly newsletter for 20,000+ subscribers, ensuring timely information delivery.
- Coordinated program activities to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Developed training materials for staff onboarding and program implementation.
- Managed communication between teams to facilitate project execution.
- Managed client communications and provided policy and enrollment support across digital platforms, enhancing client engagement.
Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Rhetoric in Society
Virginia Tech
08.2021 - 05.2022
- Conducted qualitative and survey-based research, synthesizing findings to shape project reporting, communication strategies, and program objectives.
- Created health communication materials based on community input and research findings, ensuring alignment with ethical practices and public health guidance.
- Collaborated in developing grant proposals for community-engaged COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy project, enhancing funding opportunities.
Student Engagement Coordinator (Part-Time)
Upswing
04.2021 - 09.2021
- Coordinated targeted outreach efforts to engage diverse student populations, enhancing inclusivity.
- Designed and implemented digital student support initiatives for non-traditional and underrepresented learners.
- Developed student-facing learning resources and evaluated engagement metrics to improve program effectiveness.
- Managed logistics for workshops and information sessions across campuses, facilitating student participation.
- Developed compelling marketing materials to effectively promote programs and resources for students.
Academic Advisor, Pre-Health & Biological Sciences Liaison
University of Tennessee
08.2019 - 05.2021
- Advised and supported approximately 300 students, including pre-health and STEM majors, in navigating competitive academic pathways to enhance their educational outcomes.
- Guided students in academic planning, course sequencing, study strategy development, and long-term educational goal setting to promote academic success.
- Liaised with Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology Department to enhance communication between faculty, staff, and advising services.
- Supported student success through ongoing mentorship, referral coordination, and collaborative problem solving.
- College of Arts & Sciences
Academic Advising Fellow
Elon University
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Revised curriculum and developed learning outcomes for peer-led advising program, enhancing first-year student transition and academic success.
- Developed assessment and monitoring practices to improve student learning support and ensure advising consistency.
- Mentored student leaders in academic support practices, communication strategies, and referral processes, strengthening their effectiveness in supporting peers.
- Office of Academic Advising
Education
Ph.D. - Rhetoric and Writing
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA05-2026
Master of Arts - English
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC05-2018
Master of Science - Education
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA05-2016
Skills
- Program management and operations
- Accreditation and compliance support
- Assessment and evaluation
- Training coordination and documentation
- Curriculum development and resources
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Event planning and logistics
- Data tracking and reporting
- Process improvement
- Project management
- Learning management systems
- Healthcare communication
Publications
- Buccilli, M., & Kenzie, D., Disruption as Method: Rhetorical Approaches to Clinical Trial 'Failure.', In Routledge Handbook of Rhetoric of Health and Medicine., 2026
- Gerdes, J., Ojedele-Adejumo, T., & Buccilli, M., Using scoping reviews to identify models for participatory design of pandemic communication research., Proceedings of the ACM SIGDOC Conference., 2023
Relevant Service
- First-Year Experience Committee Member, Elon University, 2018-2019
- Peer Education Curriculum Committee Member, Elon University, 2018-2019
- Mentoring Community of Practice Member, Elon University, 2018-2019
- Composition Committee Member, UNCW, Spring 2018
Skills And Proficiencies
Program Administration; Accreditation Support; Compliance Monitoring; Records Management; Canvas LMS; Blackboard LMS; Qualtrics; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word; Microsoft PowerPoint; Data Reporting; Program Evaluation; Needs Assessment; Project Management; Event Coordination; Stakeholder Engagement; Technical Writing; Medical Education Support; Curriculum Development; Educational Technologies; NVivo; MAXQDA; Covidence; Research Synthesis; Process Improvement; Confidential Data Management.
Timeline
Graduate Research Assistant, NSF COMPASS Center (Pandemic Prediction and Prevention)
Virginia Tech
05.2025 - 05.2026
Learning Design and Innovation Intern
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
01.2024 - 08.2024
Instructor, Department of English
Virginia Tech
08.2023 - 05.2026
Graduate Assistant, Community Outreach & Student Engagement
Virginia Tech
01.2023 - 07.2023
Educational Program Coordinator
Mappd, LLC
04.2022 - 05.2023
Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Rhetoric in Society
Virginia Tech
08.2021 - 05.2022
Student Engagement Coordinator (Part-Time)
Upswing
04.2021 - 09.2021
Academic Advisor, Pre-Health & Biological Sciences Liaison
University of Tennessee
08.2019 - 05.2021
Academic Advising Fellow
Elon University
08.2018 - 05.2019
Ph.D. - Rhetoric and Writing
Virginia Tech
Master of Arts - English
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Master of Science - Education
Slippery Rock University