Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Honors & Activities
Timeline
Generic

Melissa Close

Somerville,MA

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Cases Commissioning Lead

Emerald Publishing
05.2022 - Current
  • Developed global strategy to grow the company's teaching case product by directly commissioning hot-topic content from key regions.
  • Oversaw department budgets, publication schedules, and editorial policies.
  • Effectively recruited and managed a team of 17 freelance editors.
  • Designed a quarterly webinar series to educate potential authors and advocate for the case method in academic circles.
  • Attended industry conferences to promote Emerald's collections.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously, effectively leading colleagues to meet deadlines and business goals.

Journals Commissioning Editor

Emerald Publishing
06.2018 - 05.2022
  • Managed a portfolio of 25 academic journals specializing in Accounting & Finance.
  • Directly commissioned timely, topical, and relevant research to broaden the portfolio's impact and drive future growth.
  • Oversaw content updates on all journal websites and social media channels.
  • Effectively collaborated with finance and production teams to design editorial budgets and schedules.
  • Promoted from Associate Publisher/Editorial Assistant following two years of successful contributions.

Publishing Administration Intern

Harvard Education Publishing Group
02.2018 - 05.2018
  • Issued regular royalty mailings and routine communications to HEPG authors.
  • Ran the in-house bookstore during office hours, providing excellent customer service to guests.
  • Assisted finance department in processing invoices, office expenses, and day-to-day record-keeping.

Marketing Intern

Ploughshares Literary Journal
05.2017 - 12.2017
  • Created written and visual content for press releases, blog posts, newsletters, and social media.
  • Tracked campaign performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and adjust strategies every month.
  • Conducted market research to identify target audiences and optimize marketing efforts.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Writing, Literature & Publishing, Marketing

EMERSON COLLEGE
BOSTON, MA
06.2018

Skills

  • Budget management
  • Copyediting
  • Copywriting
  • Communication
  • Content strategy & commissioning
  • Contract negotiation
  • Data analysis
  • Editorial policy
  • Email marketing
  • Event planning
  • Project management
  • Proofreading
  • Public speaking
  • Relationship management
  • Team leadership

Honors & Activities

  • Outreach Chair, Early Career Publishers Committee - STM Association
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion committee - Emerald Publishing
  • Early Career Scholarship recipient - National Information Standards Association
  • Events Volunteer, GrubStreet

Timeline

Cases Commissioning Lead

Emerald Publishing
05.2022 - Current

Journals Commissioning Editor

Emerald Publishing
06.2018 - 05.2022

Publishing Administration Intern

Harvard Education Publishing Group
02.2018 - 05.2018

Marketing Intern

Ploughshares Literary Journal
05.2017 - 12.2017

Bachelor of Arts - Writing, Literature & Publishing, Marketing

EMERSON COLLEGE
Melissa Close