Melissa Simpson

Melissa Simpson, a vice president, joined GMMB in October 2003, bringing an extensive background in online strategic communications, issue-based advocacy and grassroots organizing.

Currently, Melissa directs the account for the Washington State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. She oversees the development and implementation of media advocacy, grassroots and online strategies to achieve program objectives in the issue areas of prevention, cessation, secondhand smoke and cross-cultural communities.

Melissa also consults for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, providing strategic council in online communications, including Web design and content development.

Before joining GMMB, Melissa managed ActForChange.com, the Webby Award-winning online campaign center from Working Assets, with over 350,000 activists. While there, she directed advocacy campaigns on issues ranging from the environment to human rights. Additionally, she was responsible for producing standard and rapid-response e-mail newsletters (HTML and text) to promote urgent campaigns, provide updates and fundraise for affiliated nonprofits.

Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Vanderbilt University. She received a Master of Science in comparative politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.