Melissa Martinez is an accomplished communications and public-sector leader with extensive experience in higher education, K-12 education and media. She currently serves as director of strategic communications and design at Stellar Virtual, where she provides executive counsel to senior leadership, leads compliance-sensitive communications, and aligns cross-departmental strategies to advance organizational goals.

Martinez began her career in journalism, holding leadership roles at the El Paso Times, where she managed newsroom operations and helped lead the transition to digital-first publishing.

She holds a master’s degree in strategic communication and innovation from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and Spanish from the University of Arizona. She is accredited in public relations and is a certified public communicator.