Lawrenceville's Chief Communications Officer, Melissa Hardegree, has been tapped for a prominent role at the University of Georgia's Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT), as reported on the City of Lawrenceville's official website. The CCTT, esteemed as a leading hub for crisis communication research and practice, is situated within the prestigious UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The appointment, announced last week, marks a significant career milestone for Hardegree who boasts decades of experience in strategic communications and leadership. Jin, at the helm of CCTT, shared her sentiments on the addition to their cadre of experts, "Melissa’s extensive experience in strategic communication, coupled with her leadership in both municipal and nonprofit sectors, will bring invaluable perspectives to the Think Tank." Hardegree's new role enables her to fuse grassroots insights with global narratives, a merger that promises to refine the contours of crisis management.
Hardegree, the Lawrenceville senior communication figure since 2021, will engage with international experts and contribute to CCTT's programs, as detailed in the city's announcement. Her new responsibilities entail participating in annual meetings stateside and abroad, like the one in Amsterdam, and collaborating closely with the Crisis Insights & Analytics (CIA) Lab. Her input is expected to nurture the next wave of crisis communication scholars, fortifying their ethical and effective response to calamities.
Reflecting on her appointment, Hardegree said, “I am incredibly honored to join the Crisis Communication Think Tank, particularly through the Grady College, where my communications journey began." She expressed a heartfelt commitment to reciprocal learning and advancement in crisis communication, a field that, according to Hardegree, is more than just a professional frontier, it's a passion. This three-year tenure will not only amplify the City of Lawrenceville's communication landscape but also envelop Hardegree in a network of individuals devoted to the discipline's future.
About UGA's CCTT: A powerhouse for the scholarly and practical discourse on crisis communication, the CCTT is a trinity of initiatives – the Crisis Communication Coalition (CCC), the Crisis Insights and Analytics (CIA) Lab, and the Crisis Preparedness and Resilience (CPR) Hub. Together, they aim to address the convoluted challenges of crisis communication in the contemporaneous context. Further information is available on the CCTT webpage.
