“Over the past months Melissa has demonstrated leadership in advancing CPT aims. Her powerful belief in our mission and how we implement it, along with her keen understanding of development and fundraising will support CPT’s advancement in the coming years. “― Raymond Bobgan, executive artistic director

Melissa Waddell joined Cleveland Public Theatre as the Associate Development Director in January 2023 and was promoted to Interim Director of Development this summer. She is a Pittsburgh native (but don’t hold it against her!) who has called Cleveland home for the last four years. Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship from Baldwin Wallace University, where she spent her senior year working alongside the Director of Academic Grants to craft compelling proposals in support of academic programming. Upon graduation, Melissa joined the staff of the Cleveland Foundation, where she provided administrative support to the Philanthropic Services team and oversaw several projects related to their online donor portal. She earned her Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University in the summer of 2022 and is thrilled to put her experience and education to work at an organization that has amazed and inspired her since her freshman year of college. Melissa lives in Cleveland with her husband, her dog, and a few dozen freshwater fish.