Mel Stubbins

Studio Fellow

Mel Stubbins is a Studio Associate at The Harwood Institute where she works to advance new ideas for strengthening communities and society.  Prior to her role at The Harwood Institute, she was the Content Strategy Specialist at the American Press Institute (API).  At API she drove change in newsrooms around the country by helping them listen more deeply to their communities through data and audience research. Prior to API she worked in the social sector as a development officer, editor, and communications specialist.  Still a working journalist, Mel's work has been published in The Washington Monthly and The Atlantic, among others. She's also contributed to investigations for both the Investigative Reporting Workshop and The Washington Post.  She holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College and an MA in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University. 

Throughout her career, Mel's been a fierce advocate for urban entrepreneurship and has lent her writing and business skills to local startups and nonprofits. Outside of the Harwood Institute, Mel is the Community Manager at The Broad, a modern community space for women based in Richmond, VA. She is active in numerous civic organizations and in her spare time enjoys traveling, speculative fiction, and Afternoon Tea any time of the day.