Colleen J. Ross

Colleen J. Ross joined the Foundation in 2021 as an integrated content director, a role created to translate Mellon's priorities into compelling storytelling that fosters a broad understanding of the Foundation's core mission to advance social justice through the arts and the humanities. 

Ms. Ross has 20 years experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic marketing, communications, and project management for media and cultural organizations. 

At StoryCorps, the groundbreaking personal history project and national nonprofit, Ms. Ross directed all marketing and communications activities.  She diversified the platforms on which StoryCorps stories are seen and heard.  During her tenure, more people than ever engaged with StoryCorps content or recorded their stories to preserve them at the Library of Congress.

Previously, Ms. Ross worked for Spaceworks, a nonprofit organization developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to build affordable artists' workspace.  From 2011–2014, she served on the leadership team at BRIC, a multidisciplinary arts and media organization presenting accessible cultural programming and media training in Brooklyn.  Prior to coming to New York, Ms. Ross was the director of marketing at WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, the country's third-largest NPR member station.

Ms. Ross holds a BA in journalism and political sciences from University of Wisconsin and an MA in arts management from Teachers College at Columbia University.