Winter 2011/2012 - Tiffin University

Melissa (Missy) Firebaugh-ClosserHometown Millersburg, Ohio; now lives in London, Ohio Class Year 2003Degree Bachelor of Business Administration (Concentration in Marketing)Melissa (Missy) Firebaugh-Closser gotso involved in campus life at Tiffin that acampus has now become her life.After transferring to Tiffin in 2000when she changed her major to marketing,Closser quickly became involved inthe Tiffin University community. She wasa Dragon cheerleader for three years(captain her senior year); president ofthe Marketing Club; and helped foundthe Gamma Chi Alpha sorority. Now, asthe director of marketing and communicationsand head cheerleading coachat Urbana University, she attributes theexperiences she had at TU that lead herto a career in higher education.“I’ve always loved school, as dorkyas that sounds. When I left TU, I was sadA minute with Missy ...What did you always want to bewhen you were growing up?Movie/TV star and aLakers GirlWhat is the name of your favoriteband, songwriter, or song?I LOVE Katy Perry!If you could spend an afternoonwith anyone, who would that be?Zooey Deschanel’s character‘Jess’ off her TV show “NewGirl.” She has such a positive,happy attitude on life. I lovethat she makes a theme songabout her life and sings it.We should all make themesongs about ourselves andsing them every day!What was your best vacation?My honeymoon to Jamaica.We did a zip- line tourthrough the jungle and it wasscary and fun at the sametime!to leave such a wonderful place that hadgiven me such wonderful memories,”she explained.After graduation, she became themarketing coordinator at Hull and Associates,Inc., a mid-sized environmentalengineering firm in Dublin, Ohio. “I’llhave to admit, marketing environmentalengineering services was not the dreamjob I had hoped for, but it was goodexperience and I was able to apply theskills I learned in my marketing classesto my job,” Closser admitted. “I knew Iwas meant for something different, so Iwent back to school and got my master’sdegree in marketing and communicationsat Franklin University in 2008. After I hadfinished, a friend mentioned that UrbanaUniversity was looking for a new cheerleadingcoach. So I applied and was hiredto turn the declining program around.”And she did just that. Now into herthird season as the Blue Knight cheerleadingcoach, Closser has taken theprogram to a new level. She developedmarketing materials to promote theprogram; added new, more difficultstunts/pyramids; a competition squadthat exhibits at local competitions; stuntingclinics for high school cheerleadersinterested in collegiate cheerleading;and two male cheerleaders. “I givegood cheerleaders, who may not havethe tumbling skills required at most colleges,a chance to be a collegiate cheerleader– just at a smaller school. I can’ttumble, but TU gave me the opportunityto not only be a collegiate cheerleader,but the skills to be a collegiate cheerleadingcoach,” Closser proudly stated.It was during her second seasonwhen she was offered the director ofmarketing and communications positionfor the university. “They saw the marketingpieces I designed for the cheerleadingprogram and asked me to take theMelissa Firebaugh-Closserdirector position. It was a dream cometrue. I was so excited to revamp the UUbrand and to design marketing piecesfor something I love,” she exclaimed.“And Urbana University is a lot likeTU; faculty/staff know you by name, it’seasy to make friends, and you get theopportunity to be involved on campusthat makes it difficult to do at other largerinstitutions. My goal at Urbana is toincrease enrollment by creating marketingpieces that show what we have to offeras a small, liberal arts university. Andbecause I spent one year as a student atUrbana before I transferred to Tiffin, myheart is tied to both universities becauseof the wonderful experiences I’ve had atboth institutions,” she says.She and her husband Patrick, asmall business owner and City Councilman,reside in London, a half hour fromUrbana. She hopes to one day get herdoctorate and teach marketing/communicationsat the college level, as wellas maintain her director position. Herschedule is hectic, but she keeps inclose touch with Tiffin, her sorority, andthe TU alumni cheerleading program.It looks like Tiffin planted a seedwhich has continued to grow and develop.SpotlightWINTER 2011 / 12 | CHALLENGE | 39