Educator & Academic Director

Melissa Rancourt has been a university faculty member for the past 20 years, teaching business, technical and strategic design courses. The first part of her tenure was as both lecturer and Head of Faculty for Boston University’s international campus. For the recent past five years, she has had the awesome opportunity to implement a new, inventive global program for highly experience professionals who wish to learn the juxtaposition of design/creativity & business/technical parts of a business. She is the Director for the Global Executive Master of Science program in Strategic Design & Management at The New School’s Parsons School of Design. She leads this program across three locations - Paris, New York City and Shanghai/Hong Kong.

Melissa has taught over 80 university courses for graduate students. She was named Best Graduate Professor while teaching for Middlesex University (UK)/UBI (Brussels) and was the Commencement Address speaker for BU’s Brussels graduation.

“I have enjoyed our Sustainable Business Models course so much and I am already missing it!  I feel like this is the course we needed to move forward with our independent study. Now we have the tools - time to get to work!  Thank you so much for your endless support and encouragement.” - grad student

“I realized that I have not only acquired new business knowledge but also a precious reframing of the way I see the world.” - grad student

“You have been so great to work with and GEMS is so impressive and has such potential.” - university leader

“It is such a fantastic experience working with you! You really touch me deeply with your genuine care. I have taught quite a few courses and have never received this much guidance or sense of support, so this is really meaningful and appreciated!” - faculty