HOUSTON (August 21, 2017) – Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents unanimously confirmed Melinda Spaulding Chevalier as the new Vice President of University Advancement. Spaulding, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, will direct the university’s marketing, communications, development and alumni relations departments. The confirmation took place at the board’s quarterly meeting on August 18.

“We are elated to have a dynamic and seasoned professional join our university,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. “Melinda’s experiences across the public spectrum in Houston and the region will help TSU raise its profile on a national and global level. Texas Southern is honored to have her join our dedicated administration and the Tiger family.”

Spaulding was a member of the KRIV-TV/Fox 26 news team for 13 years, co-anchoring the prime-time evening and night news broadcasts. She was a reporter and anchored morning updates at WGNO-TV, the ABC news affiliate in New Orleans. She was awarded an Emmy for Best Spot News Coverage and named Best Spot News Reporter for her work at WGNO by the regional Associated Press. Spaulding started her journalism career in New York as a member of the launch team for Entertainment Weekly Online and as the first editor-in-chief of Essence Online. She went on to become a writer and morning news producer at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, winning the Best News Writing award from the regional Associated Press.

Spaulding, a native of New Jersey, is a graduate of Howard University. She is a former board member of Family Houston and served on the advisory board for Pro Vision, Inc., an open-enrollment charter middle and high school in the Sunnyside community. She started the Dream Journal Academy to provide journals to area school children so they can write about their passions and dreams to bolster their education and personal aspirations.

Spaulding and her husband, Felix Chevalier, are the proud parents of a daughter, Landon and a son, Felix II.