Melissa Rodriguez

Melissa Rodriguez is a Lecturer in the Department of Communications within the School of Humanities at Purchase College, State University of New York. She is a filmmaker and producer with a strong focus on social justice and marginalized stories, bringing over 10 years of industry experience in documentary, branded content, music videos, and narrative storytelling to her academic role.

Education:

• MFA in Film and Television Production, Brooklyn College
• BA in Communications, Purchase College, SUNY

Her creative work emphasizes social justice and underrepresented voices through her production company, Riot Girl Productions. Her projects have been featured in film festivals across the United States. She recently collaborated with Apple Music to produce content for the Travis Mills show and is currently in production on a documentary addressing the cat abandonment crisis in Yonkers, NY.

Melissa’s research and teaching interests include documentary filmmaking, visual storytelling, media activism, and docu-style branded content. Her professional practice directly informs her pedagogy, offering students real-world insights into media production and ethical storytelling.

There are no scientific awards listed in the available information.

Melissa advises students through her teaching and mentorship in the Communications program, integrating her industry experience into the classroom. She does not currently list any formal graduate advisees. She has secured professional collaborations, including work with Apple Music, reflecting her strong industry engagement and applied media expertise.

She leads Riot Girl Productions, a full-service video production company dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and producing socially conscious media content.