Melissa Geil
Clinical Associate Professor of Management and Corporate Communication
Contact
McColl 4706 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3490
Melissa Hull Geil teaches business and corporate communication and entrepreneurship.
She also designs AI-focused curriculum, including AI and Business Writing for undergraduates and Strategic Communication for Leadership Impact: Leveraging AI Tools for the online MBA program.
Dr. Geil is writing a book on executive presence that traces the origins and evolution of the concept, arguing that genuine executive presence is rooted in connection, power and relationships — and can look very different across individuals. This work intersects with her research on neurodivergence in professional settings, where conventional markers of presence can exclude talented professionals whose communication styles diverge from Western business norms.
She recently received a University grant to study barriers autistic business students face in structured recruiting and has a forthcoming case study on neurodiversity and inclusive meetings.
Dr. Geil consults on executive communication, AI governance and ethics, entrepreneurial pitch strategy, and presentation skills for clients spanning the pharmaceutical industry, U.S. Department of Defense, Institute for Defense and Business, American Financial Services Association and Wells Fargo.
She serves as UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Faculty Council representative and Faculty Liaison for the Center for Faculty Excellence. She is a faculty fellow in the Institute for Arts and Humanities Advanced Leadership Program.
Before joining UNC Kenan-Flagler, she taught business communication, writing, and literature in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of English and Comparative Literature, where she received the Joseph Flora Award for teaching excellence.
Dr. Geil received her PhD in English from Vanderbilt University and earned her BA in English and economics with highest honors from UNC-Chapel Hill.
