Ian Meropol is the chief communications officer for Lasell University and an adjunct professor. He attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, as a broadcast journalism major. He graduated in 2002 and got his first full-time job working for ESPN as a screen taper in Connecticut.
Following that, he gained experience as a producer of the Dennis and Callahan morning show, which is broadcast on a sports radio station in Boston called WEEI. After years of experience there, he felt it was time to move on after starting a family and realizing his priorities had changed.
“Through networking, someone introduced me to a woman named Sandy Goldfarb from Rasky Partners. So Sandy and I met every couple months for about two years, just to pick each other's brains, and she always knew I wanted to get into higher ed, but she never told me that Lasell was one of our clients.” Ian Meropol said. “So when this job opened at Lasell, she said, ‘Hey, are you interested?’ And I said, ‘Oh, my God, that would be my dream job.’ And I applied that day. And then, within a month or two, I was hired.”
Starting at Lasell as the director of communications, Meropol always knew he wanted to teach but didn’t think he had the opportunity or ever felt really comfortable. Meryl Perlson, the communications chair, encouraged Meropol to go for it. Meropol says, “She asked me if I wanted to teach an organizational communications course. And I worked all summer on my syllabus. I met with her a couple of times, and she helped me, you know, to fine-tune my syllabus, and it was surely the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my professional career.”
It has become evident that Meropol’s presence within Lasell has been nothing short of transformative.
Through his dedication to the university and his expertise in communications, Meropol has exemplified the spirit of leadership.
Perlson says, “He’s had a huge, positive impact. Ian’s expertise in media relations, crisis communication, and other PR areas has elevated the university's profile as a whole and of individuals in our community. The communication program was fortunate to have him teach Organizational Communication this past fall, where students benefited from his field knowledge and the many guest speakers he brought in.”
Meropol’s acts of kindness reverberate throughout the academic community, leaving a mark on all who have the privilege of knowing him. Meropol says, “These are the people who are going to be running corporations and teaching our kids and serving on boards and nonprofits, I mean, so anytime you can help in that journey, it's just so rewarding. And that's, that's really, I think, one of the reasons why I enjoy working here.”
As the director of communications and adjunct professor, Meropol is patient, empathic, and genuine in his desire to see his students succeed. He empowers them to overcome obstacles and become the best versions of themselves.
Meryl Perlson says, “I feel fortunate to have Ian as a colleague at the university. He’s accessible, generous with his knowledge, and a great listener. His passion for the university and the success of our students is evident in every interaction I’ve had with him.”