Dan Lucas
US Chess announces the promotion of Daniel Lucas to Senior Director of Strategic Communication and Melinda Matthews to Publications Editor. This is effective June 1 and creates a new Communications Department encompassing a Publications Division and a Digital Division.
The Senior Director of Strategic Communication is a newly-created position that is essential to the success of US Chess as the organization emphasizes its non-profit educational mission. Dan will be responsible for all external and internal communications, which includes all print publications, the uschess.org website, social media, press releases, and all US Chess materials that are distributed to employees, affiliates, and stakeholders. There will be a heavy emphasis on brand management. His direct reports will be Publications Editor Melinda Matthews and Senior Digital Editor Jennifer Shahade.
The Publications Editor is a newly-created position that is responsible for all our print publications. Melinda will be listed as Editor on all print publications. The Publications Department will report directly to her.
Dan was hired as Publications Director in late 2005 and has served a key role in modernizing our various print publications. He is the second-longest serving editor of Chess Life in the magazine’s 72-year history. During Dan’s tenure, Chess Life went from black-print only to full color, Chess Life Kids was introduced, and new publications were created such as our Annual Report. Digital editions of our magazines were made available as a new member benefit and this spring he developed US Chess’ first podcast.
Melinda Matthews
Melinda joined US Chess as Assistant Editor in the spring of 2017. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism from Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from The George Washington University (Washington, DC) and has previously worked for a 501(c)(3) organization. During her tenure as Assistant Editor, she has worked closely with Dan to raise the quality of our editing and in developing features articles, print layouts, and covers.
“We are pleased to acknowledge the growing strength and capabilities of our US Chess staff which has resulted in these promotions of Dan and Melinda. It is gratifying that we are able to build a high-quality team that will allow us to execute our 501(c)(3) educational mission,” said US Chess Executive Director Carol B. Meyer.
Dan Lucas
Melinda Matthews 
