As a Training Programs Manager, Melissa is responsible for managing federally funded research training programs; trainee recruitment, onboarding and overall experience of the fellows; and providing support for grant submissions and reports. With extensive experience working in higher education, public health and civil society, she brings valuable skills in project management, research coordination, events planning and a commitment to supporting the training of next generation leaders in diverse health backgrounds. For 15 years, she was at Columbia University where she worked with global health leadership, faculty investigators and students on a variety of research studies; co-authored several peer-reviewed articles; and supported seminars, workshops, and conferences involving interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders in the US and abroad. At UNICEF’s US national committee, she managed a portfolio of corporate foundations and led communications on humanitarian emergencies for the corporate partnership team. Melissa earned her MPA from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and BA from UCLA.