Melany served public school students, families, and employees for twenty years as an educator and in the field of communications. She is passionate about family engagement, serving the underserved, and connecting all communication efforts to academic outcomes for students. Melany also worked in administration and communications in higher education for five years where she championed efforts to increase access for rural and underserved students in their pursuit of degrees (two- and four-year) and/or credentials.

Throughout her career, Melany has a track record of creative problem solving on a variety of issues including increasing stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, cross-sector partnerships, and the overall advancement of an organization’s mission. Melany has received several state and national accolades for her community outreach efforts and incorporation of innovative solutions including being recognized by the National School Boards Association as a Top 20 to Watch in 2012 and one of 25 individuals in the nation to be selected by ASCD as an Emerging Leader in 2014. In 2014, her school report card design was the national Best Summary Winner for the My School Info Challenge sponsored by ExcelinEd and Getting Smart. In 2009, she was recognized as the state recipient of the Creating Excellence in Career and Technical Education Award for her efforts in spearheading an initiative at the local mall to provide students and their families career development guidance in a neutral environment.

Melany recently completed the NC School Superintendent’s Association Aspiring Superintendent Program and was selected in 2020 as a National Flamboyan Fellow for her efforts regarding family engagement, in particular outreach to Hispanic families.

Melany is a first-generation college graduate committed to increasing opportunities for and access to students of all ages, particularly students from underserved populations and rural localities. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Radford University, Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Virginia, and will complete her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership in the spring of 2024 from Liberty University. Her dissertation is focused on increasing communication among Hispanic families.