As the Operations Manager, Melia is responsible for overseeing the day to day running of the LEAD Scholars Program. She manages the LEAD budget in collaboration with the Director. She also provides operational and administrative support for the office which includes logistical assistance for events, office facilities management, guidance on key program and university processes and identification of initiatives that promote operational effectiveness and efficiency.
Melia graduated from Santa Clara University with an M.B.A., specializing in Quantitative Approaches to Business Problems. She studied Psychology at Lesley College and has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. The daughter of First Gen parents, she is devoted to making education accessible to everyone and providing the support to First Gen students. She is also passionate about reducing waste, protecting the environment and eliminating animal cruelty.
When not on campus, Melia spends a lot of time proving cat rescue, TNR, and kitten fostering as well as taking care of her own spoiled rotten cats. She enjoys going to the beach, reading, cross-stitching and knitting, baking, spa days, and listening to music. Her daughter, Jenna, is her raison d'être and they love going to music concerts, stage musicals, and WNBA and NBA games, especially when it means traveling to other states or countries.