(she/her/hers)
As Grantmaking Program Coordinator at the Council, Melissa supports the Council’s community with all aspects of applying for, receiving, and reporting on their public projects and research grants. Melissa’s favorite part of her job is supporting public humanities work in Rhode Island and inviting friends to join her. Melissa brings a growing passion and interest for trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking practices and values to her work. Prior to joining the Council in February 2021, Melissa was a dancer at Festival Ballet Providence for seven years and holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Smith College. Currently, she also serves as a co-director for Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project, providing resources and performance opportunities for emerging choreographers. Melissa has a deep interest in continually building her leadership skills as a 2022 Fellow of New Leaders Council of Rhode Island and through pursuing a Nonprofit Management Certificate through Harvard University Extension School (her favorite class is Nonprofit Leadership and Community Engagement).
When Melissa is not at the Council or working on other projects, she sparks joy by playing tennis, baking new-to-her recipes, and being the best auntie to her sister’s guinea pigs, Norman and Flash. Additionally, Melissa has a strong track record – as a Ravenclaw – in the cooperative deck-building game, “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle.”
