Research and Policy Analyst
Melanie is a senior analyst on the policy, advocacy, and research team, providing quantitative data analysis to EdTrust-New York’s research across the early childhood, K-12 and higher education work. She provides research and data insights to inform the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda.
Prior to joining EdTrust-New York, Melanie was a research and data manager for a Network for School Improvement with the Bank Street College Education Center in partnership with Yonkers Public Schools, where she created data tools, supported data collection efforts, and oversaw the implementation of the initiative’s measurement strategy.
Before working at Bank Street, Melanie was employed at the Center for New York City Affairs out of the New School, where she worked on education policy research and supporting the data work of InsideSchools.org. Melanie also has a background in community and human service work, having worked as a census organizer in Sunnyside, Queens and a program coordinator for Spanish-speaking families across the five boroughs receiving Medicaid-funded respite services.
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Melanie is a graduate of the New School with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and a master’s degree in public and urban policy, with a specialization in applied quantitative methods and a policy focus on education.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Bake – I come from a family of bakers and am always willing to try a new recipe!
What are people most surprised to learn about you?
I went to boarding school in New Hampshire for high school, so I have a deep love of winter and snow.
What drew you to education?
As the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, I watched my mother advocate for me in a language she was still learning, in a system that is very challenging for new families to navigate. I went to four different public schools in the same district as she tried to find the right fit for me and our family. Knowing that years later so many parents are still facing the same challenges inspires me to work toward a more equitable public education for students and fairer systems for families.
