Experience

University of Illinois Chicago

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Director (Strategy Lead) Break Through Tech Chicago at UIC

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  This position drives key business initiatives and build new operating models as they relate to the goals of BTTC to move women and underrepresented groups into tech related careers. Responsible for evaluation of market trends, UIC strategic imperatives, and operationalizing actions to drive results.• Conceptualize, design, and implement methodologies to conduct large and small-scale strategies that increase women and nonbinary students’ participation in tech disciplines at UIC; develop, coordinate and assess operating models to drive project goals. Incorporate and tailor best practices from Break Through Tech’s other academic sites in order to meet UIC’s grant commitments. Responsible for the management of projects which support BTTC’s strategic plan.• Gather input to support the annual strategic planning process, incorporating market intelligence, UIC program and department observations and other analyses. Prepare recommendations to be shared with UIC leadership and national funders. Implement approved project strategies to increase BTTC effectiveness and inclusive program practices for a variety of stakeholders.• Documents and maintains procedures to ensure consistency across Break Through Tech initiatives. Ensures that operationalized methods correspond with those managed by other relevant UIC stakeholders, including College of Engineering and other UIC colleges.• Serves as project manager to understand and implement new outcome metrics as required by the National or UIC teams. Develop / lead project plans, scope definition, and stakeholder engagement through project completion.• Identify opportunities to scale BTTC strategy using student metrics and previous successes. Memorialize lessons learnt and share with the National team.• Acts as point of contact with campus, national agency and university departments/colleges including grant manager. Show less

• Career & Academic Senior Advisor for Medical Students

  • Jul 2013 - Mar 2022

  Responsible for medical students academic advising, effectiveness and efficiency of student affairs and focusing on promotion and policy and wellness for medical students.Provide academic, career, and personal counseling to medical students as they complete their medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. The Program Student Advisor is assigned to approximately 80-300 medical students per academic year.• Provide resources, guidance, and unique counseling sessions for a diverse student population.• Counsel academically challenged students to ensure their success and commitment to complete their degree and with their pursuit of a physician residency position. Student retention rates increased for at risk students under my advising leadership.• Work with at risk students and provided them with the support and services they needed to match into residency and graduate with medical degree. Show less

• Project Manager

  • Sep 2000 - Mar 2022

  • Program Assistant Director, works directly with the Executive Associate Dean on Student Experience Initiatives, implementing diversity programs, wellness, career and community advocacy for retention of our graduate students.• Developed orientation materials through PowerPoint, which were presented to students explaining the role of the Program Student Advisor and how students should utilize the Office of Student Affairs as a resource.• Provide academic, career, and personal counseling to medical students as they complete their medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. The Program Student Advisor is assigned to approximately 80-300 medical students per academic year.• Provide resources, guidance, and unique counseling sessions for a diverse student population.• Counsel academically challenged students to ensure their success and commitment to complete their degree and with their pursuit of a physician residency position. Student retention rates increased for at risk students under my advising leadership.• Work with at risk students and provided them with the support and services they needed to match into residency and graduate with medical degree.• Interim Director for Academic Services (2017-2019) Administer and create the monthly Chicago Student Promotions Committee Report. The Chicago Student Promotions Committee is in charge to makerecommendations to the College Committee on Student Promotions regarding students’ academic progress, promotions in year, eligibility for graduation, graduation honors, leave of absence, withdrawals, dismissals, and certain instances of misconduct. Supervised advisors and directed the peer education and wellness programs.• Project manage various initiatives and events for the Office of Student Affairs: commencement, wellness, peer education, gold humanism and AOA. Successfully planned and managed events within a specific budget. Show less

• Project Director

  • Oct 2002 - Aug 2013

  Managed seven full-time grants and worked on all the budgets and yearly reports.• Worked to creating a tracking system with IT for all our program initiatives in order to report to HRSA our grant funding source.• Presented several presentations addressing health disparities and the needs for more underrepresented and culturally competent nursing students.• Recruited at national, regional, and local conferences pertaining to nursing• Encouraged and advised potential underrepresented students into nursing• Collaborated with internal and external departments and various colleges to recruit students into the nursing programs.• Planned conferences, open houses, career, and health fairs for students at UIC College of Nursing• Coordinated recruitment materials; developed and worked with graphic designer to create brochure, ad, web sites and newsletter.• Marketed programs by placing ads at various nursing conferences, diversity journals and other community health related organizations. Have posted ads in the campus wide announcements and community newsletters reaching out to our underrepresented populations. Show less

• Project Manager

  • Jul 2002 - Aug 2004

  Worked directly with the Dean of Admissions, College of Medicine to understand the admissions process for our students.• Planned and implemented various events for students; summer leadership program, medical student fellowship program, recognition receptions, which included selection of guest speakers, faculty, and activities.Supervised and hired student workers/coordinators (at least four student coordinators work on campus and the others are off site). Review weekly assignments for coordinators and report bi-weekly time sheets for human resources.• Recruiter for all pre-med students and work with LARES staff member or pre-med advisor to recruit students, collaborate with on campus fairs or site visits with partners (Aspira, Benito Juarez, and Community Colleges, City Colleges to recruit Pre-Health Science students. Provide LARES support for pre-med students needing advice on requirements to medical school and preparation. Assists in the recruitment for the Summer Research Opportunity Program for medical students at Daley College our partner school and the College of Medicine.• Advised undergraduate and high school students on which concentrations are offered and answered questions regarding program requirements for a degree in the health sciences.• Maintained the website and links need to be updated, maintained all student databases for ESCUCHA Network and Leadership Development Seminar. Served as editor for newsletter, assigned articles to student coordinators design and implement features of the newsletter. Coordinate production and distribution. Maintain and update mailing list.• ESCUCHA Network – responsible in planning and implementing monthly meetings during the academic year which were seven general meetings and ten student coordinator meetings. Show less



UICCOM, Diversity Support Council Committee

• Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Health Equity Program Pilot Coordinator

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  The UICOM Diversity Support Council in collaboration with The Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Equity Program works at the intersection of healthcare and medical education to increase awareness in the medical education by preparing medical students to strive and bridge the gaps that needs to be addressed with the diversity in healthcare. The UICOM Diversity Support Council in collaboration with The Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Equity Program works at the intersection of healthcare and medical education to increase awareness in the medical education by preparing medical students to strive and bridge the gaps that needs to be addressed with the diversity in healthcare.



Journey into Higher Education

• United States

• Independent Educational and Career Coach/Consultant

  • Aug 2018 - Present

  Melissa has a strong commitment to students, higher education, student affairs, community service, and civic engagement, program implementation, diversity initiatives, admission and recruitment, leadership, and professional project development. I have substantial experience working in higher education for the past 24 years. I have been collaborating with students, administrators, faculty, community members, and researchers on their academic endeavors utilizing my knowledge and creative analytical skills. I can help you achieve your goals in applying for college, navigating higher education, exploring health care careers, and mentorship. Feel free to email me directly at journeyhighered@gmail.com for further assistance. Show less