Biography
Melanie supports the FIU community as an Applications Business Analyst, leading the implementation, design, and growth of the university’s Panther Success Network (PSN). PSN serves as FIU’s central student support platform, connecting students with their dedicated FIU Success Team—including Academic Advisors, Success Coaches, and others. Now in its second phase, the platform is expanding to include graduate students, extending critical support resources beyond the undergraduate population. Through PSN, students are empowered to stay on track for timely graduation and to reach both academic and post-graduate career goals.
In addition to her administrative role, Melanie has been an instructor for SLS 1501: First Year Experience since 2019. In this course, she not only teaches but also mentors first-year students, helping them develop essential life skills that contribute to academic success and personal growth as they transition into university life.
A proud four-time FIU graduate, Melanie holds a double Bachelor's degree in Art History and History (2011), a Master's degree in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Finance, Procurement, and Contract Management (2018), and a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration (2023). She is also an alumna of FIU’s sixth Presidential Leadership Program cohort.
Outside of work, Melanie enjoys diamond painting and traveling with her husband, Brandon. Looking ahead, she aspires to pursue a PhD in Higher Education, with a research focus on student support models and strategies that foster academic, social, and professional success.