Melanie is an alumnus of the Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies Program, with a B.A. in Theatre, a B.A. in Psychology, an M.S. in Human Services and doctoral coursework in Performance Studies. Boricua (proudly First Nations and Afrodescendiente) and raised in Chicago, Melanie is a career public servant with a passion for bomba music and dance, genealogy, cooking, basketball and family time.