Melissa B.

Melissa B. has extensive work experience in research and project management. Melissa co-founded and worked as a Co-Principal Investigator at the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute since 2020.

Prior to that, they served as a Founding Member of the Black Researchers Collective starting in 2019.

From 2014 to the present, Melissa has been a Senior Researcher at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). In this role, they have been the project director and manager of multiple state- and district-level projects, overseeing all aspects of project management, including budgeting, timeline adherence, and client communication. Melissa has also been responsible for conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and presenting findings to clients and external audiences. At AIR, they have also been involved in proposal development and served as the former co-chair and current advisor for the AIR Professional Service Onboarding Committee.

Melissa has also worked as an Assistant Director of Research at Black Tech Mecca from 2018 to 2019, where they played a role in developing organizational logic models, managing data collection, and providing guidance on reports for clients and funders.

Before that, they held positions at Learning Point Associates from 2006 to 2010, where they conducted program evaluations, developed protocols, and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data. Melissa also assisted in grant proposal writing and policy briefs in the field of Educator Quality and Leadership.

Melissa's early work experience includes roles as a Research Assistant at Rush University Medical Center, a Student and Research Assistant at The University of Chicago, and a Research Assistant and Student at Howard University.

Overall, Melissa B. brings a wealth of experience in research, project management, and collaboration within the field of education and technology, specifically focused on improving outcomes for underrepresented communities.

Melissa B. completed their Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Howard University, where they studied from 2001 to 2005. Following this, they pursued a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, studying from 2005 to 2006. Additionally, Melissa obtained a certification in Developing Organizational Awareness from LinkedIn in June 2023.