Melissa McSwegin

Melissa McSwegin has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of global health and program management. Melissa has held various leadership roles, including Senior Director, Director, Senior Manager, Project Director, and Technical Advisor. Melissa has worked with organizations such as RTI International, Global Health Action, and The Carter Center.

At RTI International, Melissa served as the Senior Director of Strategy and Program Management, where they managed a $439M portfolio across 20 countries. Melissa provided strategic support to organizational leaders, troubleshooted daily business needs, and accelerated organizational response rates to global economic changes and infectious diseases. Melissa also excelled in recruiting and retaining top talent, forecasting workforce planning needs, and removing barriers for in-country employees.

In their role as Director of Strategy and Programs at RTI International, Melissa specialized in facilitating change, optimizing program execution, and driving operational and business development strategies for the Global Health Division. Melissa focused on infectious disease control programs in Tanzania and Guinea, and successfully boosted long-term organizational growth with strategic partners.

As the Senior Manager for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Programs at RTI International, Melissa delivered high-impact results across multiple regional programs. One of their key achievements was refining the technical strategy and mentoring Chiefs of Party for a $25M global health and private sector partnership program in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Melissa also successfully addressed cultural sensitivities, regulatory requirements, and aligned business objectives with USAID goals.

During their time as Project Director and Chief of Party for USAID at RTI International, Melissa demonstrated their financial acumen and exceptional organizational skills. Melissa fostered beneficial relationships with stakeholders and USAID, and closed out the Nicaragua Strategic Alliance for Social Investment project by performing due diligence, approving final reports, and celebrating project success through public events.

Melissa's career in global health started at The Carter Center, where they worked as a Technical Advisor. Melissa partnered with the Ministry of Health to increase the containment of Guinea Worm Disease in Niger and Burkina Faso. Melissa used their critical thinking, warm communication style, and strong work ethic to make a significant impact in public health education and global health equity.

Prior to their role at The Carter Center, Melissa served as a Program Manager at Global Health Action. In this position, they managed global healthcare programs in Haiti, Ghana, Kenya, and the United States. Melissa showcased their expertise in technical, financial, and administrative aspects of program management while recruiting and supervising staff and consultants.

Overall, Melissa McSwegin has a proven track record of strategic leadership, program management, and successful execution of global health initiatives. Melissa'sskills in relationship-building, technical program management, and organizational strategy have made their a valuable asset in the field.

Melissa McSwegin holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Global Health from Emory University. Prior to that, they earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Kalamazoo College.