NYSTRS
Melody Harkness currently serves as the Assistant Director of Enterprise Planning & Development at the NYS Teachers' Retirement System, overseeing the Enterprise Training & Development and Performance Measures units. In addition, Melody is the On-call Director and Chief of Case Management for the City of Rochester's Police Accountability Board, where foundational case management practices have been developed. Harkness Consulting Solutions, LLC, under Melody's leadership as Principal Chief Executive Officer, is a certified M/WBE management consulting firm specializing in business process improvement, strategic planning, and diversity initiatives. Previous roles include Program Manager for the City of Albany Community Police Review Board and various positions at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and Legal Aid of North Carolina. Melody holds a Master's Degree in American/U.S. Law from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor's degree in Africana Studies and Community Development from North Carolina State University.
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NYSTRS
Established in 1921 by the New York State Legislature, NYSTRS provides retirement, disability and death benefits to eligible New York State public school teachers and administrators. Our Mission: To provide our members with a secure pension. Our Vision: To be the model for pension fund excellence and exceptional customer service.We serve nearly264,000 active members and over 169,000 retirees and beneficiaries.Membership in NYSTRS is mandatory for all full-time teachers, teaching assistants, guidance counselors and administrators employed in New York State public schools (excluding New York City), Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and eligible charter schools that opted to participate as an employer in NYSTRS.Membership for teachers employed less than full time is optional. Employers are required to notify part-time teachers in writing of their right to membership in the System.Teachers employed by a New York State community college or SUNY (excluding graduate assistants or teaching assistants) may elect membership in NYSTRS or the Optional Retirement Program.