Melanie Barnas-Simmons

Melanie Barnas-Simmons currently serves as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations at the University of Northwestern Ohio since July 2023. With extensive experience in advancement and fundraising, Melanie has held key leadership roles, including Vice President of Advancement at RMSC and Executive Vice President at CDS Life Transitions, where major achievements included overseeing development strategies and securing significant funding for capital campaigns. Melanie's background also features successful tenure as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Bishop Kearney, where strategic initiatives led to multimillion-dollar fundraising successes. Previous experience includes roles at Rochester Regional Health, Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, and the American Red Cross, where strong donor relationships and innovative fundraising approaches consistently exceeded goals. Melanie holds a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.