CUNY Peer Leaders Director

As Director of the Undergraduate Leadership Program, Melendez directs and oversees a program that brings together 30 undergraduate students from across 12 CUNY campuses as Leadership Fellows. Melendez consults with fellows on how to develop their mentoring and leadership skills in addition to helping them learn how to navigate spaces inside and outside their college campuses. The fellows in turn learn about opportunities within and outside their campuses that will help shape, strengthen and prepare them for not only their academic paths but more importantly their life paths.

In her role as administrative specialist, Melendez provides academic and administrative support to the Futures Initiative. She oversees department operations, manages workshop planning and scheduling, conducts research, and organizes and processes materials for all administrative documentation. Melendez manages the program’s budget and coordinates purchasing, accounting, and payroll for the department.

Before coming to the Futures Initiative, Melendez worked in the media industry for a decade in National TV Sales, Radio, Digital media buying and sales planning. Melendez holds a M.S.ED degree from Hunter College, City University of New York with a concentration in School Counseling. As a School Counselor and College Advisor, Melendez works with high school students who are primarily persons of color from underrepresented communities within the New York City area.