Melissa is the Associate Director of Development and Community Relationships for the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. That’s a long way to say she is responsible for helping to bring new students, new funds, and more attention to the Zschool.

Melissa has 17+ years of experience in fundraising, communications, and program development in established and emerging nonprofit organizations, as well as university settings. Melissa has worked in key development, strategy and program roles throughout the California nonprofit community, at organizations including UCSD, UpStart, Jewish Federations (in the East Bay and in Los Angeles). Prior to the Zschool, Melissa served as the Director of Major Gifts at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, CA.

Melissa holds an MPA from USC, and a MAJNM from the Zelikow School. A “valley girl” born and raised, Melissa loves being back in sunny southern CA, after starting her career in the beautiful-but-cold SF Bay Area. She and her husband currently live in Woodland Hills with their two wonderful kiddos, Zoey (5) and Emet (1.5). Their family home is a blend of their Sephardi, Ashkenazi, conservative and orthodox backgrounds and traditions.