Melanie oversees the Fund's communications work, including outreach to grantees, strategic partners and media. She joined the team in 2019.

Prior to working with the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Melanie was director of external and media relations for CSX Transportation, leading the FORTUNE 500 company's media relations, crisis communications, executive positioning, issues management and financial communications. Melanie moved to Jacksonville in 2013 from Washington, D.C. where she worked on the issues management team for APCO Worldwide, a global communications and government relations agency.

Melanie graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics and international trade & commerce from Wake Forest University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She is a member of and previously served as communications committee co-chair for the Women's Giving Alliance, an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. She can often be found at the beach or having dance parties with her young daughter.