Since joining RILA in 2019, Melissa has helped ensure that everything runs smoothly. Most of her time is spent making sure supporting staff and managing finances. She also assists the legal team in scheduling volunteers and monitoring case deadlines, and she updates our social media accounts, helps with grant proposals, fixes computers, and checks the mail. She truly does it all.

After graduating from Northwestern University, Mel worked in communications both at CNN Financial News and at Lehman Brothers in New York City. She also served as the Sunday Operations Coordinator at Grace DC, and all of these roles equipped her to manage RILA’s communications, finances, and volunteers. 

For Melissa, RILA’s collaborative environment is a source of joy as she connects with people from our neighborhood, local churches, and other community members who all care about immigrants in the DC area.