Melissa is the institute’s director of public & private partnerships. In this role, she works to develop partnerships with government entities, industry leaders and academic institutions aligned with the institute’s mission and those of its affiliated research centers.

Previously, Melissa served as the former Deputy Treasurer and Chief of Staff for the North Carolina Department of State Treasury, where she successfully oversaw Department strategic planning, operations, and public-policy implementation, along with a staff of more than 400 employees. Melissa’s background includes over 20 years of private and public-sector financial industry experience, including 15 years in the banking sector with Wachovia/Wells Fargo. She currently serves as executive program director for the National Institute of Public Finance within the NAST Foundation and is the president of the AIF Institute.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.