Melanie has worked in higher education for over 16 years. Her diverse experience includes working with scholarships, overseeing financial aid, academic course scheduling and her current role overseeing outreach efforts as the Director for Student Recruitment at Columbia Basin College (CBC). Through this role, Melanie works to highlight the benefits of attending college to students in the K-12 system and the CBC regional community. With a large student percentage of first generation students at CBC, the goal is to create a college going culture and awareness of education and training benefits to support employment options in the community. Melanie serves as the Community College and Transfer Advocacy Chair for the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counselors.