Melanie Brown

Melanie R. Brown is a speaker, writer, strategist and advisor on race, gender, inequality, global philanthropy, and social investment.

Her research on activism and social change among youth and women has been featured in scholarly and trade publications such as the Journal for Applied Developmental Psychology and Alliance Magazine. Melanie has developed multimillion dollar strategies to accelerate Black and Latinx student achievement, disarm deficit narratives of Black men across social and traditional media, advance Black women’s reproductive rights, and bolster engagement and organizing on a variety of issues across rural and queer communities. Melanie has been invited to speak and advise on these issues throughout the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Cuba.

In 2017, Melanie was awarded the prestigious, lifelong Atlantic Fellowship in Social and Economic Equity at the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Melanie has focused her fellowship experience studying Black women’s intersectional leadership across the global philanthropic sector. She is also a 2020 BMe Community Vanguard Fellow, an adjunct professor at American University and is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Women’s Funding Network, the largest philanthropic alliance in the world dedicated to advancing gender equality and justice.

Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree from American University. She graduated with a masters of education from Harvard University and a masters of public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and resides in Washington, D.C.

*Previous Speaking Engagements: *

• Alliance Magazine
• UNC Carolina Center for Public Service
• I Be Black Girl
• International Day of Education, Global Minnesota
• Women Leaders of the World
• Community Investment Network
• ReCity Network
• American University
• Taco Bell Foundation
• London School of Economics
• Grantmakers for Education
• Women’s Funding Network

Education

• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (2017)
• Master of Public Management (MPM) Carnegie Mellon University (2009 — 2012)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.) Harvard University Graduate School of Education (2006 — 2007)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) American University (1998 — 2002)

Companies

• Interim Deputy Director, Global Policy & Advocacy, North America Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2021)
• Vanguard Fellow BMe Community (2020)
• Adjunct Professor American University (2020)
• Atlantic Fellowship in Social and Economic Equity The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (2017)
• Program Officer, Education The Heinz Endowments (2007 — 2015)
• Middle and High Language Arts Teacher The Seed Public Charter School (2002 — 2006)