Melania Valverde, Senior Assistant Director of Access Programs at NYU
Melania Valverde’s dedication to family engagement has been a driving force throughout her career, complementing her impact in college access and enrollment. From her early experiences leading the Admissions Student Diversity Board in her undergraduate years at Boston University to teaching at a Dual-Language Elementary school, she recognized the crucial role of family involvement. At Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, she spearheaded support for undocumented students, valuing family partnership in students’ access to higher educational opportunities. Currently, at NYU, she leads four college access programs, leveraging her expertise in engaging families to empower students on their educational journey.
As a leader in the education sector, Melania Valverde has consistently worked to promote equity and access to higher education for all students. She has led four distinct college access programs at NYU, catering to various age groups. These programs have served a diverse student population and have successfully transitioned from virtual to hybrid and in-person delivery models, increasing program reach and accessibility. She also led the piloting of family sessions at NYU designed to engage and support parents and guardians of middle school students. These sessions have had a significant impact, providing valuable resources, information, and support to families, furthering the mission of promoting educational equity. Recognizing the importance of early engagement, the program’s focus on middle school students and families fills a critical gap in the college access landscape, laying a strong foundation for students’ future success.
At Success Academy, Valverde successfully engaged with a wide range of families, connecting them to the opportunity to attend a top-ranked charter school. She also provided essential translation and workshop support for Spanish-speaking families, ensuring that language barriers did not hinder their engagement in the school community. At SEO, she advised and counseled 110 seniors through the college application process, preparing them for admissions into selective colleges. Additionally, she founded the SEO Dream Team to support undocumented students.
