Melanie Heath Email & Phone Number

Lead a $6.5 million portfolio of work aimed at increasing equitable enrollment and reenrollment in bachelor’s degree programs through strategic investments in college access, transfer, and state and federal policy innovations. Launched the Great Admissions Redesign, a national challenge to the higher education field to radically rethink admissions systems toward simplicity and equity, which garnered significant national attention and catalyzed change in admissions across the country. Awarded seven grants to states, systems, and institutions after directing a robust selection process. Created a research collaborative of faculty and practitioners to study the impact of Great Admissions Redesign innovations.Co-chaired a working group of the Equity in Higher Education Funders Collaborative to align strategies across multiple national philanthropies in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision banning race-conscious admissions practices. Develop and implement Lumina’s national strategy to increase participation in bachelor’s programs, specifically for Black, Latinx, and Native students. Cultivated relationships with higher education researchers and practitioners across the country to identify partners in the work, stay abreast of innovations, and practice thought partnership with other associated efforts from across the field. Administered grants and associated budgets to advance measurable outcomes.Actively engage in the higher education field through a robust thought leadership strategy to advance the goals of the portfolio and Lumina more broadly, including national and local media interviews, speeches, writing, and presentations.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Served on the Executive Cabinet for the Commissioner of Higher Education as the Chief Student Affairs Officer for the Utah System of Higher Education. Managed the Student Affairs and Access Department and administered its $6 million budget. Led systemwide student initiatives that support simplified admissions, postsecondary access, mental health and wellness, campus safety, equity, and belonging, basic needs, and meaningful student engagement in board initiatives. Spearheaded the board’s top priority initiative for 2021 of placing a college access adviser in every high school in Utah. Built a coalition of support for the initiative by working with leaders at Utah’s public higher education institutions, state agencies, legislators, K-12 leaders, and community partners. Successfully secured funding and implemented the statewide expansion of the Utah College Advising Corps—from 13 high schools in 2020 to 71 high schools in 2022—and oversaw the program’s $2.8 million annual budget. Directed Utah’s statewide access programs, including the coordination of Utah College Application Week events in 150 high schools, FAFSA completion events in over 160 high schools, professional development on college access for over 500 high school counselors and administrators, and the establishment, support, and annual convening of the state’s first regional network of college access partners, consisting of over 130 college access leaders from across the state. Chaired the USHE Simplified Admissions Taskforce, a coalition of 25 admissions and enrollment management professionals from across the Utah system toward the recommendation of a simplified admissions process for Utah students. Led statewide strategies for college student mental health and wellness, in partnership with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the Education and Mental Health Coordinating Council, the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, JED Campus, and 16 USHE institutions.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Served on the Executive Cabinet for the Commissioner of Higher Education and worked to ensure alignment in strategies and initiatives between the state's higher education and K-12 systems, in partnership with key state legislators.Led the successful, inclusive development and implementation of the Utah Board of Higher Education’s strategic plan. Directed listening sessions to acquire stakeholder feedback and worked with institutions to ensure consistency of institutional strategic plans with the system’s strategic plan, with an intentional focus on equity for historically marginalized populations. Supported the board and Commissioner’s office in aligning strategic plans, priorities, and initiatives between the Utah System of Higher Education and the state’s elected K-12 board. Directed and managed strategic initiatives in the Commissioner’s office to meet the goals set forth in the Utah Board of Higher Education’s five-year strategic plan. Led cross-functional teams—within the Commissioner’s office and/or external stakeholders—to shepherd successful, on-time achievement of strategic initiatives and projects.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Provided counsel to executive leadership and board members on postsecondary access and equity, strategic communications, crisis communications, public relations and marketing, and thought leadership strategy. Managed and maintained positive local, national, and industry media relations.Rebranded the Utah System of Higher Education with a new logo, stationary, marketing materials, digital assets such as website and social media, and other collateral. Worked with multiple outside vendors to execute on graphic design and digital presence. Created and oversaw digital media strategy, content, and design, including two websites, ushe.edu (10% increase in pageviews) and StepUpUtah.com (21% increase), seven social media streams (average 49% increase in followers), two e-newsletters, videos, and other digital media.Developed thought leadership profile for the Commissioner of Higher Education and associated strategic communication plan, including editorial board visits, opinion pieces, and speechwriting, as well as coalition building through key stakeholder engagement. Organized senior communications leaders of all public colleges and universities in Utah to coordinate messaging, legislative advocacy, and statewide communication strategies in support of board priorities. Served as staff leader for multiple board committees, and facilitated board involvement in key postsecondary access initiatives, legislative relations, and public relations/advocacy efforts. Managed a team of communications specialists and college access coordinators. Oversaw the Utah College Application Week program, professional development for high school counselors, outreach initiatives to high schools, and systemwide marketing collateral for Utah’s Higher Ed Day tour, where recruiters from every institution in the system collectively visit Utah high schools and discuss higher education access.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Created strategic communications plans for system initiatives, including stakeholder engagement, public relations, and media relations. Developed legislative advocacy strategies and associated materials to support budget priorities of the board. Wrote speeches, opinion pieces, and statements for the Commissioner and chair of the board.Conceptualized and executed the consolidation and re-brand of four disparate outreach programs into a single streamlined statewide college preparation and access brand, StepUp to Higher Education. Managed its $250,000 marketing, publications, and outreach budget.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Raised over $1.2 million annually in fundraising revenue from corporate, foundation, and government grants and sponsorships. Researched, developed, and managed relationships with over 110 granting entities.Developed campaign strategy for the $35 million Ballet West/Salt Lake County Capitol Theatre renovation and expansion project. Created marketing materials and coordinated Ballet West’s lobbying efforts to the Utah Legislature in 2012 and 2013.Assisted with the marketing, coordination, and publicity of fundraising events and various campaigns.Proposed and spearheaded the Ballet West 50th anniversary book.

Portland, Oregon, United States

Founded, organized, and executed the Write to Publish Conference, a two-day event for budding writers to interact with publishing industry professionals and authors (including Chuck Palahniuk and Ursula K. LeGuin). Managed over 40 conference volunteers and ran associated website and social media.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Educational Leadership And Policy

Master Of Arts - Ma, Writing/Publishing

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, English/Creative Writing