About Melissa

With over 20 years of experience in graduate admissions, I’ve held leadership roles at Villanova Law, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). At Villanova, I served as Assistant Dean of Admissions, managing the JD admissions process, leading the admissions committee, and overseeing merit scholarship strategy. At Penn Nursing, I directed admissions across a wide range of programs—including 11 MSN specialties, 3 DNP tracks, the PhD program, and the Master’s in Nutrition Science—building strategic enrollment plans and guiding applicants through competitive admissions processes. At Princeton SPIA, I led graduate admissions and oversaw outreach for the Master in Public Affairs (MPA), Master in Public Policy (MPP) and PhD programs. I also directed the Junior Summer Institute (JSI)—a premier pipeline program focused on preparing undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds for careers in public service and graduate study. Additionally, I served as a selection consultant for the U.S. State Department’s Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, further reflecting my deep commitment to equity, access, and diversifying leadership in public service and international affairs. Throughout my career, I've advised hundreds of prospective applicants, reviewed thousands of applications, led holistic admissions processes, and developed strategic scholarship models to attract mission-aligned students—And the best part? Making the “You’ve been admitted!” call and signing acceptance letters—moments that never lose their joy or significance. Whether it’s helping law school applicants craft standout personal statements, guiding future public servants through the MPA/MPP admissions process, or coaching aspiring nurses on advanced practice applications—I bring insider knowledge, strategic insight, and a student-centered approach to every client I work with.