In November of 2022, Melanie was promoted to Director of the Dallas Water Commons. Previously, she served as Director of Special Projects at Matthews after serving as Director of Development and Outreach for The Trinity Trust (now the Trinity Park Conservancy). Melanie creates business and community alignments for MSW and looks for innovative partners from many sectors. Her projects have included legislative advocacy for innovative affordable home projects. Melanie worked in public relations for the Dallas Theater Center and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as well as in government and community relations for the J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles.

A Dallas native, Melanie is passionate about equity in the city, and has served on the boards of the Downtown Dallas Inc’s Foundation, the Texas Women’s Foundation, Opportunity Dallas, the Dallas Wetlands Foundation, LIFT (Literacy Instruction for Texans), the international non-profit MAP (Make Art with Purpose) and has served on advisory committees for the National Endowment for the Arts, Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, South Dallas Fair Park Task Force, D Magazine, Big Thought, CityLab High School Foundation, Visit Dallas, TACA, North Texas Commission, DFW Corporate Citizenship Network, Leadership ISD and DDI’s Equity and Inclusion Committee.