Melissa Goodnight

Melissa Goodnight is the Program Manager for USI Network. She coordinates the Network’s professional development and outreach activities with schools, and generally oversees its administrative and fiscal aspects. Melissa collaborates on efforts to document, evaluate and present the Network’s practices. More recently, she has undertaken leading the design, use, and development of the USI Network Web-hub: a web-based space with functionality for networking, collaborating and sharing resources.

Melissa has years of experience working with youth and in educational environments. As the former Program Coordinator for Indiana University’s Learning Sciences doctoral program (School of Education), Melissa helped manage this new unit, establishing administrative systems, coordinating national conferences, and creating and developing documentation needed for grants, evaluation, and daily operations. Prior to joining the Urban Education Institute, Melissa was a youth and community development volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps; she worked with Jamaica AIDS Support in targeted interventions, education outreach, and support services.

Melissa is completing her M.A. in the policy and sociology of education at DePaul University. She holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Chapman University and the British American Drama Academy, London. Melissa’s education-related interests include social justice curriculum, youth mentoring and socio-emotional development, international development and education policy, and human rights.