Melissa Ariza
Melissa specializes in criminal justice and public policy issues, and she has worked across industries and sectors in areas including social work, criminal justice, public housing, and government.
Previously, Melissa was a probation officer for New York City Department of Probation, working as the liaison between offenders and the court. During this time, she was a public policy fellow for Tow Fellowship working with the Corporation for Supportive Housing. In this position, she led bilateral conversations for coalitions, conducted research for the Tri-State area, and tracked public housing legislation.
Melissa was born and raised in New York City. You can typically find her looking for the city’s best tacos and margaritas, or exploring new cities.
EDUCATION
- MPA in Public Policy and Administration, John Jay College
- B.A. in Sociology, SUNY University at Albany
HONORS
- Presented research on juvenile justice at the ASPA (American Society of Public Administration) in 2021