Melissa Ponce

With a mission-driven career dedicated to transforming education and creating brighter futures for young people, Melissa brings over a decade of experience in coalition building, program design, and strategic network management. She has led national networks of education leaders, crafting impactful professional learning experiences and empowering leaders to foster equitable, deeper learning for youth. Melissa has also supported community-based initiatives across Texas to reimagine education, ensuring that students experience equitable and meaningful learning opportunities.

Melissa has a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona. She is deeply committed to centering youth voices and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in her work, continually refining programs to adapt to the evolving needs of young people.

Melissa lives in El Paso, Texas, with her husband and two kids, where she is actively engaged in her community.