David Melena

David Melena is a strategic leader in college counseling and access programs, with extensive experience guiding first generation, low income and historically underrepresented students through college readiness, application, and completion. He has managed multi-year college readiness and completion programs, including a 10-year pipeline focused on college fit, successful first-year transition, community college transfer, and identity-affirming college experiences. His work spans public and private high schools, higher education, and nonprofit organizations, giving him a comprehensive view of how students move through the educational landscape.

David brings an advanced background in highly selective college admissions and scholarship evaluation, including many years of reading freshman and transfer applications for the University of California, Berkeley, across all five undergraduate colleges. He has evaluated applications under demanding timelines, using holistic review and deep knowledge of high school graduation and college entry requirements. In addition, he has served as a reader for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and led university partnership and scholarship recruitment efforts, designing data-driven outreach strategies and interview processes for hundreds of students across dozens of high schools.

Throughout his career, David has centered equity and inclusion, developing programs and partnerships that support historically underrepresented communities. He has directed college access and career readiness initiatives, coordinated large student caseloads as a college counselor, and facilitated workshops in both English and Spanish on UC applications, personal statements, financial aid, summer enrichment, and leadership development. His skill set includes program management, lesson planning, event design, facilitation for youth and adults, social justice-driven solutions, data-informed decision-making, and relationship building with stakeholders at every level.