Melissa Leonard
About Melissa Leonard
Melissa Leonard serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Unite Us, where she has worked since 2021 in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe Metropolitan Area. She has a strong background in community engagement, policy analysis, and resource development, with experience in various roles across multiple organizations.
Work at Unite Us
Melissa Leonard serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Unite Us, a role she has held since 2021. In this position, she engages directly with communities to ensure the effective delivery of services through a person-centered care coordination platform. Her work focuses on facilitating collaboration between healthcare, government, and community stakeholders to improve health outcomes in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe Metropolitan Area.
Previous Employment Experience
Prior to her role at Unite Us, Melissa Leonard worked in various capacities that contributed to her expertise in community engagement and resource development. She was employed as an Employment and Eligibility Specialist at Butte County for five months in 2014. Additionally, she served as a Resource Development Officer at The Grant Plant from 2016 to 2020. She also held a position as a Board Member at Global Ties ABQ from 2018 to 2019 and has been a Board Member at Equality New Mexico since 2020.
Education and Expertise
Melissa Leonard has a strong academic background in public affairs and community development. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at Indiana University Bloomington, with studies focused on Policy Analysis and Community and Economic Development. She also holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies from The University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations and Affairs from the University of California, Davis.
Background in Community Engagement
Melissa Leonard has a history of engaging with diverse communities to enhance health and social care communication. Her experience includes working as a Graduate Assistant at The University of New Mexico from 2014 to 2016. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in aligning stakeholders around shared goals, which has significantly contributed to improving health outcomes in New Mexico.