Melissa Kanaya
About Melissa Kanaya
Melissa Kanaya is a Senior Program Manager who coordinates support for the Federal Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Coordinating Council for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. She has extensive experience in program management and a strong educational background in sociology and public policy.
Work at Bixal
Melissa Kanaya has served as a Senior Program Manager at Bixal since 2017. In this role, she provides support and coordination for the Federal Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Coordinating Council for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Her responsibilities include supervising a Meeting Planner and coordinating with staff from the Office of Justice Programs to plan in-person meetings, conference calls, webinars, and webcasts. She develops, manages, and monitors the program work plan, which involves tracking budget, tasks, and follow-up.
Previous Experience
Prior to her current position at Bixal, Melissa Kanaya held various roles in program management and coordination. She worked as a Senior Program Manager at Aeio, LLC for nine months in 2016. Before that, she was an Interim Program Coordinator at Georgetown University for six months in 2006. Additionally, she served as a Program Coordinator at YWCA in Canada from 1998 to 2005. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Youth Counselor at Service Alternatives, Inc. and as an Advocate at Catholic Community Services.
Education and Expertise
Melissa Kanaya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Washington, where she studied from 1992 to 1996. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master's degree in Consulting, Public Policy, and Management from American University between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, she earned a Master's degree in Leadership from Georgetown University in 2006. Her educational background supports her expertise in program management and coordination within the juvenile justice sector.
Background
Melissa Kanaya's career spans over two decades in program management and advocacy, primarily focused on juvenile justice and social services. She began her professional journey as a Youth Counselor in 1996 and has progressively taken on roles with increasing responsibility. Her experience includes working with various organizations, such as YWCA, Georgetown University, and Catholic Community Services, where she developed skills in program development, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.