Melissa Bellin

2019 LBJ DC Fellow

Melissa Bellin received her Master of Public Affairs (DC Concentration) at the LBJ School. She studied sociology at Harvard University, with a certification in French language. While earning her undergraduate degree, Bellin directed an after-school program for low-income youth, supervised overnight shifts at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, taught English to students in Tanzania and interned with Advocates for Children of New York City. After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC to teach elementary school at KIPP DC. She then transitioned to the nonprofit organization Flamboyan Foundation, which builds the capacity of DC public schools to practice effective family engagement. As an education professional, Bellin developed a deep interest in the external factors that impact student achievement, including race, class and housing. 
2019 Policy Apprenticeship: Education Trust
Policy Interests: Pre-K-12 Education Issues, Effective Family Engagement, E-learning and Access to Technology, Teacher Preparation and Compensation, School-to-Prison Pipeline