Melanie Buford (she/her) is an Author, Instructor, and Career and Leadership Consultant. She is the Field Experience course lead for the Leadership Minor at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and has been conducting research, writing, and teaching for 15 years about equity and innovation in career preparation and leadership. She previously taught and advised students at the University of Cincinnati and Wesleyan University.
Melanie was the lead editor of Mapping the Future of Undergraduate Career Education (Routledge) - an international effort to evolve career preparation in higher education. Her work has been featured on EdSurge, Puttylike, Truity, and Happen to Your Career. She is currently editing her second book, a social change leadership anthology, Beyond the Minor (Beaver's Pond Press), to be released in 2025.
Melanie received the Kenneth B. Hoyt Career Education Practitioner Award and the Ralph W. Tyler Award for outstanding research and publication in career development. Her dissertation research was recognized by the National Career Development Association with the Graduate Student Research Award, and by the Minnesota Career Development Association with the Sunny Hansen Graduate Student Award. The YWCA recognized her as a Rising Star in 2016 for her public service and commitment to social justice leadership.
She earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Melanie began her career in public service in California, as an AmeriCorps Public Allies member. She formerly worked as an educator at Year Up Bay Area and a service-project leader at HandsOn Bay Area, and a tour guide at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
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Melanie was the lead editor of Mapping the Future of Undergraduate Career Education (Routledge) - an international effort to evolve career preparation in higher education. Her work has been featured on EdSurge, Puttylike, Truity, and Happen to Your Career. She is currently editing her second book, a social change leadership anthology, Beyond the Minor (Beaver's Pond Press), to be released in 2025.
Melanie received the Kenneth B. Hoyt Career Education Practitioner Award and the Ralph W. Tyler Award for outstanding research and publication in career development. Her dissertation research was recognized by the National Career Development Association with the Graduate Student Research Award, and by the Minnesota Career Development Association with the Sunny Hansen Graduate Student Award. The YWCA recognized her as a Rising Star in 2016 for her public service and commitment to social justice leadership.
She earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Melanie began her career in public service in California, as an AmeriCorps Public Allies member. She formerly worked as an educator at Year Up Bay Area and a service-project leader at HandsOn Bay Area, and a tour guide at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
More Information:
LinkedIn Profile
Research Summary