About Melinda

I am the founder and academic advisor of ElevatEd Pathways and currently serve as Associate Dean of Studies and Director of the Prehealth Program and Fellowships Advising at Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, New York. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, I have guided hundreds of students through academic decision-making, personal challenges, and complex pathways toward graduate and professional school. My career began in student affairs at UCLA Medical School, followed by graduate study at Columbia University, and a pivotal leadership role directing NYU’s career changer postbaccalaureate premedical program, where I discovered my passion for supporting aspiring healthcare professionals and mentoring students at critical moments in their academic journeys. In my role as an Academic Dean, I work closely with college students across all fields of study, helping them navigate the full arc of the undergraduate experience - course selection and academic planning to overcoming setbacks, building strong faculty relationships, and developing the skills needed to thrive independently. As a program director, I have led the redesign and expansion of multiple prehealth programs at institutions including NYU, Barnard College, and Sarah Lawrence College. Through ElevatEd Pathways, I extend this depth of institutional and advising expertise into personalized, one-on-one support for college students and applicants. My approach reflects a deep understanding of the challenges students face during college and a commitment to helping them make thoughtful decisions that position them for long-term success academically, professionally, and personally.