Melanie serves as the Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services where she leads the Department’s enforcement of federal civil rights and privacy laws and directs related policy and strategic initiatives. Previously, Melanie served as Counselor to Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, providing strategy guidance to the Secretary on issues pertaining to civil rights, patient privacy, reproductive health, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), competition in healthcare, equity, and the private insurance market. Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Melanie served as the Special Assistant to the Attorney General and Chief Health Care Advisor at the California Department of Justice During this time, she facilitated the creation of a new office, the Health Care Rights and Access, devoted to proactively advancing laws pertaining to health care civil rights, privacy, competition, and consumer protection. Melanie previously served in the U.S. Senate as a Senior Aide and Women’s Policy Director to Chair Patty Murray on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Budget Committees. Melanie has a J.D. from the University of Arizona, M.S.M.E. from the City University of New York, Brooklyn College, and a B.S.B.A. from the University of Arizona