Meet Melanie Hecker, AS, BA, MPA

Melanie is a 30 year old employed as a Professional Advocate. She earned a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany in Albany NY. She earned a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in May 2019 in Public Policy and Management from the same University. Melanie is a founding member and former Vice President of the University of Albany’s chapter of Delta Alpha Pi Disability Honor Society as well as holding a position on the New York State Independent Living Council Youth Subcommittee. She also serves as the co-chair of Congregation Ohav Shalom’s Inclusion Committee in Albany, NY . 

• Melanie’s previous projects include serving as co-principal investigator on a research study with START Services concerning the public’s experiences with prescription psychiatric medication. She also serves on their research consortium Board of Directors. Ms. Hecker interned at the New York State Council on Children and Families.  In 2019, she was awarded Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley’s Beacon Leadership Award. That same week, she gave the student commencement address at the Rockefeller College Undergraduate Recognition Ceremony. She interned at Disability Rights New York during Fall 2018.
• Melanie worked at YOUTH POWER! as the systems advocate for four years. While attending Hudson Valley Community College (earning an AS 2016) she interned at the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley.