Melissa C. Baron, Ph.D Lead Professional Learning Facilitator

Dr. Melissa Baron started at RMC health in November 2021 and currently is a Lead Professional Learning Facilitator for the organization. She provides professional development on designing and facilitating trainings, as well as providing technical assistance and trainings that focus on RMC Health’s efforts to create a culture of health and wellness in the K12 education system and partnering organizations. Melissa delivers trainings locally and nationally to adult professionals, providing high-quality learning opportunities.

Before joining RMC Health, Melissa was a higher education Doctorate and effective leadership developer who specializes in the design, evaluation, and implementation of learning programs to adults and youth. She was the Founder and Executive Director of the Bright Futures Club, Inc, a nonprofit organization that served Latino and immigrant families through interactive programs, series, and workshops. Melissa spear-headed the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs on topics such as bullying, healthy habits, effective communication, leadership, financial literacy, drug use, substance abuse, and mental health. She also served as the Senior L&D Director for Get Focused, Inc helping increasing participation, community engagement, and helped build strong relationships with partnering organizations, school districts, key stakeholders, and families. Over her 10-year career as a College Professor, Melissa has had the opportunity to teach an array of courses to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Teachers obtaining their Certification in Bilingual, Bicultural, and Biliteracy. Courses taught include: Sociocultural Foundations for Working with Early Childhood & Elementary Bilingual Learners & Families, Qualitative Research Methods, Child Development, Sibling Relationships, Senior Research Seminar, Experimental Psychology, Statistics for the Social Sciences, Development: Birth through Adolescence, Community Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Learning Theory & Applications, and Introduction to Psychology.

Melissa was recognized for her passion and dedication to underserved Latino and immigrant communities by the Ford Motor Company in 2016 and presented with their prestigious “Mujer Legendaria” award for that year. She has had the opportunity to present her work at NAAAS & Affiliates National Conference, National Council for Family Relations, and various organizations in the Tri-State Area. She has partnered with local organizations to develop programing that directly supports the Latino immigrant community.

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, graduating summa cum laude. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication from Kean University, graduating with high distinction. Melissa has her certification in Behavioral Modification, Mentor, and Parent Coach. Most recently, Melissa earned a Doctoral degree in Family Science and Human Development, where she specialized in Bilingualism, Native language-loss and maintenance, and understanding the lived experiences of Adults with Down syndrome within Latino/American Communities.

Melissa enjoys spending time with family. She is a mom of three and loves taking her kids out to the park, the pool, and many outdoor activities exploring nature. She loves to travel to new places, try new foods, and meet new people.