Board Secretary 

Melanie Rhodes, MBA, is the Executive Director for the Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc.  Melanie earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s in Business Administration at Liberty University in Virginia.  Melanie previously worked for Rural AHEC for seven years as the Director of Operations where she was responsible for the office administration, fiscal operations, maintenance, and technology of the two-building complex and multiple housing sites. She prepared the organizational budgets, conducted fiscal reporting, grant budget development and managed all aspects of the Western New York Rural Broadband Healthcare Network (WNY RBHN).  Before returning to Rural AHEC, Melanie was employed as the Associate Director of Auxiliary Services for Seminole State College in Sanford, FL, where she gained additional experience managing and negotiating contracts, leases as well as fund accounting and higher education administration.  Melanie brings to Rural AHEC and the Health Workforce Collaborative extensive knowledge of fiscal operations, purchasing, contract negotiations, contract administration, and human resources.  She is currently the Board Secretary for the Health Workforce Collaborative.