Raised by a single mother in the Westside of Pomona, California, Melissa Candell learned from an early age about the layers of economic and social inequalities that low-income, undocumented communities face. Because of her lived experiences, she is committed to serving others through a human-centered lens. Melissa is a DACAmented educator with experience working in the community college system. She worked as an Outreach Specialist, guiding over 2,700 high school students through the college enrollment process, and currently serves as the DREAM Program Specialist, connecting undocumented students to critical campus and community resources. Both roles have been at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), which is also her alma matter.

She holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, she completed the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) program at Princeton University, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music by J. Cole, Beyonce, and Ana Tijux.

Melissa Candell