Melanie Forstrom

About Melanie Forstrom

I serve as CCEUC\'s Executive Director after many years as the 4-H Youth Development Leader. I\'m skilled at walking between academia and community impact. I\'ve initiated and worked in campus-county collaborations and leadership roles at State and National levels and have authored and delivered 4 Cornell Cooperative Extension Innovation grants. Youth development forms my career core. I researched, and modernized our public presentations prep program, and created an 11-state Northeast States Presentation opportunity. I co-developed the 4-H Act for Change teen anti-racism program with peers and Cornell colleagues. Other programs I developed include the Rural Storytelling and Catskill Stream Champions programs. I authored and delivered high-quality state/federally funded projects through Advantage Afterschool, Google, and Tech Wizards programming. Prior to CCE, I co-led public high schools in NYC, worked with unhoused youth in DC, led summer youth employment programs and even worked at the Bronx Zoo where I nurtured a love for animals, conservation efforts and education. I\'ve lived and worked abroad and am tri-lingual in Spanish and French, which has opened countless doors. On my free time I\'m immersed in nature, and am a Catskill 35er and Winter 35er. Specialties: Anti-oppression and Belonging work, Meeting Facilitation, Public Speaking, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Professional Development, Intercultural Communication

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Cornell Cooperative Extension Of Ulster County

   Apr 2023 — Present · Ulster County, NY, US

Education

• School for International Training

  MA, Conflict Transformation

  2005 — 2009

• Georgetown University

  BA, French, Spanish, Latin American Studies

  1999 — 2003

Skills

• Grants
• Coaching
• Non-Profits
• Mediation
• Training
• Workshop Facilitation
• Intercultural Communication
• Nonprofits
• Community Outreach
• Program Development
• Leadership
• Staff Development
• Program Management
• Community Development
• Volunteer Management
• Capacity Building
• Professional Development Programs
• Research
• Public Speaking
• Youth Development
• Program Evaluation
• Conflict Resolution