Melanie Ogleton

About Melanie Ogleton

Organizational strategist and systems leader with over 25 years of experience advancing public health transformation across sexual and reproductive health, behavioral health, and minority health. I specialize in designing and scaling programs that move beyond service delivery, supporting lasting infrastructure, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive leadership.I’ve led initiatives with operational and program budgets up to $12M and bring a strong track record of building partnerships, shaping strategy, and guiding teams through complexity. My approach is rooted in listening deeply, aligning vision with implementation, and supporting communities and organizations to build the structures and skills needed for long-term impact.At my core, I help people and systems move from intention to action, grounded in real-world insight, community perspective, and the courage to rethink what public health can be.At Cardea, I serve as Chief Strategy Officer, helping drive our mission to build healthier communities by providing tools, strategy, and space for reflection, for systems that serve. I’m proud to lead work that bridges public health practice with policy, evaluation, learning, and capacity development.Core Strengths• Women of color leadership, nonprofit executive leadership, staff development & team engagement• Strategic planning, partnership strategy, facilitation, group process, and implementation support• Capacity building, business development, proposal strategy, and budget design• Subject matter expertise in sexual and reproductive health, behavioral health, and social and structural drivers of healthLet’s connect if you\'re working to reimagine what’s possible for public health systems and want a thought partner to help bring bold ideas to life.EducationMaster of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DCMaster of Health Services Administration, The George Washington University, Washington, DCBachelor of Arts in Political Science, Hampton University, Hampton, VA

Experience

1. Chief Strategy Officer

   Cardea Services

   Sep 2018 — Present

   Provide business strategy oversight and leadership. Conceptualize and formulate strategic initiatives that further organizational mission, vision, and values. Work with Cardea\'s Leadership Team to manage the economic and financial viability of the organization. Manage key aspects of the organization’s internal and external communication strategy. Provide strategic organization-wide thought leadership, planning, prioritization, and initiative creation. Nurture leadership throughout the organization.

Education

• Hampton University

  Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

  1993 — 1997

• The George Washington University- Milken Institute School of Public Health

  Master of Public Health (MPH), Global Health

  2014 — 2017

• The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

  Master of Health Services Administration, Health Policy

  1997 — 1999