What led me to start a coaching practice?
I first began working in disability services in 2006 as a graduate student at SUNY New Paltz. After earning my master’s degree in psychology, I took a position at the Disability Resource Center and taught as an adjunct instructor of psychology. Then, in 2013, I accepted the role as the first academic and executive function coach at the disability services office (AEO) at Vassar College. I found the work I did to be very rewarding because I saw how supporting students on their academic journeys contributed to their overall life satisfaction.
After 5 gratifying years in this role, I left Vassar so that I could move in with my husband who lived 2 hours south of me. I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to advance my career. I accepted a position as the associate director of the Office of Disability Services at Fordham University in Manhattan.
When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, there was an influx of students who needed coaching support. It was then that I was reminded of my true passion, working with people in a coaching capacity. This realization is ultimately what led me to resign from my position at Fordham University to start a private coaching practice in 2022.
Who am I outside my professional life?
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My cultural heritage is one of the many aspects of my identity I take pride in. With three of my four grandparents emmigrating from Ukraine, I was immersed in the culture growing up. Ukrainian was my first language, but because I didn’t have continued exposure to it, I’ve forgotten a lot of what I once knew. I am still fairly fluent, but I have a lot to (re)learn. I’ve made learning the formal dialect a daily practice so I can communicate with my family in Ukraine and feel more connected to my cultural heritage. This is especially important to me now, more than ever.
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I love animals of all kinds, but I am partial to large breed dogs, and favor one of the most highly misunderstood breeds in the world - the American Pit Bull Terrier. Sadly, my husband and I had to say goodbye to our 11 year old pittie, Cuddy, in September of 2022. It was a heart-wrenching goodbye, but no doubt the compassionate choice. We’ve since adopted a new baby girl named Brooklyn from the Angels for Mistreated Animals. Although nobody will ever replace Cuddy, Brooklyn brings us an immeasurable amount of joy with her unconditional love and crazy puppy antics. She is the biggest cuddle bug and has an exuberance for life. Brooklyn adores children and other dogs like something I’ve never seen before. She greets everyone she meets with the classic pittie grin and exaggerated butt wag. What can I say? Life is just better with dogs!
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Established in my home state of New Jersey the year I was born, I am a dedicated fan of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Regrettably, my husband is loyal to one of their biggest rivals, the infamous New York Rangers. There is no denying that watching the Hudson River rivals compete at a live game is thrilling beyond measure, especially when the Devils come out on top!
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I hold a C-license and have just over 250 skydives. The majority of my jumps have been out of airplanes, but I’ve also jumped out of hot air balloons and helicopters. Fun fact - I got married on a hot air balloon at sunrise over the lush green landscape of Smoketown, Pennsylvania. My husband and I took the plunge by saying “I do”, and then jumped out of the balloon from 10,000 feet. : )
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I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to explore other parts of this beautiful country. I do most of my traveling up and down the East Coast, but I’ve also visited Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon. My goal for the future is to experience other parts of the world because, with the exception of Mexico, Canada, and Ireland, all of my traveling has been within the United States.
Experience & Education
Melanie holds a BA and MA in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz and has 15 years of experience working at highly selective and academically-rigorous institutions for higher education, both in public and private sectors. She has worked one-on-one with 150+ students and adults since 2013, accumulating more than 5,000 hours of academic and executive function coaching experience to date.
Melanie has completed 82 hours of training in ADHD, executive function (EF), and life coaching for teens, college students, and adults. These hours were earned through the JST Coaching & Training, a leading authority on ADHD and EF coaching. Her training is recognized and approved by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the gold standard in the coaching industry.
Melanie is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner who continues to participate in ongoing professional development training opportunities. She has completed a number of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) courses such as Gretchen Wegner’s Art of Inspiring Students to Study Strategically (AISSS), Marydee Sklar’s Seeing My Time, and Jeff Copper’s Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Melanie is also an active member of ACO International (ADHD Coaches Organization) and makes it a point to prioritize collaboration with other professionals in her field.