Melissa Vargas

Melissa joined the Center for Political Economy at Columbia World Projects in July 2024 as a Project Officer. Prior to joining the Center, Melissa worked in philanthropy and international development. Most recently Melissa served as a Program Manager at Philanthropy Together, a global initiative that connects and catalyzes the field of collective giving with the larger aim of fostering a more democratic and diverse philanthropic field. While at Philanthropy Together, she helped strategize and execute events and programs to build, connect, and strengthen collective giving groups such as giving circles and collaborative funds. Previously, Melissa interned with several international development firms, supporting business development teams in securing contracts for government-funded development projects abroad. Melissa holds a B.A. in Global Studies from Long Island University Global College, a four-year experientially based study abroad program. During her undergraduate degree, she completed a blend of coursework, internships, and research throughout Latin America, Europe, and Asia.