Melinda Fountain is a nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning diplomacy, international higher education, and global development. She currently serves as Manager of Rotary International’s Areas of Focus team, leading a group of Senior Advisors who strengthen program quality, learning, and impact across Rotary’s global portfolio of service and grant-funded initiatives. Over more than a decade as a U.S. diplomat, Melinda served in Albania, Republic of Georgia, Poland, the United Nations, and Washington, D.C. Her work spanned democracy promotion, civil society engagement, international security, cultural diplomacy, multilateral negotiations, and oversight of complex international programs. In multiple roles in international higher education, Melinda helped connect academic learning with real-world experiences, preparing students for careers in international development, public service, and related fields. She advised students at Indiana University on study abroad, international internships, and global service opportunities. At the University of Notre Dame, she taught students about the field of global affairs and supported professional development. Melinda holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in European Studies from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rochester.