Melanie is a Ph.D. student in Sociology and Social Policy. She has an A.B. in Public Policy and Theater Studies from Duke University. Prior to entering the Ph.D. Program, Melanie worked in the Center for Research on Child Wellbeing at Princeton University on the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Her research interests include how neighborhoods and families contribute to social inequalities and social policies that mitigate early-life disadvantage.