Melanie Cruz

Melanie is Vice President of the UC San Diego Board of Trustees, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Advancement and Senior Executive Director of Leadership Strategy Engagement. She joined UC San Diego in 2006 during its first capital campaign, serving first as the Director of Development for the Division of Physical Sciences, then as Senior Director before her dual role as Executive Director of the Divisions of Biological and Physical Sciences. In her role as Senior Executive Director, Melanie has been responsible for the comprehensive and diverse fundraising for the Divisions and the campus on a local, national, and global level. 

Melanie received her bachelor’s degree in political science and geography from the University of Kentucky, and her master’s in higher education and student affairs from The Ohio State University.