Detroit Drives Degrees Announces Departure of Senior Director Melanie D’Evelyn
March 16, 2022
Detroit Drives Degrees announces the departure of Melanie D’Evelyn next month. Melanie has accepted a position as the executive director of One Million Degrees for Colorado.
Melanie was a key driver, establishing the vision for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Drives Degrees initiative, including leading Detroit to earn a designation as a Talent Hub and spearheading the Detroit Regional Talent Compact. Since 2015, Melanie has grown the program and team from one to seven full-time staff members and raised more than $6 million under her leadership.
The Chamber is in the process of communicating and engaging stakeholders to determine the leadership transition for Detroit Drives Degrees.
“It has been an honor to pursue Detroit Drives Degrees’ mission in providing greater educational opportunity and economic mobility, and I’m proud to have such a capable and committed team — both in Dr. Ora Pescovitz and Jamie Jacob as the Leadership Council Co-Chairs and the broader Detroit Drives Degrees staff – to sustain this work,” said Melanie. “I will eagerly follow the future impact this collaborative makes to creating a more equitable and prosperous region. The lessons learned living and working in Detroit have been some of the most important and meaningful in my career.”
“Melanie has worked tirelessly over the last six years to convene cross-sector partners, build a team, and develop a plan to both increase education attainment and reduce racial equity gaps,” said Greg Handel, vice president of Education and Talent, at the Chamber. “ Melanie will certainly be missed but we wish her and her family all the best in Colorado.”
Melanie and her husband are both Colorado natives and look forward to moving closer to family after the recent birth of their daughter.