Melinda E. Martinez Director, Marist College Liberty Partnerships Program

“At Marist College, her alma mater, Martinez leads a dropout-prevention and college-access program that provides comprehensive services to 341 students in Poughkeepsie city schools, ranging from fifth graders to high school seniors. “We help our students excel in and out of the classroom through tutoring, mentoring, social-emotional workshops, financial literacy workshops, parenting classes, employment readiness programs and college preparation,” she says.

During her five-year tenure, the program has achieved high school graduation rates of over 90 percent. Of the 40 Marist students she employs, several are LPP alumni.”

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