Mellerson is an executive director with the W. Haywood Burns Institute, which has a shared leadership structure with three EDs. As such, her work involves strategic planning, organizational development, financial oversite, project development and managing relationships with community leaders and system decision makers, funders, and other partners across the nation. 

Mellerson brings over 20 years of experience working with issues of social justice, racial and ethnic equity, education, diversity, youth justice, child welfare, and well-being. She also brings a depth of knowledge about nonprofit capacity building and is a certified empowerment and diversity coach. Mellerson has worked across public and private sectors in areas such as nonprofit direct service and management, local and state government, and philanthropy. 

She has served on the UMBF Board of Trustees since 2018.