Melissa R. Estrado

Nominated Position: Region I Chair
Nominated by: Self, Tierra Turner, Jennifer Dublin, Alleceia Walker, and Alex Gordon
Degree Earned: Bachelor of science | Year Awarded: 2003
Current HUAA Role: HUAC-GNYC president 4yrs, CUPS Leader 2 yrs, Region 1 Chair 2 yrs.

With over 27 years of leadership experience and more than 28 years in healthcare, I remain deeply committed to education, mentorship, and service. I currently serve as an adjunct professor in ophthalmology, where I have the privilege of guiding and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Beyond my professional work, I am actively engaged in service and leadership across several respected organizations. I am a proud member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Chair for the United Negro College Fund HBCU Alumni Committee, and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Through these roles, I remain dedicated to strengthening communities, advancing professional excellence, and promoting service-driven leadership.

As I seek a second term as Region 1 Chair, I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve and support student success, and I am committed to leading our region with integrity, vision, purpose, collaboration, and proven leadership.

I lead with empathy, discernment, and strategic acumen, setting a high standard for alumni leadership. These qualities allow me to empower others while fostering an inclusive and value-driven regional culture. Through initiatives I have pioneered, more than $100,000 in scholarship funding to support HUAC-GNYC, HUAC-CNNJ, and HUAC-Ghana.

I bring a deep understanding of both operational execution and community impact, which I believe is essential to sustaining the success, legacy, and longevity of the Howard University Alumni Association.