Melina Nguyen is the Program Coordinator with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Political Science, People-Environment Geography, and Environmental Studies, and a certificate in Public Policy. She is a proud alum of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program and a graduate of the Community Environmental Scholars Program.

While earning her bachelor's degree, Melina worked as a policy intern for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and served in student advocacy with the Associated Students of Madison. Before joining the Initiative, she worked in preserving water resources with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.