MELANIE ASPAAS
Farmington,NM
Summary
Community-focused public health and project coordination professional with 8+ years of experience supporting Native youth, students, families, and communities through federally funded public health, behavioral health, workforce development, research, and prevention initiatives. Experienced in coordinating youth programs, health career pathways, student support, community outreach, workshops and events, stakeholder partnerships, budgets, scheduling, documentation, evaluation, and reporting. Skilled in building trusted relationships with Native youth, schools, Tribal programs, healthcare organizations, higher education institutions, cultural knowledge holders, and community partners. Brings a culturally responsive, relationship-centered approach to helping Native youth access opportunities, resources, education, and pathways into health and behavioral health careers.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Director | Generation Hózhó: Behavioral Health Career Pathways Initiative
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
02.2026 - Current
- Direct day-to-day implementation of a federally funded behavioral health career pathways initiative designed to engage Native youth throughout San Juan and McKinley Counties.
- Coordinate youth-focused career pathway activities, school presentations, workshops, community outreach, culturally responsive programming, and opportunities that introduce students to behavioral health and helping professions.
- Build and maintain partnerships with schools, Tribal programs, higher education institutions, behavioral health providers, cultural knowledge holders, community organizations, and other partners supporting Native youth.
- Coordinate meetings, trainings, presentations, travel, outreach activities, schedules, program materials, and event logistics across school, community, remote, and field settings.
- Manage program budgets, expenditures, procurement, documentation, evaluation activities, reporting requirements, project timelines, and funder communications.
- Develop and maintain systems for project tracking, communication, scheduling, documentation, and follow-through across multiple activities and partners.
- Supervise and support program staff and contractors while coordinating assignments, timelines, deliverables, and changing program priorities.
Project Manager | DISCOVERY Study
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS – LEAD CENTER
07.2025 - 02.2026
- Managed daily operations of a community-based health research study serving Navajo youth and families.
- Coordinated staffing, participant scheduling, meetings, procurement, supplies, documentation, community activities, and site logistics.
- Served as a liaison among university teams, healthcare providers, schools, Tribal partners, community organizations, participants, and families.
- Supported culturally responsive participant and family engagement while coordinating program data, evaluation requirements, and operational needs.
- Supervised three staff members and supported workflow, training, quality assurance, performance expectations, and team communication.
Project Coordinator | Developing Future Victim Advocates (DFVS) Program
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
01.2025 - 02.2026
- Coordinated a grant-funded workforce development initiative supporting students pursuing education, training, certification, and field experience related to victim services and helping professions.
- Supported student interns throughout onboarding, scheduling, training, certification activities, field experiences, educational resources, and ongoing program participation.
- Served as a liaison among students, program leadership, Human Resources, Finance, colleges, partner organizations, and community stakeholders.
- Coordinated project timelines, budgets, documentation, student activities, partner services, and program requirements to support approved outcomes.
- Tracked participation, activities, expenditures, evaluation data, and progress for monthly reporting and program improvement.
- Built supportive relationships with students and partners while helping participants navigate program requirements, opportunities, and resources.
Navajo Youth Study Field Coordinator | DISCOVERY Study
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS – LEAD CENTER
07.2023 - 07.2025
- Coordinated community and field activities for a health research initiative engaging Navajo youth and families.
- Led participant recruitment, outreach, scheduling, data collection, documentation, and community-based activities.
- Collaborated with Northern Navajo Medical Center, Indian Health Service providers, Navajo Nation entities, schools, families, and community stakeholders.
- Strengthened youth, family, and community engagement through culturally responsive communication, local outreach, community events, and relationship building.
- Supported research assistants through delegation, outreach coordination, team activities, and staff training.
Program Coordinator | Youth & Community Programming / RCORP Implementation
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Coordinated Native youth development, substance-use prevention, family engagement, public health education, training sessions, and community programming.
- Planned and supported culturally responsive youth and community outreach activities addressing substance use, prevention, health education, and community well-being.
- Coordinated the Four Corners Health Network consortium, connecting healthcare, behavioral health, treatment and rehabilitation programs, law enforcement, shelters, and community partners.
- Collaborated with New Mexico State Police, county sheriff personnel, and Navajo Nation law enforcement to launch the first One Pill Can Kill campaign on Navajo Nation in Shiprock.
- Managed scheduling, attendance, evaluations, program documentation, partnership activities, and reporting requirements.
Education
Master of Public Health -
Grand Canyon University
01-2028
Project Management Prep (CAPM) - undefined
San Juan College
New MexicoBachelor's Degree - Public Health
Fort Lewis College
Colorado01-2017
Associate - Social Science
Porterville Community College
California01-2004
Skills
- Native Youth & Student Engagement
- Health Career Pathways
- Public Health Programming
- Project & Program Coordination
- Student Support & Mentorship
- Tribal & School Partnerships
- Community Engagement & Outreach
- Culturally Responsive Programming
- Workshop, Training & Event Coordination
- Stakeholder Relationship Building
- Scheduling & Program Logistics
- Budget & Expense Coordination
- Schedule management
- Project management
- Project Tracking & Documentation
- Remote & Multi-Site Collaboration
Certification
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor & Certified, Narcan/Naloxone Instructor, QPR Certified, Selected Victim Assistance Training (VAT) Modules
Personal Information
Title: NATIVE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT | PUBLIC HEALTH | PROJECT COORDINATION
Timeline
Project Director | Generation Hózhó: Behavioral Health Career Pathways Initiative
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
02.2026 - Current
Project Manager | DISCOVERY Study
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS – LEAD CENTER
07.2025 - 02.2026
Project Coordinator | Developing Future Victim Advocates (DFVS) Program
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
01.2025 - 02.2026
Navajo Youth Study Field Coordinator | DISCOVERY Study
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS – LEAD CENTER
07.2023 - 07.2025
Program Coordinator | Youth & Community Programming / RCORP Implementation
CAPACITY BUILDERS, INC. (CBI)
01.2017 - 01.2021
Associate - Social Science
Porterville Community College
Bachelor's Degree - Public Health
Fort Lewis College
Project Management Prep (CAPM) - undefined
San Juan College
Master of Public Health -
Grand Canyon University