Melissa Lynne Neider, Ed.D. is a College Advisor for Path to College, assisting PTC Fellows with their college aspirations.  In August 2022, she joined PTC as a College Coach while completing an AmeriCorps service year with Literacy Coalition in Palm Beach County, and then transitioned into the Academic Program Manager role, before moving to her current position as College Advisor. Dr. Neider has over ten years of experience working in higher education in Admissions, Student Activities, Residence Life, Student Affairs, and as a college instructor. With a major in Dramatic Arts and a minor in Public Relations from SUNY Geneseo, she pursued a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, with a minor emphasis in Arts Administration from Florida State University. This blending of academics and the performing arts is evident in her previous roles as a Stage Manager with Walt Disney World Entertainment and in her dissertation studying the strategies used by college career advisors when working with Visual and Performing Arts majors. Dr. Neider is a 2021 graduate of the Organizational Leadership program at Pepperdine University, within the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, receiving her Doctorate in Education. Since 2016, she has volunteered as a virtual mentor for UStrive, mentoring high school students on the college admissions application process.