Melanie Dukes is a visionary education and technology leader dedicated to creating equitable learning opportunities through innovation. As the founder of EdVenture Lab, an independent consulting firm, Melanie leverages her extensive experience in education technology, philanthropy, operations, and strategic leadership to drive transformative change in education. EdVenture Lab uses experimentation and forward-thinking approaches to help organizations who are actively testing and developing new ideas in education, navigate the intersection of technology, equity, and learning experiences. 

Prior to launching EdVenture Lab, Melanie served as the Associate Program Director of K-9 Education at the Overdeck Family Foundation, where she led the organization’s K-9 grantmaking portfolio team, allocating $24M across 40+ organizations. Her career spans pivotal roles in education technology, non-profit management, and finance, including positions at 2U, Inc., Relay Graduate School of Education, and KIPP NYC Public Schools.

Melanie’s commitment to education extends beyond her professional roles. She serves on multiple non-profit boards, including Saga Education, Throughline Learning, Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School, and PAVE Academy Charter School, and as an advisor for the edtech start-up, Ople.

Melanie earned an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, and is pursuing an M.A. in Learning Technology and Experience Design at New York University. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three girls.