Geoffrey Melada, JD – MMHPI – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

Geoffrey Melada, JD

Vice President of National Policy and Strategy

Geoffrey comes to the Meadows Institute from the Treatment Advocacy Center, where he was the director of communications and served as spokesman for the national mental illness policy nonprofit. In that role, he helped to considerably raise Treatment Advocacy Center’s profile through regular coverage in national media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and NPR.

Over the past two decades, Geoffrey has led a diverse career as an award-winning journalist, trial lawyer, and nonprofit executive. He spent five years as associate vice president for communications at Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, and is the former editor-in-chief of Washington Jewish Week.

A licensed attorney, Geoffrey served for five years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases, including felony child abuse and homicide cases, and tried 33 jury trials to verdict. Upon leaving the DA’s Office, he spent two years in private practice at an international law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, defending entities and individuals in “white collar” criminal matters and regulatory proceedings, and advising on compliance and regulatory matters.

In his role at the Meadows Institute, Geoffrey supports the work of the policy team and the Chief Policy Officer, to raise the profile and impact of the Meadows Institute’s state and national initiatives with key policymakers, funders, and other partners.

Geoffrey earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Haverford College, a master’s degree in health & science journalism from Columbia University, and a law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. He is married to Natalie Melada, a lawyer for the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division. They live in Northern Virginia.

 

Geoffrey Melada