Senior Program Officer Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
As Senior Program Officer of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Melanie Claxton oversees the Foundation’s grants programs in education.
Ms. Claxton has worked with dedicated professionals in the K-12 education system, as well as community-based Out-of-School Time (OST) providers, to ensure that students in her region have access to high-quality after school and summer learning opportunities. She has supported local system and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the delivery of educational services to youth across Allegheny County, and has always been passionate about ensuring that youth have access to the tools and experiences that will help them thrive. Ms. Claxton serves on the board of Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance, Contemporary Craft, and is a member of the Remake Learning Council
Melanie Claxton has been recognized locally as a 2018 New Pittsburgh Courier Fab 40 honoree and recognized statewide as a 2018 Afterschool Champion by the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN). She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and a M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.