MELISSA (MISSY) ARELLANO
Cambridge, MA
melissa_arellano@gse.harvard.edu
www.missyarellano.com
LinkedIn: melissa-arellano-0521
EDUCATION:
2024 Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA: Education Policy & Analysis, concentration: Arts & Learning
2021 MPA, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA: Non-profit management
2014 BA, University of California State, Long Beach, CA: Art History and minor in French
Dean’s List
2011 AA, Orange Coast Community College, Costa Mesa, CA: Photography & Art
Dean’s List
2009 Certificate, French Language, University of Sorbonne, Paris
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2024-Present All School Teacher, Newtowne School, Cambridge, MA
2025-Present Teaching Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
EDU A153 Culture & Arts Policy, Spring 2025
2025-Present Teaching Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
EDU T421 Arts Practicum, Spring 2025
2024 Teaching Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
EDU S012 Introduction to Statistics in Education, Fall 2024
2024 Arts Practicum Student, Radcliffe Childcare Center, Cambridge, MA: Spring & Summer 2024
2018 Teacher, Bayshore Co-op Nursery School, Long Beach, CA
RESEARCH POSITIONS
2024-Present Research Assistant to Dr. Louisa Penfold at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
Project: conducting interviews, coding qualitative data, writing a culminative report for NEA, and working on publishing
a paper for Art|Play study.
2025 Research Assistant to Dr. Louisa Penfold for Dadu Children’s Museum, Qatar Museums
Project: designing a contemporary art framework for artists when working with children in museums.
2023-2024 Independent Study with Dr. Louisa Penfold at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
Project: coding teacher and administrator’s interviews from Boston Public School’s Universal Pre-k Coaching program.
2017-2018 Research Assistant to Dr. Michael Nicol, University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy,
Los Angeles, CA
Project: working with a cohort of MPA & MPP students to conduct research around the benefits of public
private partnerships for the Italian Health Ministry
2015-2017 Research Assistant to Curator of Exhibitions at the Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA
Project: research for special exhibition; MOLAA INK
2012-2014 Research Assistant to Dr. Brian Trimble at California State University, Long Beach’s University Art Museum,
Long Beach, CA
Project: research for special exhibitions; Gabe Bartoloas, IAM UAM, student exhibition
DEVELOPMENT WORK
2023-2024 Parent Engagement Intern: Boston Public School’s Office of Early Childhood Education; Boston, MA
2021-2023 Senior Manager of Education Research & Grants: PBS SoCal; Los Angeles, CA
2017-2018 Foundation Relationship Manager: John Tracy Center; Los Angeles, CA
2016-2017 Development Assistant: Blind Children’s Center; Los Angeles, CA
2013-2015 Grants Manager & Artist Assistant: Do Art Foundation; Los Angeles, CA
EXHIBITION RECORD:
2025 Symbiosis, Arlington’s Community Arts Center, Arlington, MA
April 3rd-June 3rd, 2025
Dos Fridas: Uno, analog collage on paper, 10”x13” 2023
Dos Fridas: Dos, analog collage on paper, 10”x13” 2023
2025 Joy & Grief, Kolaj Institute Gallery, New Orleans, LA
April 12th -May 30th, 2025
Time, analog collage on analog clock, 14” diameter, 2025
2025 Lunar New Year Celebration, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
January 29th, 2025
Nuevo año, Nuevo yo, analog collage on paper with posca acrylic markers, 10”x10”, 2024
2021 Community Art Show, Long Beach Magazine, Long Beach, CA
Summer 2021
Visible Light, analog collage on paper, 10”x10”, 2021
2011 Student Art Show, Orange Coast Community College, Costa Mesa, CA
June 2011
Jackie, digital photography, 11”x14”, 2011
Lucy, digital photography, 11”x14”, 2011
2008 Student Art Show, Santa Ana Gallery,
May 2008
Cowboy Pumpkin, analog black and white photography, 11”x14”, 2008
ARTICLES
Arellano, M.(2024, May 13). I Must Play. Change of Course: ED Magazine, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Arellano, M.(2022, October 28). Local Family Shares How to Build a Día de los Muertos Ofrenda With Your Kids. PBS SoCal.
Arellano, M.(2021). Creatives and COVID-19: How to Avoid a Cultural Depression. Harvard Kennedy School Review. Spring 2021
LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, EVENTS:
2025 Lecture: The Art of Asking Good Questions and Giving Good Feedback, Arts Practicum Lecture at
Harvard Graduate School of Education, February 10th, 2025
2025 Facilitator: Collage Table for Community Event, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Spring 2025
2025 Facilitator: Collage in Practice Workshop, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Spring 2025
2024 Facilitator: Community Collage Event, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Spring 2024
2024 Moderator: Panel on Women in Publishing, Harvard Graduate School of Education, March 30th, 2024
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS:
2023 Harvard Graduate School of Education Conference Support: $850
2023 Harvard Graduate School of Education Community Grant: $25,000
2012 Edith Macho Art History Scholarship: $2,500
2008 Donna Skinner Art History Scholarship: $750
2008 Victorian House Scholarship: $30,000
2004 Kiwanis Math Scholarship: $2,000
CONFERENCES
2025 Creative Cities: Re-imaging creative cities through community collage workshops. Kolaj Festival. Presenter.
2024 Arts & Learning through Collage. Harvard Graduate School of Education Unconference. Facilitator.
2023 Building a Policy Agenda: Investing in Early Childhood Development in Malawi. Association for Public Policy & Management Fall Conference. Poster Paper.