Melissa Watson Ward serves as the Deputy Affiliate Director for Emerge where she partners with and supports Emerge’s growing network of state affiliates. She has spent almost fifteen years working in community organizations providing education and tools while also advocating to improve laws and policies to decrease disparity and increase opportunity. Melissa is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves. She has been a faithful member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated since 2005, where she has led a number of committees and projects such as Social Action, Delta GEMS and Delta Academy. Melissa was honored by the South Carolina Black Pages as part of their 2021 20 under 40 and by The State Newspaper as one of their 20 under 40 for 2021. She serves on the Board of Directors for the LRADAC Foundation. She is a 2017 graduate of the Modjeska Simkins School of Social Justice, a 2016 alumna of Leadership South Carolina and a graduate of the Sisters of Charity Nonprofit Leadership Program. Melissa is a proud alumna of The University of South Carolina where she received a Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, and Bachelor of Arts in Experimental Psychology and Criminology and Criminal Justice. She has a certificate in Political Social Work from the University of Michigan. She is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and a certified Master Trainer through the Association of Talent Development. Her personal mantra is “Saving the world, one person at a time.”