Yana Melnikov

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Professional Experience

Dean of Students, 2022-Present – BRAUDE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Leads a comprehensive student support system for 3,200 students, fostering an inclusive and empowering academic environment. The Dean of Students Office, as the college's central authority for student welfare, drives this initiative through strategic collaborations with academic and administrative departments, and external organizations.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Student Success Center – Development and management of a comprehensive support system for students including emotional support, academic assistance, support for students with disabilities, and a learning disabilities support center. Providing individual and group assistance and exam accommodations, alongside operating a social and academic mentoring system and a personal-academic coaching program
• Scholarships Department – Managing the college scholarship committee, formulating scholarship distribution policies, mobilizing/identifying resources and partners, and promoting accessibility to higher education by removing economic barriers. The Dean of Students serves as the Chair of the College Scholarship Committee
• Career Development Center – Personal guidance and practical tools for students and alumni, while strengthening the college's ties with industry. The center assists in career development, from skills assessment to integration into the job market, and conducts workshops and events such as job fairs and industry tours
• Community Engagement Unit – Development and implementation of social involvement programs among students, integrating them into community activities and promoting disadvantaged populations
• "Inclusive Excellence" – Programs to promote diverse populations on campus – Responsible for operating national support programs dedicated to students from diverse backgrounds (Arab society, Druze, Ethiopian-Israelis, Ultra-Orthodox) with the aim of making higher education accessible and reducing gaps. The programs are designed to strengthen a sense of belonging, raise academic achievements, reduce dropout rates, and encourage excellence. Additionally, encouraging shared discourse, familiarity, and dialogue between students from all sectors on campus, while nurturing diversity and intercultural discourse
• Establishment and Management of a Resilience Center – With the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, a resilience center was established in the college's Dean of Students Office, developing a comprehensive model for providing emergency responses. The center operates a support system for students serving in reserves, evacuees, and war casualties, providing access to information and rights fulfillment, and providing mental and emotional support. Additionally, training and tools are provided to the college staff regarding resilience and student support.
  All areas of responsibility and various programs involve building and managing budgetary programs, working with interfaces inside and outside the college, including external funds, submitting calls for proposals, submitting performance reports, working with regulators and professional bodies, and more

Active Involvement in National Professional Forums:

• National Forum of Deans of Students
• Forum for Improving Persistence in Higher Education headed by the Rothschild Foundation
• Forum of Resilience Center Coordinators in Academic Institutions led by the Trauma Coalition
• "From Reserves to Studies" – A support forum for reserve duty students in academia, led by the Council for Higher Education and the Chief Reserve Officers' Bureau

Marketing Department Manager, 2010-2022 – Zefat Academic College

• Establishment, development, and management of the marketing system including: guidance center, registration center, field recruitment, marketing communications, and alumni club
• Management of a large team, leading work processes, professional training, and development of efficient operational models
• Responsibility for marketing strategy, annual budget management, digital marketing, branding, and advertising
• Creating strategic partnerships with diverse communities, initiating and producing marketing events, and managing working relationships with various college units
• Leading the college to meet registration targets, doubling the number of students in a decade

Establishment and Management of Career Center , 2016-2019 – Zefat Academic College (concurrent with Marketing Management)

• Establishing a career center, building a work plan, managing budget, designing processes and tools for its operation
• Formulating and managing a team of career coordinators, developing and nurturing employer relations for the college with employers, institutions, and NGOs

Telephone Service Team Manager, 2009-2010 – Clalit Health Services Call Center, Tikshov Company

Management of a team of about 30 representatives (Hebrew and Arabic speakers), meeting success metrics and SLAs.

Product Manager, 2007-2008 – Delta Galil Industries

Liaison between Delta's overseas branch representatives and local operations and departments, coordinating factor for producing pilots and orders.

Information Center Manager, 2004-2007 – Tel-Hai Academic College

• Management of a team of about 30 representatives, recruitment, training, and professional guidance
• Production of education fairs and open days, responding to inquiries, and managing shifts
• Progressed from representative to team management

Education

2017-2021 M.A. in Public Policy, Tel Aviv University
2011-2014 M.A. in Organizational Behavior, Netanya Academic College
2003-2006 B.A. in Education (Specialization in Teaching Design and Instruction), Tel-Hai Academic College