Melissa Akinlawon

Melissa Akinlawon

American Association of Diabetes Educators,

National Advocacy Coordinator

Melissa Akinlawon is a proud native of Chicago, Illinois with a passion for giving back to the community that invested in her growth and development. A graduate of Spelman College, with a Bachelor’s in Sociology/Public Health, Melissa earned a Masters in Health Communication from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois with a special focus on strategic communications.   Her academic work focused on the use of technology in the delivery of information regarding health disparities, particularly that which impacted large at-risk populations and minority communities.

Melissa currently serves as the Advocacy Coordinator for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, where she focuses on advancing legislation in support of the work of healthcare professionals who teach diabetes self-management training and education. In her professional role she pairs technology with effective communication methodologies in the delivery of information for patients and healthcare professionals around the country. In addition to her professional work in health communications and advocacy, Melissa is also an AmeriCorps alumni, an American Cancer Society volunteer, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College.

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