Natalie
A. Mello is the Director of Global Operations in the
Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division at Worcester
Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Mello oversees all aspects of the
administration and management of WPI’s global perspective
program, including student recruitment, risk management, health
and safety issues, participant orientation and faculty advisor
training. These programs exist in the following locations:
London, England; San José, Costa Rica; Venice, Italy; Goddard
Space Flight Center, MD; Silicon Valley, CA; Bangkok, Thailand;
Washington, DC; Madrid, Spain; San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Copenhagen, Denmark; Boston, MA; Windhoek, Namibia, Zurich,
Switzerland; and Melbourne, Australia.
Mello is involved with national study abroad organizations
particularly in the areas of risk management and has become
recognized as developing a model for responsible risk management
for off-campus experiences. Her work in creating faculty
development workshops was recognized by the TIAA-Cref’s Hesburgh
Award committee in February 2003. WPI was one of just four
schools awarded a Certificate of Excellence for its enhancement
of undergraduate teaching and learning. WPI was commended for
equipping its faculty to handle unconventional roles beyond the
classroom necessitated by the global program, making sure
educators have the skills to help students succeed educationally
as well as cope with safety, social, and behavioral issues –
this training was developed by Mello. She has also taught
workshops in educational outcomes assessment, and is part of the
university’s outcomes assessment coordinating committee and
first year task force.
Mello received her BA degree in studio art from Connecticut
College in 1984. After graduation, she served in the Peace Corps
in Central America. Mello lived in Belize and Costa Rica before
returning to the US in 1987. She earned a Graduate Certificate
in Teaching English as a Second Language in 1990, and completed
her Masters of Liberal Arts in 1993 at Clark University.
Mello taught English as a Second Language at both Clark
University and Anna Maria College from 1991 until 1994. In 1993
she joined the administration at WPI as Program Manager of the
Product Realization Consortium. This Consortium, made up of
Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Tuskegee University, North Carolina A&T and WPI, was funded
through the Technology Reinvestment Project and made significant
changes in the curriculum for undergraduate manufacturing
engineers.
She is currently serving a three-year term as an elected member
of the Wachusett Regional School District Committee and chairs
the sub-committee of business and finance. Mello and her
husband, David DiBiasio, have four children between them. They
have been restoring their antique home for the past several
years – truly a labor of love!
Updated:
09/09/2003
