Melanie Kawano-Chiu

Born and raised in Hawaii to a family that immigrated from Japan in the late 1800s, my family history and experience has shaped my professional journey. I began my nearly 25-year career researching the effects of violent conflict. I then oversaw grants for Fortune 20 companies at the American Red Cross. I eventually became the director of learning and evaluation at the Alliance for Peacebuilding, where I led a global consortium to improve evaluation practices and policies. In all my previous positions, I have had a consistent focus: cultivating partnerships with local stakeholders as well as public and private donors.

I have been published and spoken on monitoring and evaluation, ethics in international affairs, and participatory grantmaking. I hold a Master’s in Political Theory and Conflict Resolution from the University of Denver and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology and International and Intercultural Studies from Scripps College. However, my most critical educational experience has been motherhood. Outside of the office, I run, cook, and spend time in my community.

Book recommendation: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall