2025 Badge Summit

Melissa Peraino serves as the Director of Content Development and Volunteer Leader Management for UPCEA. She brings passion and enthusiasm to her role while providing wide-ranging support for content development and volunteer leadership management for the organization.Most of her professional career has focused on increasing access for lifelong learning opportunities. Melissa came to UPCEA from Grand Valley State University, in west Michigan, where spent more than two decades navigating change at an institution that grew from 10,000 to more than 20,000 learners. Her roles there included building corporate training, public programs, community engagement, advising and regional center operations. Prior to GVSU, Melissa was at Ball State University’s Center for Organizational Resources supporting corporate programs and building out entrepreneurship education programs.Perhaps her most important role is being a mom and helping her two children navigate their journey.