Melissa del Aguila

Co-Founder & Principal

Navona Strategic Advisors, LLC

Melissa (She/Her) is a human rights lawyer, evaluation specialist, and strategic consultant with 20 of experience working with academics, policymakers, and civil society to design, implement, and assess research, advocacy, and experiential learning projects. Her work prioritizes supporting community-based partnerships and enhancing access to and utilization of regional and international human rights systems. Melissa has extensive experience applying monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks that are strategically tailored for sector-specific initiatives, with a specialization in conducting collaborative, participatory, and empowerment evaluations and capacity-building programs. An expert in human rights education, grant administration, and organizational development, she has advised on and managed a diverse portfolio of transnational, regional and local projects in over a dozen countries, including Cambodia, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam, and the US.

Background

Melissa was recently appointed co-Executive Director of the Human Rights Measurement Initiative. Prior to launching Navona Strategic Advisors, she directed the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at American University. During her eleven years with the Center, she expanded strategic partnerships with civil society, IGOs, government agencies, and academia; she oversaw the design and implementation of grant-funded projects; and she worked with local partners in countries around the world to create experiential learning opportunities for students and advocates interested in human rights and social justice.

Melissa began her public interest career with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, where she supported national resettlement programs and coordinated legal representation for unaccompanied minors. At Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, she worked on strategic litigation initiatives to advance the education rights of minority groups in the Americas. She also supported projects promoting gender equity and civic engagement in Central America with the Arias Foundation in San José, Costa Rica and was a public health educator with the Cornerstone Foundation in San Ignacio, Belize.

Melissa has served as an Adjunct Professor at American University Washington College of Law and as a Colorado Refugee ESL Program Instructor at Emily Griffith Technical College. She mentors Latinx youth and is active in local initiatives dedicated to addressing disparities in access to education for underrepresented students. Melissa is a bilingual English and Spanish speaker.