Melissa Blankstein

Melissa Blankstein is a researcher at Ithaka S+R, specializing in the Libraries, Scholarly Communication, and Museums program.1 She employs a mixed-methods research approach to lead various institutional and large-scale research projects.1 Her work primarily focuses on:

Research Areas

• Studying faculty and student needs, challenges, and support services
• Examining organizational leadership in collaboration with educational and cultural organizations
• Leading national initiatives on community college libraries and student basic needs

Expertise and Interests

Melissa is particularly passionate about:

• Rethinking traditional concepts of student success
• Documenting and addressing student basic needs
• Providing greater access to support for students

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from Binghamton University
• Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Master of Arts in General Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz1

Additionally, Melissa spent a semester studying at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands.1

Professional Experience

At Ithaka S+R, Melissa has been involved in various projects and initiatives:

• Leading research on student basic needs insecurity in higher education5
• Exploring ways to support college teaching4
• Investigating the role of libraries in addressing student basic needs3

Melissa's LinkedIn profile confirms her position as a Researcher at Ithaka S+R, and she is based in New York.2 Her professional network on LinkedIn includes 326 connections2, indicating her active engagement in the field.