Melissa K. Mlakar

Dr. Melissa K. Mlakar serves as a part-time faculty member at Youngstown State University (YSU), contributing to the M.S.Ed. Educational Administration program with Principal Licensure. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from YSU (2018), a Master's in Specific Learning Disabilities from Cleveland State University (1999), and a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati (1992). Her career highlights include a principal license, superintendent licensure, and roles as an ODE Grant Reviewer and presenter at the OASSA Conference. She teaches EDAD 7020: Human Resource Leadership, emphasizing leadership development and professional capital in educational settings.

Dr. Mlakar advocates for a growth mindset among educators, stressing the importance of staying current with educational trends through lifelong learning. She identifies time management as a key challenge for educators balancing professional development with daily responsibilities. Beyond academia, she is a mother of three teenagers and recommends "Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program" by Urban Meyer as essential reading.

• Awards & Roles: National Board-Certified Teacher, ODE Striving Readers Grant recipient, Walsh University She Talks Panelist.
• Teaching Philosophy: Focuses on practical leadership applications and fostering resilience in educators.