Melissa Chiappetta
1999 CU Boulder Scholar
Service Chair
Melissa Chiappetta is a 1999 Boettcher Scholar from La Veta High School. She attended CU Boulder, where she was a member of the Presidents Leadership Class and earned degrees in anthropology and journalism. She later earned her master’s in foreign service degree from Georgetown University.
Melissa is the CEO of Sage Perspectives, a firm focused on the provision of evidence for more inclusive public goods. She also teaches at the University of Denver. Most of Melissa’s career has centered on foreign assistance, with a focus on advancing access to and the quality of education globally. Prior to its dismantling in 2025, Melissa served as a senior education advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She has represented the U.S. at United Nations education conferences and advised ministries of education in countries worldwide.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys playing with her two amazing kiddos and doing all things active.
Favorite Boettcher Memory: Having the opportunity to speak to CU’s graduating seniors was a major highlight for me, especially to share how proud we Alumni are of them and to remind them that they will always be a welcome and celebrated part of our community.