Melody Barnes

Melody Barnes is Co-Founder and Principal of MB2 Solutions LLC, a domestic policy strategy firm, and Vice Provost for Global Student Leadership Initiatives at New York University, where she is also a Senior Fellow at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service.  Ms. Barnes serves on the Board of Directors of Ventas, Inc., an S&P 500 company and the Marguerite Casey Foundation. She also chairs the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund.

As Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Ms. Barnes provided strategic advice to President Obama and worked closely with members of the Cabinet coordinating the domestic policy agenda across the Administration.   Under her leadership, innovative new policies, practices and partnerships were initiated to address significant national challenges, including education, health care and the federal government’s relationship with local governments and communities.

Ms. Barnes received her law degree from the University of Michigan in 1989. In 1986, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she graduated with honors in history.    Ms. Barnes’ media appearances include This Week with George Stephanopoulos, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Charlie Rose and Morning Joe.  She currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband, Marland Buckner.