Melinda Smith

Coalition Coordinator

Melinda Smith oversees the management of all operations including program implementation, program monitoring and reporting, human resources, fundraising and budget. Melinda worked for UNICEF as an education in emergencies specialist from 2004-2010 in a range of regions and positions. She conducted capacity building in education in emergencies preparedness and response in four UNICEF regions, East/Southern Africa, South Asia, Asia/Pacific, and Central Europe/Asia.  She also managed peace education and schools as zones of peace programs for the UNICEF Nepal Country Office. Her previous experience includes serving as executive director for a mediation and conflict resolution NGO and executive director of a sustainable growth organization in New Mexico, which involved public policy advocacy at state and local levels. As a private consultant, she served as process designer and facilitator of numerous conflict resolution processes involving planning and policy issues.

Contact information:

Phone: 1.212.377.9413 
Email: gcpea@protectingeducation.org

Charles von Rosenberg

Program Coordinator

Charles von Rosenberg provides administrative and logistical assistance to GCPEA, managing day to day coalition activities. He is a graduate of the Masters program at Teachers College, Columbia University in International Education Development. His focus at Columbia was on bilingual education but his studies also included an emphasis on policy and research. He has been a teacher and learner in different contexts and environments across three continents in Colorado, New York, Paris, France, and Busan, South Korea. He is the newest member of the GCPEA secretariat team and looks to use his unique experience to bolster efforts to protect education from attack.

Contact information:

Phone: 1.212.377.9446
Email: gcpea@protectingeducation.org