Melinda Kay Snavely

Melinda joins Healthier Kids Foundation from the Santa Clara Office of Education, where she served as Director of Early Care and Education Initiatives and held several leadership roles. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Early Learning at Franklin-McKinley School District and educator and principal in the San Jose Unified School District. She holds a Master of Arts in educational leadership and a Bachelor of Science in political science/economics from Santa Clara University.

In her new role as CEO of Healthier Kids Foundation, Melinda will be responsible for leading strategic direction and overseeing all aspects of the organization’s operations. She will work closely with the board and staff to build on the organization’s successes and drive innovation and growth. She will also focus on expanding Healthier Kids Foundation’s donor base and increasing its impact in Silicon Valley.

Snavely’s commitment to interrupting inequity and supporting early learning is reflected in her collaboration with the Public Health Department.  She is passionate about improving the health outcomes of children, particularly those from low-income families, and is committed to advancing Healthier Kids Foundation’s mission of reducing health disparities among children in Silicon Valley. Melinda is also a mother of five and resides in East San Jose, originally hailing from Gilroy.