Seek First to Understand: DEI Basics Unpacked

Melannie Denise Cunningham’s professional and volunteer service spans several decades and industries including federal, city and state government, non-profit, radio, television, higher education and entrepreneurship. She served with the Department of the Navy, Department of Commerce, City of Tacoma and Washington State Department of General Administration in progressively responsible capacities including Equal Employment Opportunity, Materials Management, Community Partnership and college admission. She currently serves as Director of Multicultural Outreach and Engagement at PLU with a dedicated focus on student of color success. Melannie, also known as the “253 Peace Queen” received the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize in April 2018 for her exemplary work in promoting racial reconciliation. As Tacoma’s Peace Laureate, Melannie represented the South Sound by attending the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. She holds a B.A. from Washington State University, Certificate of Training in Broadcast Production Technology from Bates Technical College an M.B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University, and is currently a doctoral student at Fielding Graduate University pursing a PhD in Organizational Development and Change with a concentration in Inclusive Leadership for Social Justice. Melannie expects to graduate in 2021.