Melody C. Barnes is Co-Founder & Principal of MBSquared Solutions LLC. In this role, Barnes leads a domestic strategy firm and serves as Vice Provost for Global Student Leadership Initiatives at New York University.

Previously, Barnes was the Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. As Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Barnes provided strategic advice to President Obama and advised members of the Cabinet coordinating the domestic policy agenda across the Administration. Barnes’ media appearances include: This Week with George Stephanopoulos, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Barnes is a Senior Fellow at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Barnes also chairs the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund.