Melissa Vert, ONSF Director
Melissa Vert is the Director for the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF). In this position, she guides students in their efforts to apply for and win prestigious awards, including Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, Gates-Cambridge, Schwarzman, and Mitchell awards, along with many others. Melissa’s capacity in this role is enhanced by her previous oversight of the Fulbright and Boren application processes at the U-M International Institute.
Melissa earned her BA in Economics and Japanese from the University of California, at Davis. She earned an MA in International Relations and International Economics at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Melissa has a deep interest and enthusiasm for education, international relations, and public policy. Her work experience has included field research for the Knowledge Community for Children in India program with UNICEF, evaluations of Fulbright programs for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State, and legal research for the Inter-American Development Bank.
Melissa has dedicated her career to ensuring resources are available to give all students and scholars the opportunity to expand their horizons, in an effort to secure a more collaborative and sustainable worldwide community. She enjoys global cuisine, traveling, Broadway musicals, and a good cup of coffee.
Education/Degree:
University of California-Davis, BA, Economics & Japanese
Johns Hopkins University, MA, International Relations & International Economics
Mackenzie Loftus, ONSF Program Assistant
Mackenzie is the Program Assistant for the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF). In her role, she is responsible for communicating the scholarship opportunities ONSF provides support for, running ONSF's social media account, completing administrative tasks for each of the scholarship cycles, and more! Mackenzie works directly with ONSF Director Melissa Vert.
Mackenzie graduated from the University of Michigan with an English Language & Literature degree in May 2020. In her last year of undergraduate education, Mackenzie had a part-time role as the Social Media and Communications Specialist for the 2nd World Noncommunicable Diseases Congress. Before returning to U-M as ONSF's Program Assistant, she worked as an Associate for a marketing and PR firm called the Ballast Group.
In her free time Mackenzie enjoys writing, reading, watching films, and drawing. She also likes playing tennis and going out to restaurants.
Education/Degree:
University of Michigan, BA, English Language & Literature
