President, SheCaucus and Bee Better Than Me, LLC
Master Faculty, Math and Sciences, Berkeley College School of Liberal Arts Professor Montclair State University
Melissa Baralt, Ph.D., is an energetic and devoted professor currently, she is a Master Educator in science at Berkeley College, and Montclair State University.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology from Montclair State University. She was the recipient of the Bridges Scholarship for minorities in the sciences and it allowed her to further complete studies. She holds a PhD in Pathology and Immunology from Rutgers University.
In 2018, Dr. Baralt was a candidate for the school board election in Paterson, NJ. Shortly after, Dr. Baralt founded SheCaucus, a nonprofit to amplify women's voices by developing leadership, education, and self-confidence.
In 2019, she was appointed by the Mayor of Paterson as Commissioner of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee (ABC). And currently serves as Chairwoman of the board for the city of Paterson. She has been directly involved with the enforcement of NJ state law and local enforcement for business owners and license holders. She served as a legislative aide to Councilman at Large Flavio Rivera. In 2020, she initiated her personal consulting business, Bee Better Than Me, LLC. A firm dedicated to the academic and professional advancement of individuals globally. This led to her forming part of the FTI group; a wraparound services firm committed to providing individualized services to the residents of Paterson. She has provided joint programming with Prospanica, City of Paterson, Dominican Parade, Albert Einstein Medical School, United Latinas, New Jersey Academy of Science, and Paterson School District. Continued involvement and pursuit of civic action led her to be a candidate for Council at Large for the city of Paterson in 2022. Since then, she has served as a political advisor and content strategist on the campaign of Commissioner Dania Martinez for the Board of Education of Paterson.
Dr. Baralt is the recipient of several meritorious acknowledgments including Senator Nellie Pou (Women’s Empowerment Award), Assemblyman Benjie Wimberley (Hats of Hope for Community Engagement), Odyssey International Award (Community Leadership), Councilwoman Dr. Lilisa Mims (Women Who Rock), Councilman Alex Mendez (Dominican Women Leadership), Dominican Parade of Newark (Dominican Godmother), Dominican Parade of New Jersey (Humanitarian Award).
She is part of several community serving boards that have helped shape the lives of many. Including The HealthCare Advisory Board for the city of Paterson, Prospanica New Jersey, Diversity and Inclusiveness taskforce Berkeley College, HeadStart Program for the city of Passaic, FLY Women’s Network, PEF (Paterson Education Fund), New Jersey Academy of Science, and recently Latinas United for Political Empowerment (LUPE), and P.I.F.F.Y (Pay it forward for the youth).
Her family is proud to help and support scholarship funding for up-and-coming Latino students. Through the Boys to Leaders Organization, she helps to fund the Baralt Family Scholarship. This is awarded to an undergraduate underrepresented Latino student in the tri-state area. She continues to live in the city of Paterson alongside her husband Jon Rosario and their two boys: Liam and Milan Rosario.