Melinda Padilla Lynch became NDCA's Program Manager for Arts Across the Prairie - Placemaking in Rural North Dakota in November, 2023. Prior to this, she served as the Community Engagement Liaison for the Main Street Initiative within the North Dakota Department of Commerce. With a career spanning over two decades, Melinda has honed her skills in management, team leadership, and event planning, bringing a wealth of expertise to her current role. Although originally from Kansas City, she made a significant move to rural North Dakota in 2011, where she has become a voice for inclusive and inviting communities in North Dakota.
In her vibrant and multifaceted life, Melinda embodies an unwavering spirit of adventure. Her insatiable curiosity leads her to explore the uncharted, be it in the diverse realms of coffee shops, wearing heels at inconvenient times, or engaging in conversations with strangers, infusing positivity at every turn. Melinda's heart finds its greatest joy in the close-knit bonds of family, cherishing moments with her loving husband and two spirited boys.