Melissa Johnston is the founding CEO of Lemnis, driven by a passion for an equitable, limitless future for all learners.

Prior to Lemnis, she served as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP for Partnerships at NWEA, where she led strategic initiatives, brokered key partnerships, and played a key role in NWEA’s asset sale to HMH. Before NWEA, she spent over 14 years at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) as Deputy Executive Director, where she developed and oversaw its strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and operations.

Melissa holds a BA in American Studies and Black World Studies from Miami University and an MA from the School of Social Administration at the University of Chicago, with a concentration in policy analysis and nonprofit management. She is an ex-officio board member of Lemnis and also serves on the board of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and Care Solace. She resides in Rockville, Maryland with her husband and two kids.