Melverta Bender serves as Vice President (VP) of Planning and Development at HCHRA, a position she has held since May 2023. With more than 20 years of progressive project management experience, Ms. Bender is a highly accomplished public health and administrative leader. Her areas of expertise include strategic and community planning, program development, prevention education, research, health literacy, grants management, program administration, community relations, and monitoring and evaluation.

Ms. Bender holds a Master’s Degree from Millsaps College and Jackson State University. She is a member of public health and project management associations.

Prior to HCHRA, she held leadership roles at the Mississippi State Department of Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the Jackson Heart Study.

At HCHRA, Ms. Bender directs strategic planning, community relations, and monitoring and evaluation. She also supervises key divisions and coordinates ROMA Next Generation, a performance management framework for community action agencies.