Melissa J Reardon, MPH, RD
MFPTI Project Manager
(701) 231-6108
Melissa Reardon joined the NDSU Department of Public Health in 2014 and is the Money Follows the Person Tribal Initiative (MFPTI) Project Manager. The goal of MFPTI is to support tribal elders and tribal members who have disabilities by establishing sustainable, culturally appropriate, long-term services and supports in tribal communities. In this role, Melissa works closely with tribal nation partners to assure coordination and policy development across tribal nation, county, state and federal systems. MFPTI also seeks to identify best practice recommendations for establishing long term services and supports in Indian Country.
Prior to joining NDSU, Melissa worked 14 years as a direct report to the former North Dakota Department of Health State Health Officer as program director of Healthy North Dakota. Healthy North Dakota was established by then Governor John Hoeven as a statewide health collaborative charged with developing a statewide strategic health plan. Healthy North Dakota convened state health and healthcare industry leaders to identify gaps and pilot innovative ways to improve health of all North Dakotans. From its inception, Healthy North Dakota prioritized health disparities and the need to move toward health equity and developed tools to improve cultural competence.
Melissa earned a Master of Public Health degree with a specialization in American Indian Health from NDSU in May 2019. She also has B.S. degrees in Food & Nutrition and Corporate & Community Fitness and is a registered dietitian.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her four kids, her significant other, and her four-leggeds.
Honors and Awards
Honored with a Star Quilt from the Tribal Health Director at Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation. (2019)
Accepted the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Vision Award on behalf of Healthy North Dakota’s Worksite Wellness Program (2009)
Charles E. Kupchella Preventive Medicine and Wellness Award (2008)
Outstanding Young Dietitian, North Dakota Dietetic Association (2003)
Creative Excellence Award Recipient, Minnesota American Heart Association (1995-1996)