Angelica Melero
MPS Class of 2027, Global Development
- Pronouns: She/her
- Grand challenge: I aim to address the challenge of building sustainable, equitable aquaculture systems that strengthen food security and rural livelihoods while reducing environmental strain on wild fish populations and aquatic ecosystems.
- Connect: LinkedIn
- Email: am3397 [at] cornell.edu
Angelica Melero graduated Cum Laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Sustainability, alongside a self-designed concentration in Global Food Systems: Justice, Policy, and Sustainability. She is now pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Global Development at Cornell, with a focus on Rural Development and Agriculture.
Her academic work centers on sustainable aquaculture, fisheries management, food security, and international development. As a research intern at the Cornell Biological Field Station, she studied the behavior of invasive round gobies in New York lakes, work that informs fisheries management and ecosystem conservation efforts. She has also explored sustainable alternatives to conventional aquaculture feeds, with particular interest in reducing the industry's dependence on wild-caught forage fish through more environmentally responsible feed sources.
Angelica is driven by the potential of aquaculture to strengthen food security, support rural livelihoods, and advance sustainable economic development. She aims to work at the crossroads of science, policy, and community engagement, developing practical approaches that expand access to affordable, nutritious food while protecting the health of aquatic ecosystems.