Anastasiya Melnichuk
Spring 2026 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Seattle, WA
College: Normandale Community College
Major: Business Administration and Human Biology
Anastasiya Melnichuk was born in Brest, Belarus, and grew up in several cities across Belarus and the United States. She earned an Associate of Arts in Business Administration in 2018 and completed undergraduate pre-medical coursework in Human Biology in 2020 at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota. Although her academic training was rooted in STEM, she has long maintained a deep interest in literature, theology, philosophy, and history. During her college years, she led peer reading groups focused on Christian literature, with particular attention to the works of C. S. Lewis.
After college, Anastasiya spent several years working in healthcare administration before transitioning into the field of public policy and advocacy. In 2024, she began working as a Communications and Research Assistant at Areté Global Consulting, where she further developed her skills in writing and public engagement. In the spring of 2025, she had the privilege of completing a fellowship program through The Heritage Foundation academy.
Anastasiya seeks to contribute to public discourse by advocating for American liberty, cultural prosperity, and the dignity of human life, while critically engaging ideologies that undermine the moral and cultural foundations of Western civilization. During her time at the John Jay Institute, she hopes to further refine her understanding of the American cultural and political landscape and develop strong Christian leadership skills in preparation for future academic and professional pursuits.