Melissa Hagemann is the Program Manager of the Open Access Project within the Information Program of the Open Society Institute (OSI)/Soros foundations.  Since convening the meeting in December 2001 which led to the development of the Budapest Open Access Initiative, OSI has been active within the open access movement. 

In addition, Melissa is work ing with eIFL (electronic Information for Libraries) to manage the eIFL Open Access Developing Country Program which aims to spread the benefits of open access among eIFL’s members in 50 developing and transition countries.  Melissa has held several positions within OSI over the past ten years.  She managed OSI’s Regional Library Program from 1995-1997 based in Budapest as well as the Science Journals Donation Program from 1998-2001. Prior to joining OSI, she worked in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Melissa holds a Masters degree in International History and Diplomacy from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.