Dara Melnyk specializes in innovative university models and change management. She writes the "Global Innovators", a regular column for University World News, co-hosts the "Innovative Universities" webinar, and is working on a book about innovative higher education.

Previously, Dara served as Head of the Research Group at the Skolkovo Education Development Centre (SEDeC), Moscow School of Management Skolovo. After leaving Russia in 2022, Dara worked as an independent advisor in Central Asia. There, she ran executive programs for university leaders and strategy sessions for universities and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan.

Dara holds a PhD from Maastricht University, with her doctoral thesis titled "Success Factors of Innovative Universities".