Melanie Sampson, MA

Melanie Sampson (she/her) is the program director of the Clear Language Lab at Literacy Works, a Chicago-based nonprofit. She has been with Literacy Works for eight years and has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.

Her work supports mission-driven institutions across various sectors — including health, human services, housing, and more — in prioritizing clear, effective communication through plain-language training, consulting, editing, and advocacy. She strives to create communications that are accessible, effective, and human, grounding her work with a social justice lens. Melanie has facilitated plain language locally and on a national scale. She has worked on plain-language projects at the city, county, and state levels of government while also supporting numerous nonprofit organizations of various sizes and needs in advancing plain language. Previously, Melanie worked in the adult education sector as an instructor, administrator, and volunteer coordinator in several of Chicago’s most diverse communities. Melanie has also volunteered with Chicago Books to Women in Prison for nearly a decade, and she spent three years as board member for the organization from 2020-2023.

She earned an MA in linguistics with a teaching English as a second language concentration from Northeastern Illinois University, as well as a BA from the University of Michigan, majoring in English and sociology; in addition, she has a certificate in plain language from the continuing studies program at Simon Fraser University.