Dr. Melanie Quimson - Famous Personalities

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Foreword

In the heart of every educator lies a quiet conviction—that learning can transform lives. Dr. Melanie Quimson embodies this truth in ways few others do. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Melanie at Brookes College, where her dedication, grace, and impact are felt not only in classrooms but in the lives of the students, faculty, and community members she so passionately serves.

Melanie’s journey, which spans continents, challenges, and countless acts of resilience, is not just inspiring—it’s deeply human. Her ability to lead with both humility and brilliance is something I have witnessed firsthand. Whether she’s supporting adult learners through complex life transitions or mentoring fellow educators, Melanie leads with empathy, clarity, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

She brings into her teaching and leadership a rare blend of academic excellence and lived experience. Her personal story—shaped by early motherhood, immigration, single parenthood, and the pursuit of educational equity—becomes a powerful foundation from which she uplifts others. She does not seek the spotlight for herself; rather, she shines it on others, empowering those around her to rise.

What you’ll discover in these pages is not simply a chronology of achievements, but a testament to courage, purpose, and transformative leadership. Melanie has a unique ability to make every student feel seen and every colleague feel valued. She’s a pillar in our institution, and her contributions have helped shape the inclusive, student-centered vision we strive for at Brookes College.

Reading this biography is like sitting across from Melanie in one of her warm, thoughtful conversations—equal parts wisdom and encouragement. It reminds us that education is not only about knowledge; it’s about healing, community, and hope.
May her story lift your spirit, as it continues to lift ours. — Beulah Rivington, Academic Director, Brookes College

“Education is an act of love, and thus an act of courage.” — Paulo Freire

In guiding hands and open hearts,
She turns the dark of doubt to sparks;
With every step she lights the way,
Inviting all to learn, to stay.

PHASE I: Roots of a Teacher

One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai

1. Early Inspirations
From a small corner of the municipality of Loon, a young girl named Melanie began to understand the quiet power of learning. With her parents separated by the time she was seven, she and her brother Johnnel were nurtured and guided by a loving trio—her grandparents Carmelita and Servando, and her mother Carmila. It was a household built on love, hard work, and unspoken strength.
Her grandfather Servando, a dedicated teacher himself, became more than a grandfather—he was her first model of what it meant to teach with heart. Evenings spent watching him prepare his lessons and late afternoons listening to stories of his students left an imprint on Melanie’s young mind. At the same time, she drew deep admiration from her grandmother’s consistency and her mother’s resilience—juggling life’s burdens without letting them dim the joy in their home.

Even as a child, Melanie showed early signs of her calling. Their living room often transformed into a “classroom,” where younger cousins and neighborhood children became her first students. She’d use scraps of paper to create spelling games and chalk to scribble math on their makeshift board. What started as play soon revealed something deeper—an early instinct to nurture, teach, and lead.
In those joyful moments of discovery, she learned something essential: education was not only a way to teach others, but also a way to honor those who taught her how to rise.

2. Academic Pursuits in the Philippines
Melanie’s academic journey in the Philippines was a powerful fusion of perseverance, intellectual discipline, and the unbreakable love of a mother. After graduating Cum Laude from Holy Name University with a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics (2011–2015), she pursued her Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from 2015 to 2018 and completed it with Summa Cum Laude distinction. Her graduate thesis focused on inquiry-based learning and its effects on students’ achievement and attitude toward statistics, showcasing not only her academic depth but also her dedication to making math meaningful and engaging for learners.
During her early teaching career, she taught Practical Research, General Mathematics, and Statistics to senior high school students, where she combined academic rigor with a compassionate, student-centered approach. Her classroom was a space where curiosity met discipline—and where complex concepts were brought to life through real-world applications and inquiry-based activities.
Perhaps her most defining lesson came in her final year as an undergraduate student, when she became a mother. Baby Sophia entered the world just seven days before her graduation. That final term was already filled with the demands of a full teaching practicum—lesson planning, classroom observations, reflections, and assessments—all while managing her own academic deadlines. Adding to the complexity, she was also navigating the emotional weight of a relationship growing increasingly unstable.
She learned to balance her responsibilities with quiet determination—writing lesson plans late into the night while nursing a newborn, rehearsing classroom presentations with a heavy heart, and pushing through exhaustion with an unwavering resolve. Her classmates saw a top student; what they didn’t see were the quiet, invisible sacrifices behind that success.

PHASE 2: Building A Career

1. First Steps as Educator
Melanie’s entry into the teaching profession was both deliberate and deeply personal. In 2016, she began her formal teaching career at Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran, a prestigious private institution in Bohol known for academic excellence and character formation. She taught General Mathematics to junior high students and quickly became known for her ability to make abstract ideas relatable. Her lessons often involved real-life applications, visual demonstrations, and collaborative group work, helping learners build both confidence and competency in foundational math skills.

It was here that Melanie began refining the practical, student-centered approach that would come to define her pedagogy.

In 2017, she returned briefly to her alma mater, Holy Name University, where she took on a role as a Senior High School teacher. Over the course of five months, she taught Practical Research and Statistics, blending theory with hands-on learning. She guided her students through the entire research process—from identifying community-based topics to conducting surveys and presenting findings. Her work left a strong impression, with students gaining confidence in their analytical skills and seeing the relevance of their academic efforts in real-world contexts.

Later that year, Melanie joined the Philippine Department of Education and became a full-time public school teacher at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, one of the largest secondary schools in Bohol. For the next three and a half years, she taught Senior High Practical Research and Statistics, continuing to champion inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. Under her mentorship, students worked on real-life projects that addressed local challenges and presented their findings in classrooms and at school forums.

Melanie’s classroom became more than a place for instruction—it became a space where young people learned to ask important questions, to collaborate, and to care about their communities. She invested time beyond the bell, staying after class for reviews, organizing research workshops, and even helping students prepare for school presentations.

From the beginning, Melanie understood that to teach is not only to inform—it is to inspire. These early experiences laid the groundwork for her future as an educator and advocate: one whose lessons always started with empathy and ended with empowerment.

PHASE 3: Leadership & Scholarship

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” — Warren Bennis

1. Leadership In Postsecondary Education
In 2023, Dr. Melanie Quimson embraced a new dimension of her leadership journey as she became the Academic Director for Non-Traditional Adult Learning at Saxum Education Canada. This role marked a significant evolution in her career—one that required strategic oversight, academic innovation, and community engagement at the postsecondary level.
Tasked with managing multiple online diploma and certificate programs, Melanie spearheaded the development of inclusive, high-quality academic experiences tailored to adult learners. She strengthened instructional design across the institution, elevated program quality, and led a diverse team of instructors across various disciplines. Her leadership extended beyond internal operations—she played an instrumental role in the launch of a new private career college under Saxum Education Inc., overseeing the end-to-end regulatory process from program proposal to curriculum approval.

Working closely with reviewers, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, Melanie ensured every element—from course outcomes to assessment models—reflected academic excellence, real-world relevance, and accessibility for non-traditional students. Her philosophy was clear: “Learning is a holistic journey.” Under this guiding belief, she designed policies and practices that promoted both academic achievement and learner well-being.
Her impact extended to curriculum design, faculty development, policy writing, and student support. She also served as a Commissioner for Oaths with the Government of Alberta, further exemplifying her commitment to public service and civic contribution.
Melanie’s capacity to blend academic vision with operational execution has earned her recognition not just as an administrator, but as a changemaker in adult education. Most recently, she has also been appointed to evaluate instructor performance at New West College, further extending her leadership in quality assurance and instructional improvement. In addition to her administrative roles, Melanie has worked as a freelance curriculum developer for Education Assistant programs at various postsecondary institutions across Canada—bringing her expertise to course planning, learning outcomes alignment, and inclusive instructional strategies. She continues to mentor future leaders while refining postsecondary models that uplift marginalized and immigrant learners—aligning her work with the very heart of inclusive, lifelong learning.
In support of her leadership roles, Melanie has continuously expanded her expertise through world-class certifications:

2. Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education

3. Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum Certificate from MacEwan University

4. Education Assistant Diploma from East West College, Canada

5. Foundations of Online Course Development, TESOL & TEFL, and Early Childhood Educator Level 3 Certifications

Each credential deepened her ability to design inclusive, high-quality programs across age groups and learning contexts.