Tanya Melich

Tanya Melich (born April 23, 1936) is an American political analyst, writer, and women's rights activist. She co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus and was an early leader of the National Women's Education Fund, which sought to teach women how to gain political power. Melich has held various positions affiliated with the Republican Party, including Executive Director of the New York State Republican Family Committee. She left the party in 1998 over women's issues and is credited with coining the popular phrase, "Republican war against women." She now considers herself a Jeffords independent in the mold of the former U.S. Senator from Vermont. Her father, Mitchell Melich, served in the Utah State Senate, was president of the Utah Mining Association, on the Republican National Committee from Utah, the University of Utah Board of Regents and ran unsuccessfully for governor of Utah in 1964. He served as Solicitor of the U.S. Interior Department under the Nixon Administration. Melich's mother, Doris Marie Snyder Melich, founded the first Girl Scout troop in Moab in 1946, which began her thirty years of service to the state and national Girl Scouts. She served as a member, executive committee and president of the Utah chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, 1959–82, was appointed by President Gerald Ford to the National Arthritis Board, 1977–84 and was a member of the National Commission on Arthritis and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases, 1974-76.

Melich attended the University of Colorado and received a B.S. in political science in 1958, graduating cum laude with departmental and general honors. She was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She then attended Columbia University, receiving a master's degree in public law and government in 1961.

Books 1996 The Republican War Against Women: An Insider's Report From Behind the Lines

Professional positions Political Issues Management, President, consultant in public policy analysis and strategy, political management, 1982-2002. New York State Republican Family Committee, Executive Director, a non-profit, educational organizational concerned with family issues, particularly related to women and children, 1984-1994 CBS Inc., Corporate Affairs; Director, Civic Affairs, 1978–81; Associate Director, Public Policy Unit, 1976–78; Editor, Corporate Information, 1975-76. Nelson A. Rockefeller, consultant, Developed background books for national trips, advised on public issues and politics for vice-presidential confirmation hearings, 1974. Academy for Educational Development, Fall-Winter 1973. Writer, editor. Commission on Critical Choices, Policy Analyst, 1973 Philip Van Slyck Inc.; Public Affairs writer, 1971–72 U.S.Senator Charles Goodell Election Committee, New York State Chairman for Research, 1970. Allen-Van Slyck Group, Public Affairs writer, 1969 Rockefeller for President, Co-director, National Delegate unit, 1968 Thomas E. Dewey, Editorial Assistant for Dewey memoir, 1967–68 Rockefeller for Governor of New York, Scheduler, 1966 Lindsay for Mayor of New York City, GOP Research Director, 1965 ABC News, Director of National Election Research, 1963–64 Foreign Policy Association, Researcher-Writer, 1962 The Salt Lake Tribune, News Reporter, 1957 Citizenship Clearing House, Political Intern for Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate, Don Brotzman, 1956

Honors

Advisory Committee of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, 1994-98. New York Children and Family Trust Fund Advisory Board, Fall, 1992 Public Leadership Education Network, Visitor, Spring, 1991 Alfred E. Moran Public Advocacy Award, 1990 Woodrow Wilson Fellows Program, 1988-2012 Outstanding Woman Award, NWPC-Manhattan, 1986 European-American Summer School, USIA, Austria, 1985 New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination, 1983–91 Aspen Institute, Guest Contributor, West Berlin, May 1983; AT&T Seminar, May 1982, Communications Seminar, October 1980. Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Institute of Politics, Fellow, January–June, 1980. N.O.W.--New York, Susan B. Anthony Women of Achievement Award, 1980. Republican National Committee Advisory Council on Natural Resources, 1977-80. U.S. Civil Rights Commission, New York State Advisory Committee, 1973–81 Republican National Convention: Delegate, NY, 1992; Alternate Delegate, 1980, 1976, 1972.