Melinda Rodriguez, Founder & Director of the International Awareness Academy, is a Motivational Mentor and Inspirational Teacher, recognized as an expert in the field of Personal & Spiritual Development.  Melinda’s internationally acclaimed curriculum and one-on-one empowerment coaching are rooted in her passion and commitment to creating enhanced consciousness and positive evolution for humanity and all of life.  Melinda is Certified as a Spiritual Counselor through the American Board of Hypnotherapy and is also a Reiki Master Teacher, Lecturer, and Integrative Healing Practitioner/Instructor.

Dedicated to her life’s Mission, Melinda uplifts, rejuvenates and motivates people to pursue their passion, live their best life and reach their highest possible potential.  Guiding groups and individuals to connect with their inner rhythm, harmony and joy, Melinda inspires creativity and cultivated success in all areas of life.  With more than a decade of professional experience, and a lifetime of awareness exploration, Melinda is renowned for creating a connection with Spirit and an unrefined awareness of Nature which empowers a return to wholeness.

From a very young age, Melinda has been involved in mentoring and assisting others through life’s challenges.  From her own experiences overcoming physical abuse, depression, and drug dependency, Melinda forged a pathway to empowerment, transformation, wellness and evolution of consciousness.  Her life experiences left her with a desire to reach out and make a difference. After pursuing a degree in traditional psychology, Melinda soon recognized that most conventional methods were not getting to the root of a person’s issues nor facilitating empowerment and self love.  From her own spiritual development and understanding that loving the self was far more affective than playing victim to supposed outside forces, Melinda elected to study spirituality, metaphysics, alternative healing, and evolved methods of counseling.  This decision lead Melinda to her life’s work in sharing her wisdom, experience and insight.

Melinda is also a passionate percussionist using motivational drumming to energize and encourage unity, wellness and empowerment.  She is a Professional Drum Circle Facilitator and has trained with world-renowned industry Master Arthur Hull along with many other extraordinary teachers of the drum. With an eclectic background & education in African, Native American, Middle Eastern & Latin percussion, Melinda has lead hundreds of drumming and percussive events with a dazzling style that enables people to feel inspired and uplifted.  Melinda has traveled extensively to share this ancient tool with modern audiences everywhere. She has had the great fortune of sharing the stage with Grammy award winning musicians and Master African Drummers as she performs for high profile corporate and private clients.

Melinda has been featured on Live 365 Radio with Tuesday Miles, Contact Talk Radio with Karen Anderson and is a repeat guest on Acoustic Fuel Radio.  She has authored countless articles and features in various publications such as The Messenger Magazine and is featured on Christine Steven’s DVD “The Art & Heart of Drum Circles. Melinda has lead motivational events for some of the top companies in the world such as Microsoft, Disney, Sony, The American Heart Association, GE, Harrahs, and many more. 

In 2004, Melinda collaborated with Dirk Barkermeijer de Wit and released The Ultimate Shamanic Journey CD which is a meditation tool using the healing beat of the drum and didgeridoo.  Since then, Dirk and Melinda have performed together throughout the Southern California Region, igniting audiences to connect with their own primal nature and rhythm.  Melinda & Dirk are currently working on their next CD which will be a musical compilation of both traditional and contemporary percussive pieces.

Combining her diverse percussive talents and extensive background in motivational presentations, Melinda recently launched Drum Fusion.  Created to reveal and share the science and magic of the drum with organizations and special events everywhere, Drum Fusion’s innovative programs bring people together, creating together as they understand the importance of diversity, unity, wellness and achieving their highest possible potential.  

Melinda lives in Orange County California with her husband, daughter, two dogs and three cats.  She deeply enjoys mentoring, teaching and leading motivational events across the globe.  Her unwavering integrity and amazing gifts of listening deeply, leading from the heart and inspiring the best in others has earned Melinda deep admiration and appreciation from her clients, students, and audiences everywhere.