Robin Melvin
About Robin A. Melvin
Robin A. Melvin (61) is an Independent Director and VMTP Shares designee for BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals, Inc. (DSM) and BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., serving as a Class II Director since 1995 . Her background spans investment banking at Goldman Sachs and senior roles in national youth-mentoring organizations, with board experience across philanthropic and healthcare institutions and trusteeships at business development companies (BDCs) . All Fund Directors, including Melvin, are independent under the 1940 Act; the Board Chair is also independent .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | Investment Banker | Not disclosed | Finance background; capital markets perspective |
| MENTOR (National) | Executive Director (NYC affiliate); VP (National Affiliate Network); VP of Development; Senior VP Strategy | Various, prior to departure (years not individually specified) | Sector advocacy; national affiliate network leadership |
| Boisi Family Foundation | Director; managed Family Office | 1995 – 2012 | Primary interface with investment managers, legal advisors, service providers |
| Mentor Illinois | Co‑Chair; Board Member | Co‑Chair 2014 – Mar 2020; Board 2013 – Mar 2020 | State-level mentoring policy and program quality |
| Westover School | Trustee | 2019 – Jun 2023 | Independent school governance |
| JDRF | Board Member | Jun 2021 – Jun 2022 | Non-profit oversight in healthcare research |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPS Corporate Lending Fund (BDC) | Trustee | Aug 2021 – Present | Closed-end management investment company regulated as a BDC |
| HPS Corporate Capital Solutions Fund (BDC) | Trustee | Dec 2023 – Present | Closed-end management investment company regulated as a BDC |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital | Board of Directors (Director) | Mar 2024 – Present | Academic medical center governance |
Board Governance
- Independence: All Directors (including the Chair) are independent; majority-independent governance and approvals required for key matters under the 1940 Act .
- Committee structure: Standing Audit, Nominating, Compensation, and Litigation Committees comprised of Independent Directors (Chair DiMartino does not serve on Compensation) . The Audit Committee consists of all Directors; Melvin is an Audit Committee member per the Audit Committee report .
- VMTP representation: Under the charter, VMTP holders elect two Directors; Melvin and Benaree Pratt Wiley serve as VMTP designees, with Common and VMTP voting together for other seats .
- Meetings and attendance: In the most recent fiscal year, each Fund held 6 Board meetings, 6 Audit Committee meetings, 1 Compensation Committee meeting, and 1 Nominating Committee meeting; Continuing Directors and Nominees attended at least 75% of meetings of bodies on which they served. Directors did not attend last year’s annual meeting, and there is no formal policy requiring such attendance .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | DSM (BNY Mellon Strategic Municipals) – FY Sep 30, 2024 | BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund – FY Nov 30, 2024 | Aggregate Fund Complex Compensation (portfolios served) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retainer/Meeting Fees (Director) | $9,670 | $8,225 | $675,700 (68) |
| Structure Notes | Annual retainer and meeting fees allocated by net assets; Chair receives +25%; travel/out-of-pocket reimbursed; no bonus/pension/profit-sharing plan | ||
| Disclosed Plan Features | No bonus, pension, profit-sharing, or retirement plan |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Instrument | Terms |
|---|---|
| Cash bonus | None disclosed; Funds do not have a bonus plan |
| Equity awards (RSUs/PSUs/options) | None disclosed for Directors |
| Performance metrics (revenue growth, EBITDA, TSR, ESG) | Not applicable to Director pay; no variable/performance plan disclosed |
| Clawbacks/CoC/Severance | Not disclosed for Directors |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Type | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPS Corporate Lending Fund | BDC (closed-end) | Trustee | Lending markets exposure; no related-party transactions disclosed with DSM or adviser |
| HPS Corporate Capital Solutions Fund | BDC (closed-end) | Trustee | Similar to above; no adviser securities owned by Directors/immediate family |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital | Healthcare system | Director | Non-profit governance; no fund adviser ties disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance and capital markets: Former Goldman Sachs investment banker provides transaction, risk, and market literacy .
- Non-profit and foundation governance: Leadership across MENTOR, Boisi Family Foundation, Mentor Illinois, JDRF, Westover School .
- Investment fund oversight: Trusteeships at HPS BDCs indicate familiarity with credit, valuation, and regulatory regimes .
Equity Ownership
| Holding Category | DSM Fund Common Stock | Aggregate Holdings in BNY Mellon Family of Funds | VMTP/Preferred Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| As of Dec 31, 2024 | None | $10,001 – $50,000 | Not disclosed for individuals |
| As of Aug 22, 2025 | None (Common and VMTP Shares) | Not updated in this table | None owned by Directors/officers |
| Adviser or affiliate securities | None owned by Directors or immediate family |
Insider Filings
| Filing Status | Notes |
|---|---|
| Section 16(a) compliance | Funds report compliance for Directors in FY 2024; no delinquency noted for Melvin. Late filings mentioned for certain officers and Bank of America, not for Melvin . |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent Board and Chair; comprehensive risk oversight with all-Director Audit Committee; Melvin participates in audit oversight .
- High attendance threshold met (≥75%); robust committee cadence (6 Audit, 6 Board) evidences active governance .
- No securities of the Investment Adviser or affiliates held by Directors/immediate family, lowering related-party exposure risk .
-
Alignment considerations
- Melvin holds no DSM Common or VMTP shares; aggregate complex holdings are modest ($10,001–$50,000), which may limit direct economic alignment with DSM shareholders .
- Directors did not attend last year’s annual meeting and the Funds lack a formal attendance policy for annual meetings—an investor engagement signal to monitor .
-
Potential conflicts and RED FLAGS
- VMTP representation: Melvin is a VMTP Shares designee, selected by preferred holders (VMTP 100% held by Bank of America, N.A. via an affiliate), which may introduce differing priorities versus common shareholders in certain scenarios; oversight mitigated by joint voting on other seats and fully independent Boards .
- No related-party transactions or adviser securities holdings disclosed for Melvin—no conflict flagged on that dimension .
Overall, governance quality is supported by independence, active audit participation, and broad oversight experience. Primary investor watch-points are shareholder engagement (annual meeting attendance) and alignment via personal ownership given her VMTP designee role and limited DSM share ownership .