Melissa has worked in education for over twenty years as a college professor and high school special education teacher. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in special education. In her previous roles, she has served on many committees comprised of diverse teams working toward a shared goal. She believes actions speak louder than words and demonstrates this with strong advocacy to support staff and students. She has advocated for women at her local community college by creating more lactation spaces and advocating for free menstrual products. She has also advocated for neurodivergent students by offering professional development around neurodiversity to the NOVA community and offering executive functioning skills workshops.
Originally from Belchertown, Massachusetts, she earned a B.S. in Business from Bay Path University, an M.A. in Communication Sciences from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Education in Special Education at George Mason University with a certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is committed to equity and accessibility for all students but is particularly passionate about advocating for students with disabilities and advancing inclusive pedagogies.