Melissa was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. After attending college in both Tucson, Arizona and Olympia, Washington, she fell in love with the natural beauty and robust community of Ashland and relocated in 2001.  She went on  to pursue her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Oregon Health and Science University and currently works as a post-surgical nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Melissa and her husband Tom have been Siskiyou School parents for the past 11 years with their son, now a junior at Ashland High School and their daughter, a current 6th grader. Initially, they were drawn to enroll their children at The Siskiyou School because of the engaging and rich curriculum, the overall peaceful feel on campus, and the positive reviews from alumni families in town. What they found was a dedicated and vibrant faculty, a thriving community of families, and a commitment to preserving the innocence of childhood, while cultivating curiosity and a love of learning. Melissa was inspired to join the Board because of her deep belief in how valuable this education is.

In addition to savoring time with her family, she loves experimenting with new recipes, exploring the outdoors, diving into a great novel, and cuddling with her puppy!