Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences (Clinician Educator)
Melissa is a licensed professional clinical counselor and licensed professional counselor in California and Michigan and received her BBA from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and M.A. in counselor education with a specialization in marriage, couple and family from Western Michigan University. She also holds an MBA from Western Michigan University and has worked in a variety of settings including college/university counseling centers at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University.
She is particularly interested in fostering and facilitating the creation and maintenance of equitable and safe spaces for students that respect, honor, and are inclusive of their identities both in the therapy session and outside of it. Melissa employs a strength-based, trauma-informed approach when working with clients. She finds that trauma-informed approach leads to clients experiencing increased awareness, greater self-esteem, positive self-concept, and engagement in activities and relationships that hold meaning and align with their values.
As the assistant director of graduate student counseling, she is primarily located on the HSC campus at Eric Cohen Student Health Center.