Melissa has a Master’s from Bank Street College in Child Life. She worked as a certified child life specialist at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center both in inpatient med-surg and outpatient sedation. Currently, she is a Training and Development Consultant for the Crisis Prevention Institute providing tailored training solutions and helping to develop new training initiatives for schools, hospitals, and other human service organizations. Melissa has served a variety of nonprofit organizations both in professional and volunteer capacities including as the Program Coordinator of Community Programs for the Big Apple Circus; Entertainment Coordinator for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp; and Board Member for the Crescent Foundation — A Sickle Cell Initiative. Melissa lives in Connecticut and enjoys being outdoors and traveling in her spare time, especially if it involves a beach!