Melissa grew up in Chattanooga, TN, survived frigid winters in Madison WI for college, and has made Nashville home since 2005. She received a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work in Nashville in 2007. Her professional journey started as a social worker at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital providing support to children and families coping with a wide range of social-emotional needs, including trauma, grief, chronic illness, mental health, crisis, limited access to resources, etc. She obtained her LCSW while working at the hospital in 2012 and then transitioned to working with STARS in 2016 providing mental health support for students and families.

Melissa is grateful to have worked in multiple programs at STARS, including as an SAP Counselor, ESAP school-based Therapist, and now Clinical Supervisor. This is her fourth year of providing clinical supervision to our amazing STARS Counselors and Therapists working to obtain licensure.

Outside of work, Melissa loves being with her family, cheering on her children on the theater stage and the baseball field, and eating her way around Nashville!