Melissa was born and raised in New Albany, IN where she met her current husband, Jeremy. In 1998, Melissa and Jeremy wed and moved to Corydon, IN. In 1999 they welcomed their first son and in 2001 their second son.
Melissa began a career at the University of Louisville Hospital in 2010 as a milk technologist in the neonatal intensive care unit. During this time at U of L is when Melissa decided she wanted to return to school to pursue an education in the nursing sciences with a long-term goal of becoming a nurse educator. In 2011, Melissa enrolled in the Indiana University Southeast Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and graduated with honors in 2016. In June following her graduation, she began her nursing career on the med/surg floor at the University of Louisville Hospital. In August 2021, due to an unfortunate circumstance, Melissa had to leave healthcare for three years. She returned to healthcare in April of 2024 for a short stint in long-term care rehabilitation when an opportunity for a position at Caris College presented itself. In August 2024, Melissa’s long-term nursing goal was realized when she accepted the full-time nursing instructor role at Caris College.
When Melissa is not teaching, she enjoys being a grandma (Momo) and spending time with family. Melissa’s hobbies include reading, camping, hiking, and collecting snowmen for Christmas.