With 15 years of experience working in technology, Melissa is a user-experience researcher, designer, and instructor. In her career, she has helped Lenovo, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, among others.

Her specialty is helping design teams be more trauma-informed and inclusive. She has helped design websites and apps specifically for people who have experienced human trafficking, substance use disorder, PTSD, and mental illness.

Melissa received her Master’s degree in Visual Communication from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has taught UX to graduate students there since 2019.