Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Melissa is a founding member of Prospect Theater Company. She holds an AB in History from Princeton University and an MFA in Theater Management from the Yale School of Drama where she received The Morris J. Kaplan Award. Her practical training at the Guthrie Theatre in Minnesota, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, and Yale Repertory Theatre has spanned Arts Education, Marketing, Stage and Company Management, and Administration. Additionally, she served as the Marketing Director at Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, and is currently the Program Manager at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women.