She comes to Pioneer with 20+ years of financial aid experience having worked at various private and public colleges and universities among which are Johns Hopkins University and Hamilton College. Melissa received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from The University of Oklahoma.

As a first-generation college graduate from a family of humble means, she truly understands the challenges that face students and their families in their educational pursuits. She also recognizes the transformative effect an enriched educational program, like Pioneer Academics, can have on college aspirations, self-esteem, confidence, motivation, and drive. Acknowledging how involved the process of applying for need-based scholarship can be, Melissa serves prospective scholars and their families by guiding them through the need-based scholarship application process.

Living in central New York, Melissa spends her free time with her two teenage sons, their two dogs, and cats.