Melissa takes a collaborative approach to research and evaluation, with a focus on building clients’ capacity to uplift community voice when making decisions about health and wellness initiatives. She joined Wilder in 2019.

Her experience and expertise is in behavioral health and wellness, and data-driven decision-making. She has spent nearly two decades providing training, technical assistance, and evaluation supports to communities, states, and Tribal nations engaged in substance misuse and suicide prevention initiatives. More recently, Melissa has partnered with numerous counties across Minnesota, as well as a certified community behavioral health clinic, to conduct community health assessments. Following needs assessments, Melissa uses methods such as gallery walks and data parties to engage clients’ community partners in making meaning out of data and moving data to action.

Melissa has a Master of Science degree in population health sciences from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

Melissa serves as co-chair for both Minnesota’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup and Minnesota’s Suicide Data Action Team. She splits her time between Saint Paul and Ann Lake Township, and she enjoys walking the trails with her dogs.