Institute at Brown for Environment and Society

Melissa is the Program Manager for the Equitable Climate Futures Initiative (ECF). The ECF program aims to build Brown’s capacity for climate research, with a strong focus on under-resourced and historically marginalized groups. Through this intiative, working groups and postdoctoral scholars receive funding to collaboratively engage with community organizations in climate-related research, spanning across disciplines. She also provides staff support to the Academic Climate Leadership Group (ACLG), a cohort of University faculty members who meet regularly to coordinate climate change initiatives across campus.

Melissa received her PhD in Urban Planning from Florida State University in 2025. Her research focused on exploring socio-environmental factors influencing children’s access to nature and well-being. While working as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Geography at Florida State, Melissa also collaborated on research projects investigating climate-related health outcomes and indicators of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

In addition to her research, Melissa previously worked in local and state government. While serving as a Heart Disease Program Manager at the Florida Department of Health, she managed projects that aimed to address health inequities and increase community and clinical connections.