Melissa received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She received her Masters of Science degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Melissa is a member of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is also a member of ASHA’s SIG 15: Gerontology and serves on the advisory board for the PTA and COTA programs at Weatherford College.

Melissa serves as a Regional Director of Rehabilitation and Director of Audit Compliance for Rehab Synergies. She has clinical experience in acute care settings, outpatient rehabilitation, in-patient rehabilitation, home health and skilled nursing facilities. Melissa’s clinical experience involves adult and geriatric populations with a variety of disorders/diseases, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor speech disorders, alternative/augmentative communication systems, dysphagia, and more.

Melissa has become a certified Dementia Specialists through a course provided by Crisis Prevention Institute. CPI is an AHSA-recognized provider.