Invited Presentations and Workshops
Melissa is a highly acclaimed workshop facilitator, specializing in topics related to mentoring and brain development.
In the community at large, Melissa is widely recognized for her entertaining presentation style and ability to share complex information to a audiences with a wide range of experience and prior knowledge. Formally recommended by the California Endowment, Melissa has taught brain development courses for the Los Angeles and Sacramento Police Departments. Informed by her experience managing the Sacramento Violence Intervention Program, Melissa has also taught courses on vicarious and secondary trauma to community organizations including the Richmond Family Justice Center, Sacramento County Counsel and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Since 2010, Melissa has been an annual presenter for the University of California Santa Cruz Department of Learning Support Services, teaching pedagogical theory and best practices for increasing student self-efficacy. She currently teaches in the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley.