Background, Education, and Experience
Melissa grew up in a small town outside St. Louis, Missouri. She comes from a diverse family background. Her mother, a retired educator, and her father, a locksmith business owner, instilled values of hard work and determination in her upbringing. Additionally, her stepfather, a veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and her stepmother, a customer service representative, contributed to the richness of her familial experience.
She pursued her undergraduate studies at Avila University in Kansas City, earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with minors in Psychology and Theatre, graduating, two and a half years later, Cum Laude. During her college years, Melissa immersed herself in various roles, including interning with the Honorable Robert M. Scheiber. Her dedication to Avila University’s mission of helping the Dear Neighbor fueled her passion to further her education and embark on a legal career.
Melissa was led to Washburn University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor in the spring of 2017, two and a half years after completing her undergraduate studies. Throughout law school, she distinguished herself as a January Section representative in the student bar association, a reading clerk for the Kansas State Senate during the 2016 session, a study group leader, a representative of the BARBRI Group, clerking with Alderson, Alderson, Weiler, Conklin, Burghardt, & Crow, LLC, as well as serving as a legal intern in the Family Law Clinic. Notably, she and her co-counsel prepared and presented compelling testimony before the Senate Committee of Judiciary, resulting in the successful amendment of the Protection from Abuse Act and Protection from Stalking Act.
Before establishing her own law firm, Melissa accumulated invaluable experience over two and a half years in an insurance defense firm, gaining insights into the intricacies of litigation. Subsequently, she dedicated over three years to a firm specializing primarily in Family Law, honing her skills and expertise. Melissa’s multifaceted background and unwavering dedication distinguish her as a seasoned legal professional ready to navigate diverse legal challenges.