Assistant Professor
Contact Information
Melissa has been involved in athletic training education for nearly 15 years, in addition to working as a clinical athletic trainer in several different settings. She encourages students to work towards the answer to “why?” in both the classroom and clinical setting, while also engaging students in the application of their skills. She firmly believes that developing the groundwork and foundational knowledge leads to success in one’s career. She is an active distance runner, having recently completed the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, exploring the outdoors.
- M.S., Nutrition with Science, Ohio University, 2009
- B.S., Nutrition and Dietetics, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, 2014
- B.S., Athletic Training, University of Mount Union, 2007
- ATR 257: Medical Education Lab
- ATR 404: Capstone in Athletic Training
- ATR 461: Special Issues in Athletic Training
- ATR 590: Performance Nutrition
- ATR 605: Healthcare Across Communities
- ATR 642/643: Medical Interventions and Lab
- ATR 652: Psychosocial Considerations in Athletic Training
- ATR 670: Capstone in Athletic Training (Graduate)
- SPMD 263: Nutrition for Health Professionals
- PUBH 276: Public Health Nutrition
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
- Certified Athletic Trainer
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- Board of Certification (BOC) Exam Writer
- Nutrition consultant to the Department of Recreation, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
- Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Member, National Athletic Trainer’s Association
Melissa’s teaching interests reflect her experience working in several areas of sports medicine. Her teaching reflects her wide variety of clinical experiences, including time spent in in-patient clinical nutrition; within an orthopedic surgery office and a medical fitness facility; as well as working with Division II athletics. Her primary interests focus on nutrition practices in the physically active, including enhancing both performance and quality of life for individuals with nutrition-related conditions. Melissa teaches from both a “proactive” and a “reactive” approach to injury and illness, preparing students to recognize preventative care in addition to management. She encourages students to engage in a holistic approach to patient care, exploring not only the physical injury, but the potential factors that may have increased risk and how to address said factors during the rehabilitation process.