Melissa is an Associate Professor, Adj. at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and the founding director of Evanston ASPA, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and support for the local Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander American community, and increasing the visibility and representation of the Asian American diaspora in local civic, cultural and community spaces through the arts. Melissa currently serves as Chair on the Evanston Arts Council and is a member of the EPL Racial Equity Task Force. She holds a BA in Psychology and BFA from the University of Michigan, an MA in Art Therapy from SAIC, and is a registered, board-certified art therapist and licensed clinical professional counselor.