Melissa was born and raised in New York City. She attended Binghamton University in New York, and majored in biological anthropology with a minor in Africana studies. During her time at Binghamton, she was a research assistant for the Africana Studies Department and worked on various qualitative and quantitative global health research studies. Melissa was the Universities Allied for Essential Medicines Binghamton chapter president and advocacy lead for the Partners In Health Engage Binghamton chapter where she met with Senator Chuck Schumer’s staff to increase funding for PEPFAR and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Melissa is currently on the national Partners In Health Engage Steering Committee as an advocacy lead organizer and works with chapters across the United States to mobilize Partners In Health Engage advocacy campaigns.