Mel is an enthusiastic scholar, who has not encountered an idea or topic that they don’t find interesting and has a humble appreciation for the complex factors that impact teaching and learning. In 2021 Mel joined Deep as Director of Healing Practices and Culture, bringing with them them over a decade of experience working with educators and policy-makers at the building, district, state, and federal levels. Mel is completing their PhD in Educational Theory and Practice at the University of Georgia, has a M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, and a B.A. in Classical Studies and Creative Writing from Bard College.
During their doctoral studies, Mel was a Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Research Scholar Awardee and contributed to university and national workgroups dedicated to supporting graduate students from under-represented in higher education. Mel continues to be engaged in national research and discussion about issues related to education as an active member of the American Education Research Association (AERA), the American Educational Studies Association (AESA), and the Philosophy of Education Society (PES).
Mel has put their group facilitation and mediation skills to work with educators across Georgia, creating over a dozen workshops on issues related to gender in schools. Born and raised in Washington DC, where they returned after undergraduate before moving to Georgia, Mel is looking forward to becoming part of Savannah’s communities.