About Melissa

Education

M.P.H, Epidemiology, University of Nevada, Reno

Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno

B.S., Biology and French, Albertson College (now the College of Idaho)

Research Interests

My doctoral research in cell and molecular biology focused on the functional roles of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK) in airway smooth muscle.  I investigated whether PAK1-mediated signaling participated in cytoskeletal dynamics, airway smooth muscle contraction and pro-inflammatory gene regulation--all of which have pathological consequences in asthma.  Prior to joining TMCC as a full-time instructor, I completed a brief postdoc in alpha7beta1 integrin-mediated signaling in neuromuscular development and disease.

Shortly after co-developing an AS Community Health Science at TMCC, I returned to graduate school to pursue a  Masters in Public Health, Epidemiology at the University of Nevada, Reno.  My public health interests are biostatistics, epigenetic epidemiology, and bringing preventative health services to underserved populations.

Personal

I have always been interested in science and particularly in Biology since grade school. In college, I became fascinated with Biology at the cell and molecular level, and in graduate school became interested in the role that science plays in governmental policies. As I came to teach pre-allied health students, my interests expanded into public health.  I love European football--soccer to us Americans. I still play, although, admittedly, I am ten times the fan than I am the player. I owe a lot to the sport, as it helped pay my way through college, and it was on the pitch that I met my husband Jeremy. We have two beautiful children--our son Alex and our daughter Ashley. While I enjoy my job as an associate dean and college professor immensely, my family is my greatest love.