A little about Melissa:

"I never quite knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, and even though I struggled learning, I also loved it, so I joined my friends when they told me about college our senior year of high school. Not being afraid to work hard, I went in as a biology major but gloriously failed the chemistry requirements and learned they would be half the credits, so I switched to psychology and visual arts, which was much more fun! I am a first generation college graduate whose parents instilled a great sense of integrity, service, and to be authentic, so that's the compass that got me where I am today. I started as an intern at CALM in 2005, claiming I would "never work with smelly teenage boys who got in trouble," but here I still am, and I am so grateful! It is my honor and privilege to work for DYS. Thank you to all who were involved with the start to such a beloved career and to all those with whom I continue to get the pleasure to work alongside.

I am also a hippie Colorado native who loves being in the mountains. You can often find me by a river soaking up the sun, breathing the fresh air, and splashing my face with the cold water. I also love to snow hike, watercolor, cook, visit around fire pits, take long walks with my partner, and am an avid Red Rocks concert-goer. I love taking care of my intelligent and spirited teenagers but admit I'm often just along for the ride. I end up being more of a listener two minutes into dinner conversations because most of what they talk about is way smarter than me and already includes jovial bouts of "chem talk." A lot of my paycheck goes towards their interests and worldly travels, which I send them on without me. Luckily, I have two kitties (Pippin and Merry) who also love when I stay home, especially since they've gotten to supervise my remote work the last few years."

Melissa's nominator used these words to describe her