Melissa grew up in the St. Louis metropolitan area and various towns in Oklahoma. Her family settled in Springfield, Missouri during her years in high school. She attended Southwest Missouri State University (Missouri State University), earning various performance scholarships and awards during her BFA studies. After marrying her high school sweetheart, John, they lived for a stint in Winter Park, FL and San Francisco before landing in Los Angeles.In addition to acting, Melissa has co-produced John's ambient electronic CDs Immersion and 4 at 18 (aired on Hearts of Space, other programs both domestic and international and currently available via CDbaby and other on-line distributors), designed award-winning graphics for print materials and DVD menus (including titles for BBC and Franchise Pictures) and is currently involved as a producer, director and writer on various independent projects. In addition, she is studying professional fine art and commercial photography. Show less «