As Campaigns & Advocacy Director at Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC), Melissa engages with Montanans and partner organizations on a variety of climate and land issues including mining, water protections, fossil fuel extraction, and clean energy. Previously living in a community designated as a Superfund Site and working for environmental justice, Melissa recognized the alarming issue of inequity often centered in climate justice work. Working across different levels of government, both as an advocate and an elected official, has given her more understanding of the layers of systemic, oppressive policies and culture that continue to cause harm.

Melissa has now made it her goal to support dismantling and evolving beyond the dominant culture. She plans to create a safe, sustainable, and reoccurring learning space for disrupting the dominant culture that harms people and the land, holding space for attendees to connect and learn about other ways of working in community. She believes centering equity is a necessary requirement to achieve climate stability. Melissa would like to secure stable funding to ensure sustainable planning with people of color for yearly gatherings, while continuing to support an increase in the representation of diversity at these gatherings.

Melissa currently lives in Livingston, Montana, with her husband and two children. When not serving as a Livingston City Commissioner, you might find her camping and hiking with her family, tending to chickens, cats, or the garden, and nearly always with her little dog, Ruthie.