Melanie is the Administrative Research Assistant for NDRI-USA and the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research.

She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She spent a year abroad as an Au pair in Turin, Italy and also lived and worked in Austin, Texas for several years before returning to Kansas City with strong opinions on live music & breakfast tacos.

She has worked in the retail medical/optical industry for the past 17 years until recently joining the team at NDRI-USA. She is also a freelance commercial photographer, loves to travel, and enjoys spending her free time with friends, her new husband, and their four pets: three aging dogs and one surly cat.