Melissa has been working for the last 30 years as a speech-language pathologist, and has made her career working with young children facing sensory, developmental and other challenges.  Since 2014, she has been the executive director of The Emerge Center for Communication, Behavior and Development.  

Working with her team at The Emerge Center, Melissa has built an innovative approach that integrates therapists, psychologists, and social workers into a single team working with more than 1,000 children and families each year. She is responsible for leading a sustained period of profound growth in the Center’s operations, which has drastically expanded the capacity of the agency.

Through her leadership, The Emerge Center has become a national model for integrated care that gives relief, home and pathway to progress for children with disabilities and their families. Melissa recognized the financial burden of raising children with autism, and oversaw the creation of The Emerge School for Autism, a tuition-free charter school.

Melissa retired in 2019, but her service has left and enduring legacy for Louisiana families.