Dr. Mel is an educator. She was moved to develop podcasts and courses for adults working with and caring for young children because the outcomes of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) research conducted in 1997 were not widely known.

The study showed the life-long adverse effects of early trauma on the health and well-being of 76% of middle class adult participants. Over twenty-two years later many educators, pediatricians, families and legislators are unaware of this important information.  Dr. Mel is committed to disseminating and supporting early education to help children and adults cope and heal from early trauma.

Mel’s career of over 35 years intertwines two paths. The first, corporate professional and organization development, systems design and executive coaching. The second, in early education, specifically learning strategy, professional development, strategic planning, coaching and research.   

 Mel received a combined doctorate from the University of Kansas (KU) in Developmental Psychology and Applied Learning Theory.  She also earned a Master’s degree in early childhood education. 

While a student at KU, Mel provided technical assistance to educators and administrators in the Head Start and Follow Through programs.  She worked in schools the South Bronx, New York; Compton, California; and at the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. She also work with the Organization of American States (OSA) providing technical assistance to administrators at the Ministry of Education in Jamaica. 

Mel was the Head of School at Oxford Park Academy (OPA), an independent preschool through 8th grade school in Overland Park, Kansas and successfully merged it with Kansas City Christian School in 2008.

She is the author of ¡Vision! Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the United States (2000).  ¡Vision! showcases the lives of six highly successful Latinx entrepreneurs and discusses their best practices. 

Dr. Mel is currently serving on the Board of Directors of The Children’s Place (TCP), a therapeutic, trauma-informed early childhood program for abused and neglected children, and on the Sesame Street in Communities program task force through KCPT public television in Kansas City.