When she is not working at VCU as the financial/academic coordinator in the Vice President’s office for Health Sciences and in her role as Chair of the VCU Staff Senate, she is busy reaching out to her community. She graduated as valedictorian of the Richmond School for Urban Ministry, obtaining a BS in Christian Education, and used this to advance her ministry for at risk youth and work with teenage girls in the area of purity and confidence. She was a youth minister for 5 years, and has worked in youth ministry her whole life. She is a recording artist and the lead singer of Zechariah’s Song, where she sang and spoke over 100 times a year for many years and hosted a radio show, and she still sings/speaks/hosts at least 100 times a year at events. After losing 160 pounds several years ago, Melissa wrote a Sugar-Free Cookbook and speaks about health and wellness at numerous places such as the Richmond Health Department, VCU Medical Hospital, J. Sargent Reynolds, Richmond Health Disparities, Richmond Health Magazine, and many others. She is very involved in homeless, addiction, Kenyan orphan and widow, and pregnancy center ministries and founded the Abundant Life Tour to raise money and supplies for these causes through the power of music. She is an advocate for debt free living and loves to thrift and coupon. She does interior decorating and crafts. She is a website developer, caterer and event planner, and wedding coordinator. When asked why she would want to be famous she said: for kindness! Most people think her talent is singing but she believes her talent is deeply seeing people and being able to connect others for the greater good of humanity. She was awarded the title of Mrs. Congeniality at the 2019 and the 2020 Mrs. for America pageant and strives to live by the attributes of that prestigious award daily.  She would like to thank Jesus for his mercy and salvation and her family and friends for their love and support.