Melissa joined the Land Trust in 2024 as the Land Protection Specialist. Melissa graduated with her B.S. in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University in 2018. After spending time as Volunteer Coordinator at F.A.R.M. Cafe, a pay-what-you-can community cafe in Boone, NC, she returned to school and relocated to Portland, Oregon where she earned her J.D. in Environmental and Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School.
Most recently, Melissa spent two seasons working on Willow & Oak Farm, a sustainable flower and pasture-raised poultry farm in Springfield, Oregon. Working on farmland leased from the McKenzie River Trust sparked her interest in working with land trusts, and she is thrilled to be part of an organization that aligns with her passions and education. Melissa has dreamed of living in the Pacific Northwest since childhood and feels incredibly lucky to call Whidbey Island home.
Melissa spends her free time exploring the beaches of Whidbey, trying to grow too many flowers, caring for her backyard chickens, and spending time with her partner and their pets: a dachshund, Roxie, and two cats, Rosemary and Nutmeg (aka the Spice Girls).