She received her MFA from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her BA from Grinnell College. Her prints, printed books, artists books, and installations focus on the lives of Midwestern women past and present, particularly how women's work causes and reacts to social, environmental and biological transformations. Ms. Melis' most recent printed book is about to exhibited in a nationally juried show at the Abecedarian Gallery in Denver, CO, and can be viewed at her website rachelmelis.com