Additionally, she serves as the Director of the B.F.A. Acting program, the resident Speech and Dialects Coach for all productions, and the Workshop/Advanced Directing Coordinator. Melissa holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the combined program of Carnegie Mellon University and The Moscow Art Theatre in Russia, and a B.F.A. in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University. She was a founding company member of the American Studio Theatre in New York City where she performed in numerous productions and also served as the company’s resident Voice and Speech Coach.