Melissa was born in Oxnard, CA, raised by her Mexican immigrant parents.  Her wonder for the outdoors grew when she joined the Green Club at her High School, where she would go on her first hike; immersing herself in the rich diversity of the Santa Monica Mountains. Melissa set in motion her stewardship of public lands when she began volunteering with various organizations aimed to rehabilitate habitats, and clean degraded trails.  She also spent time supporting her local community in environmental justice matters. Fast forward, Melissa is in her final year of undergraduate, where she will earn her B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management at Cal State Channel Islands. Melissa’s relationship with the surrounding land deepened in this program, gaining an understanding of the human dimensions of our environment. She believes that positive exposure from a young age will instill an intrinsic value of nature.

In her free time, Melissa likes to run, slackline, hike, and read climate fiction novels