Melissa lives for innovative research methods, giraffes, gluten-free goodies, and anything sports-related, particularly the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys. She is also a loud and proud supporter of her alma maters Rutgers College and The University of Pennsylvania.
As a survey researcher with more than 25 years of experience, she’s worked with CNN, CBS News, Harvard, The Kaiser Family Foundation, ESPN, NFL, Annenberg, and more conducting political polling, public opinion studies, and extensive healthcare research. She takes a keen interest in analyzing horserace polls and studying the methodological impact of many research decisions. Melissa is an active member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), Insights Association, and Women In Research (WIRE); Melissa is dedicated to methodological transparency in the industry. She also values mentorship and regularly mentors with different organizations and spearheads community outreach to be a research advocate for local high schools and colleges.
When she’s not working with the SSRS Team, you can find her whipping up her famous chocolate chip cookies, adding to her massive PEZ collection, or analyzing the office Fantasy Football League. A proud University of Delaware mom, her collection of Blue Hen gear is growing rapidly.
Community outreach is incredibly important to Melissa in both her personal and professional life. She is actively involved in company philanthropic efforts through the SSRS Goodwill committee. Outside SSRS, she is on the board of 100WomenDowningtown and contributes to many other local organizations.