Background

Melissa has served with the Mississippi State Department of Health since 1991, starting as a Health Physicist in the Radiological Health program. She has held positions as the Director of the Office of Licensure, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Public Water Supply, Deputy Director of the Office of Environmental Health, and most recently as Director of the Office of Health Protection, leading teams across most of the major arms of the agency. She became Assistant Senior Deputy in 2024.

Melissa has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Mississippi and is a Certified Public Manager.