Melissa spent most of her career in the non-profit industry. Her career included services as Executive Director of three different non-profit organizations in Virginia, as well as positions in Quality Assurance, Grantwriting, and Development with other large non-profits. The organizations where she worked addressed such complex issues as domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, homelessness, human trafficking, mental illness, disabilities, substance abuse, and child abduction. Melissa holds a B.A. in English, a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.A. in Psychological Services – Counseling. Following recovery from Urachal cancer, Melissa switched career endeavors. She currently serves as a contracted Director of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Virginia, is completing her Doctorate of Public Administration, and continues to be actively involved in her community. In 2015, Melissa also began to concentrate on her development as an independent author. Melissa spent much of her life developing her skills as a writer. Melissa’s first novel, Releasing Me, is a fictional memoir. Her second novel, Valley Voices, is an anthology of poetry. She has been married to William Payne since 1993 and has a son, daughter, three stepsons, and a large extended family.

As an undergraduate at Shenandoah University, Melissa won the distinguished S. Gordden Link Poetry Prize for an unprecedented 3 years in a row.