Melanie is originally from Texas. She has a B.A .and M.A. in English from a small sister school of Texas A&M, Tarleton State University, and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition studies from Texas Woman’s University in Denton.

Melanie is working towards a master’s degree as political science has always been a passion, and it will be beneficial in many of the classes that she teaches here at SU in the writing studies, rhetoric and composition, where she is an assistant teaching professor.

Melanie’s rhetorical research interests have focused on power structures, diversity and inclusion, and intersectionality, research interests that are also clearly addressed by political science pursuits. She is also interested in popular culture rhetoric and was lead editor and contributor for “Antiheroines of Contemporary Media: Saints, Sinners, and Survivors,” published in late 2020.

She is currently working on a project that examines representations of women in recent (2015 - present) horror films and the connections between those depictions and political rhetoric.