Background: Melissa earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut, where she worked in several clinical anxiety labs. During her Senior year, Melissa interned as a research assistant at the Yale School of Medicine, where she realized her passion for substance abuse research. Melissa earned her Master's in Psychology from Montclair State University under the supervision of Paul Amrhein, PhD, where she conducted her thesis on associations between personality characteristics and willingness to report engagement in risky behaviors. Melissa looks forward to continuing research that will ultimately lead to interventions aimed at meeting clients at their own stage of readiness, willingness, and desire to change