| Melissa grew up in Spring Lake Park and Andover. She graduated from Blaine High School, graduated from college at Boston University, and worked for then-Senators Al Gore and John Kerry before returning to Minnesota to start law school. She and her husband Mark bought their first house on Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn Park, the street they still live on today. Melissa and Mark are proud parents of two children.
Melissa has long been a volunteer in her community- she balanced her law practice with time at Monroe Elementary School as a volunteer, member of Monroe's PTO, and member of the Anoka Hennepin Parent-Legislative Team. Melissa also taught Sunday school at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in Blaine and served as a Girl Scout Leader. Later, Melissa served on the Brooklyn Park Human Relations Commission as well as the Citizen Long Range Improvement Committee, and on the Board of Directors for an Anoka County nonprofit organization.
In 2004, Melissa was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Melissa has been particularly active in the areas of transportation, K-12 education funding, higher education, energy, and the environment. In 2013, Melissa worked with a coalition to enact Minnesota's solar energy standard and community solar laws. Melissa currently serves as Speaker of the House. |