Melissa is the first from her family to graduate from college-she attended Sacramento State University, where she received her degree in Political Science. Prior to becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate in 2018, Melissa served on the Sanger City Council (2016.) In the Legislature, Melissa is known as a thoughtful policymaker who works across party lines to improve the quality of life for residents and to ensure rural voices are heard at all levels of government. She focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard in the State Capitol - access to clean air and water, food insecurity, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care in rural communities.