Mel exudes a passion for serving Alaskans through partnerships and programs that strengthen and build youth, family and community resilience. She has been with Camp Fire Alaska since 2011 in various roles, bringing with her almost two decades of leadership experience ranging from outdoor education and recreation, childcare, summer camps, and community-based programs. She has spent over a decade working in partnership with indigenous partners in Alaska to develop and deliver culturally relevant youth and intergenerational programs in remote Alaska Native communities. Mel was born and raised on a small family farm in Ohio and holds her B.A. in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University with a minor in Anthropology. As someone who approaches her work from a people-first lens, it brings joy to share her love of gardening, bee-keeping, hiking, camping, fishing, harvesting wild edibles, crafting, and spending time with her husband and two huskies outdoors in Alaska.
