​Melissa is an environmental engineer specializing in nature based solutions and adaptation planning for sea level rise. With a background in environmental fluid mechanics and coastal engineering, her main focus is on leveraging research advances to develop elegant, nature-based, and community-empowering adaptation approaches. Her ongoing work focuses on applying nature-based approaches to address vulnerabilities in the California Bay Area.

What is your favorite ESA moment/memory so far?
I had a blast at the ESA holiday party last year! I’ve only been with ESA about a year and a half now, so that was my first chance to hang out with everyone in such a big group setting outside of work.

What does it mean to you to be part of an employee-owned company?

For me, being part of an employee-owned company allows me to feel more empowered through ownership of my work.​

What keeps you coming to work here at ESA every day?

A lot of things in the news can get me down, but the work we do here inspires me to keep showing up.​

What is your hidden or special talent(s)?

I have run track competitively since I was about 13 years old, I competed in college, and I still run track races now! I most recently raced the 1500m at the US Championships in Eugene, OR.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you are out of the office?

I love to spend time with my friends and family. I’m always down to try a new restaurant or to lounge around at a park or at the beach.​

If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?

I would probably read for fun!​

What are three skills that you bring to the ESA team? In other words, what should colleagues know to reach out to you about?

  1. Coastal technical analysis
  2. Matlab models and analysis
  3. Coastal vulnerability for climate change planning

In a nutshell, what kind of work does your team do?

The Northern California EHD coasts & estuaries team works on a variety of projects involving nature-based adaptation solutions, technical analysis and modeling, restoration, and vulnerability assessments in coastal areas.

Melissa and her family sharing a drink in her hometown of Long Beach, CA.