Melissa is the Founder and Director of the Museum of Architecture which she started in 2006 to help architects be more entrepreneurial and help the public better engage with architecture. Melissa has created projects such as The Gingerbread City, School for Creative Thinkers, and has initiated innovative programs such as MoA Directors and Associates Club to share best practice in the industry. She has lectured widely on new business strategies for the built environment. She is also the Founder and Director of Nous Collaborative, an agency that specializes in bringing architecture and creative industries together with brands including the Wild Turkey Bourbon, Dove (Unilever), Ocean Spray, and the Delfina Foundation. She has a Masters in Architecture from Pratt Institute and BA from the University of Massachusetts. She was an architectural designer for Zaha Hadid Architects, 2006-2009.