In 2009, Melissa decided to combine her love of fine art and food and enrolled at the esteemed French Culinary Institute to earn a degree in Classic Pastry Arts. With 10+ years of experience; working as a Cake-Froster and Baker at Magnolia Bakery, the Kitchen Manager at a small cake shop in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and is currently the Assistant Decorator at Port Washington’s cherished bakery, Saint Honoré Pastry Shop. Melissa has since been pulled back to her creative roots and went back to school to earn her degree as an Art Educator.

Melissa graduated from CUNY Queens College in June 2022, with a major in Studio Art, Art Education, and a minor in Art History.

Melissa’s goal as an art educator is to foster students’ love for the arts by introducing different art forms (edible and non) and diverse contemporary creatives to highlight the beauty and possibilities that the arts can have.

When Melissa is not immersed in art or pastries, you can find her walking through her local park with her husband and dog, Captain, probably talking their ears off about the current book she is reading or a Law & Order SVU episode.