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Meet Our Team

Meet the Minds, Hearts and Dedication Behind the Mission

Meet Our Founder

Melissa is a heart-led pioneer transforming how autistic, nonspeaking, and neuro-different people are seen and supported. Her work blends science and soul with bold, relationship-first care. She is helping to create ripples of change — especially for people often underestimated by traditional systems.

 

For over 20 years, Melissa has worked in schools, homes, and therapy settings, developing a deeply respectful, individualized approach to support that makes a real difference. She helps people build fuller lives and unlock possibilities of connection, expression and purpose.

 

At the heart of her work is the Rhythm System™, a whole-person scientifically integrated framework that uses a trauma-informed and  connection-based lens for autistic and nonspeaking people to build more balance and fulfillment. Using the principle of "inside - out understanding", It shows how our movements, expression and experiences are fluid, not fixed - they are continuously created as the rhythms of our nervous system interact with the external world.​​​​​​​ with Rhythm System™ as its foundation, Minds Unstuck guides clients toward greater communication, stronger relationships, and a more meaningful, purposeful life.​

"With the insight and partnership of countless non speakers, we want to help transform how the world understands people who communicate differently. My hope and goal is that Minds Unstuck can act as a bridge - from one person, and one possibility, to another." - MK

Education

2010

Applied Psychology, B.S.
Concentration in Autism Studies
American Sign Language (minor)

Vanderbilt University / New York University

Graduated with a B.S. in Applied Psychology from Vanderbilt University and New York University in 2010, featuring a concentration in Autism Studies and a minor in American Sign Language. This foundational education combined deep academic coursework in developmental psychology with concurrent, direct fieldwork supporting autistic individuals, establishing a strong practical and communicative framework early on.

2011

New York City Teaching Fellows

In 2011, selected for the competitive New York City Teaching Fellows program. This path involved intensive, fast-tracked preparation that granted immediate placement in a self-contained autism classroom, providing rigorous, hands-on experience delivering specialized instruction and classroom leadership in a high-need urban setting.

2013

Special Education for Autism, M.S.Ed
Pace University

Earned an M.S.Ed in Special Education for Autism from Pace University in 2013. This advanced degree built directly upon classroom experience, deep-diving into specialized behavior interventions, evidence-based practices, and advanced instructional design tailored to autistic learners.

2016

Applied Behavior Analysis
Post Graduate Certification (BCBA)
Penn State University

Completed a Post-Graduate Certification in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University in 2016, leading to Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credentialing. This specialized training focused on advanced behavioral assessment, function-based intervention design, and the ethical application of behavior analysis across diverse clinical or educational settings.

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