The Future of Education

Melissa is a first-generation student and current PhD Candidate in Transportation Engineering at UMass Amherst working working in the Human Performance Lab. Her research is focused on better understanding and supporting learners through innovative teaching methods, high-impact practices, and innovative learning tools. She is currently focused on teens with ADHD as they learn to drive, creating a cloud based, e-training program to teach them to better recognize driving hazards on the roadway while incorporating AR, gamification and a uniquely designed approach to support neurodiverse learning needs. She is working to commercialize this research, and incorporate AI/ML models to broaden the application and provide opportunities for more families and teens with ADHD. She has active in committee roles at the Transportation Research Board and professional organizations such as the SWE, WEPAN and her regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. She has served as PI and Co-PI on NSF, State and Foundational grants and actively coaches and mentors students in STEM.