Melissa Brandon is a PhD candidate in the department of Journalism and Media Communication (JMC) at Colorado State University. She anticipates graduating in 2023.  Melissa focuses her research on political communication, media effects, and the representation of women in the media.  She also serves as a public relations lecturer at North Carolina State University and is the faculty advisor to the student chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Melissa holds a master's degree from the University of Denver, and undergraduate degrees from Colorado State University.  Prior to her time at JMC, Melissa worked in television news as a producer in Colorado Springs and Denver. She also created and executive produced an award-winning, weekly national television show which focused on telling the stories of America's farmers and ranchers. Most recently, Melissa served as a corporate communications director for a Fortune 500 company where she led a multi-media public relations campaign.

Melissa also is a published children's book author and lives in North Carolina with her young family.