Dr. Melissa M. Nelson, a Sigma7/RSM School Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert since 2023, has spent 30+ years developing a wealth of experience and expertise where education mental health, and legal systems intersect. This is the source of her deep passion for serving educational leaders, teachers, families, and communities who care for children with the most complex emotional, behavioral, and cognitive needs.

Prior to her work in education, Dr. Nelson spent over a decade as a mental health clinician, teacher-counselor, and advocate in various psychiatric, mental health, and legal settings. These settings in Pittsburgh, PA, included Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic’s Emergency Room, the Allegheny County Emergency Services Mobile Crisis Unit, the Center for Victims of Violent Crime, and the Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf.