ABOUT
“A great person to talk and open up to about my struggles. I have developed better coping mechanisms and more of a handle on my emotions with Melissa’s help!”
DR. MELISSA SPELCHEN’S BACKGROUND
Dr. Melissa Spelchen came to the United States from Canada at the age of 17. Her family life in Canada involved various competitive activities, such as volleyball, basketball, track, badminton, figure skating, and music festivals. Tragically, at the age of 14, her twin sisters and granny were involved in a fatal accident, killing one sister and her granny. This caused a significant impact on Dr. Spelchen, and since then, an emphasis on mental health balance throughout her athletic, personal, and professional life. After high school, she pursued a college education in criminal justice with the goal of becoming a criminal profiler.
ATHLETIC & ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. Spelchen has an impressive athletic background, including four years of NAIA volleyball and two years of NAIA fastpitch softball wherein she was inducted into her collegiate athletic hall of fame in 2016. She also has experience in coaching collegiate volleyball and broadcasting high school volleyball. Academically, she holds a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice from Minot State University and a PhD in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota. She has also completed a certificate program in Social Emotional Arts at UCLArts & Healing.
PROFESSIONAL ROLES & CONTRIBUTIONS
Currently, Dr. Spelchen serves as the Healthy Youth Community and Social Service Specialist for the Central Regional Education Association. Her role focuses on various initiatives to support and uplift youth, including suicide prevention, artist residencies, and implementing programs within schools to reduce infractions and referrals. She is dedicated to keeping kids out of the juvenile justice system.
TEACHING & ACADEMIC CAREER
With 18 years of experience as a university professor, Dr. Spelchen has been involved in creating, teaching, and planning undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice. She has also actively participated in student recruitment and served on various collegiate sub-committees. Dr. Spelchen created and has presented innumerable times to young students, “STOP before you Send”, an educational campaign on the consequences of inappropriate messaging and negative use of phones from 2016 - current.
UP YOUR PERFORMANCE INITIATIVE
Following the tragic death of five female collegiate athletes to suicide in 2021, Dr. Spelchen started the 'UP Your Performance' initiative to provide mental strength/performance training and coaching in various areas, including athletics, music, and academics.
“A great person to talk and open up to about my struggles. I have developed better coping mechanisms and more of a handle on my emotions with Melissa’s help!”