Melissa Medina is a candidate for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art at California State University San Bernardino where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education/Art Therapy in 2019. 

Melissa has a strong background in teaching and mentoring students of all ages ranging from K-12 to undergraduate students at the university level. Melissa’s primary role in employment opportunities have relied heavily on serving as a mentor and role model. Through these experiences, she has worked to draft art lessons that focus on fundamental concepts in art, as well as encourage students to develop essential social skills. Her passion for serving as a mentor has led to her inclination to pursue career opportunities relating to community-based work that support and promote current and future generations. 

Through her artwork, she aspires to communicate a plethora of emotional states with a variety of spectators by illustrating the duality of several concepts as they are displayed together. The portion of her work that reflects these concepts feature nameless figures she's created, which draw from a combination of personal taste and experience.