Melissa serves as Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics at Houston Baptist University, where she has been on the faculty since 2013. She is the author of Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God (2018), a contributing author of the forthcoming book, The Story of the Cosmos: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (2019), and the author of the Young Defenders 4-book series: How Do We Know God is Really There? (Apologia Press, 2013), How Do We Know God Created Life? (2014), How Do We Know Jesus is Alive? (2015), and How Do We Know Right from Wrong? (2016). She is a contributing writer for Christian Research Journal and has written for the CT Women column on the Christianity Today website.
Melissa is a PhD candidate at Faulkner University (defending April 2019), where her dissertation research focused on the natural philosophy and natural theology of Johannes Kepler. She earned the Master of Arts in Science and Religion from Biola University in 2012, graduating with Highest Honors. She is certified in Christian apologetics by Biola and holds a Bachelor of Science in general biology from Campbell University.
Melissa was feature d, alongside her colleagues, in the April 2015 cover story of Christianity Today magazine, “The Unexpected Defenders,” and solo for the April 2015 Her.meneutics piece entitled, “The Apologist Mom.” Previously, she has been interviewed live on American Family Radio and various other apologetics radio programs.
Melissa worked as a bench scientist in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical research for five years after obtaining her undergraduate degree, and has spent more than a decade exploring the science, theology, and philosophy related to the origins debate.
Due to her teaching and study schedule, Melissa currently accepts a very limited number of speaking invitations each year. For inquiries, please use the contact form on this site.