Melanie grew up on the California coast, where she earned her master’s degree in English from the University of California, San Diego. She developed an incredible love for the Colorado Plateau after marrying a Utahn, and moved there in 2013 to raise their children. Melanie has been a resource development professional for more than a decade, and is thrilled to be using her professional skills to protect the wild spaces that are so important to her family. In her free time, she can be found rock climbing, camping, and exploring the plateau with her husband, Jed, and their two young sons. She joined the Trust as the grants manager and editor in 2019.