Melissa has been a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation since 2003 and serves on the board of directors and Executive Committee. She is also a member of the Professional Development Committee, the co-chair of the Temple’s Good Neighbors Initiative, and a member of the leadership team of the WHC Hunger Project.  

Melissa is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. With deep experience in emerging markets, Melissa advises clients on cross-border transactions involving complex international trade and policy issues. She is a 1988 graduate of Cornell University and received her law degree in 1991 from Harvard Law School. Melissa serves as a trustee at the Washington International School, where she chairs the Advancement Committee. She has also served as a member of the board of directors and secretary of the Global Fund for Children and as a founding board member and secretary of The Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center.