Melissa Fleetwood, MA, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Adjunct Professor in the Communication Studies Department at Mendocino College. She earned a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences, and completed her Didactic Program in Dietetics, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and has been teaching in higher education since 2017.

 

Melissa’s academic and professional interests center on the role of food and nutrition in everyday life, including their societal, cultural, and individual health impacts. Her graduate work focused on communicating nutrition principles to the public, examining societal perceptions of health, and exploring food and culture as a means of fostering connection and overall wellbeing. She brings a strong commitment to education, advocacy, and student empowerment, blending public speaking expertise, a public health perspective, and culturally responsive teaching practices to support meaningful and inclusive learning experiences.