Mel was born in Doylestown, PA and was involved in many sports growing up including soccer, volleyball, track and field, and swimming. She decided in high school to focus on soccer and track and eventually went on to college to play soccer on a scholarship to the George Washington University. She was a 4-year starter on defense and was named All-Academic in 2013. She graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science in May 2014. Since graduation, she has been involved in coaching with Just for Kids and started teaching Physical Education at Horace Mann Elementary in Washington, DC in August of 2015. She has enjoyed her last few years working with Just for Kids and hopes to continue to help more kids feel success in sports.