Melanie is an English Professor at Ohlone College in Fremont and a wellness champion in her school community. She has a B.A. in English Literature from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in English TESOL from CSU East Bay. She received her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification in the fall of 2018 through Breathe for Change, a specialized program for educators that also provides training in social-emotional learning (SEL) practices and facilitation. Melanie works closely with Latino students at Ohlone and is the Co-Coordinator of the Puente Project, a learning community that provides immense support for under-represented students, so they can attain academic success, transfer to a four-year university, and return as mentors in their communities. She strives to help her students and fellow colleagues decrease their anxiety and stress levels and to improve their overall well-being through the transformative power of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. She facilitates wellness workshops to students and educators in her school community and incorporates SEL practices into her classes. Melanie also teaches a free biweekly yoga class for all Ohlone students, faculty, and staff. She loves to travel, read, learn new languages, and spend time with her two children.