Melissa Palmer

Melissa's credentials include a bachelor's degree from Scripps College, a master's in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University — which informs everything about how she listens to and works with teenagers and their families — and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, where she also served as an application reader for three years. She was a member of the University of Chicago's Counselor Advisory Board from its inception until 2025. As the parent of two recent college graduates, she understands firsthand the complicated, emotional, and ultimately rewarding role parents can play in this process.

When she's not helping a student find their voice — or asking them to explain the latest viral TikTok — Melissa enjoys cooking and entertaining, needlework, reading, and skiing and hiking in the mountains of Northern California and Alberta, Canada.