people

Melissa K Ricks

Senior Research Aide

Melissa Ricks is a senior research aide for study on the Development and Prevention of Substance Abuse Problems, a project incorporating data gathered from participants of the Fast Track project and Child Development Project.

While initially intending to pursue a vocation in law, Ricks’ career goals changed after volunteering as a reading partner with children who struggled with learning and reading disabilities at Estes Hills Elementary school. This spurred a desire to pursue a career path that would allow her to combine her interest in utilizing policy implementation in an effort to help and improve the wellbeing of at-risk children.

Ricks was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English.