Laurie Melnik
B.A. in English with speech minor – Webster University, St. Louis, MO
MFA in theatre emphasizing theatre for young audiences – University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Prior to joining SCEA, Laurie taught theatre at Grain Valley High School in Grain Valley, Missouri. She has been very active in the St. Louis arts community as an adjunct faculty member at Webster University; a teaching artist for Metro Theatre Company working with Interchange, their arts integration collaborative; and an education associate and teaching artist at STAGES.
She was an Arts Bridge Scholar, guest instructor, and graduate assistant at the University of Central Florida. Laurie also worked as a teaching artist and facilitated professional development workshops for the Orlando Repertory Theatre.
As a community arts training fellow at the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, she engaged in dialogue and research on ways the arts can partner with social service providers and play an active role in community arts partnerships. In her role as teaching artist, she has engaged with diverse populations of young people with special needs. Laurie is a playwright and delights in fostering students’ writing abilities.
