Melissa M. Nelson, EdD
Newport Beach, CA 92663
For over 30 years, Melissa M. Nelson, EdD has worked where K12 education, mental health services, and legal system sectors intersect. Dr. Nelson has served in numerous roles in urban, suburban, and rural education systems including as elementary and special education teacher, and elementary and secondary school administrator.
Prior to her work in education, Dr. Nelson spent over a decade as a mental health clinician, teacher-counselor, and advocate in various psychiatric, mental health, and legal settings. These settings in Pittsburgh included Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic’s Emergency Room, the Allegheny County Emergency Services Mobile Crisis Unit, the Center for Victims of Violent Crime, and the Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf.
In addition to teaching aspiring superintendents doctorate coursework focused on crisis prevention, intervention, response, and recovery systems at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Nelson is a sought after state and national trainer and speaker by K12 leaders. As a seasoned educator who understands the operational realities of working within K12 systems, her ability to relate to school system key stakeholders provides the foundation for the collaborative work necessary to develop Emergency Preparedness Plans, Behavior Threat Assessment and Management Teams, and Suicide Screening Systems in K12 settings.
Dr. Nelson is the K12 schools’ Subject Matter Expert for the Southwestern PA Threat Assessment Hub, a grant-based program supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is honored to be serving on a team of national Subject Matter Experts involved with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program (AEP) which is focused on creating a prevention toolkit for community organizations to address violent extremism. In her daily work, Dr. Nelson is a K12 School Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert for Risk & Strategic Management Consulting Company where she has written and facilitated training, and provided consultation, for thousands of public and private school employees.
Dr. Nelson has been a Forensic Expert with Park Dietz & Associates since July 2024.
- Education & Schools
- School Safety
- School Security
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A:
• Doctor of Education, Administrative & Policy Studies, Educational Leadership – University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
• Administrative Certificate, Principal K-12 – California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA
• Master of Education, Elementary Education/Special Education with Dual Certification with Honors – California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA
• Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction – Gannon University, Erie, PA
• General Certificate, Paralegal Institute, Lambda Epsilon Chi: National Honor Society in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies – Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
• Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies: Child Psychology, Communication Disorders, and Criminal Justice – University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP)
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A:
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leading
Part-Time Instructor
• Competent Management of Student Services, Doctoral Course, School of Education
• School Health, Mental Health, and Safety, Principal Certification Course, School of Education
Guest Lecturer
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Fellows Course on School Consultation, School of Medicine
• Competent Management of Human Resources, Doctoral Course, School of Education
• Competent Management of Student Services, Doctoral Course, School of Education
• Principal Certification Program, Internship Mentor, School of Education
• Public Leadership: School Law, School of Education
• School Health, Mental Health, and Safety, Principal Certification Course, School of Education
New York Medical College, Guest Lecturer
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Fellows Course on School Consultation
Pennsylvania Western University, Adjunct Faculty
• Educational Research and Dissemination: Student Motivation, School of Education
• Introduction to Mental Health Issues in School Aged Children for the Pre- Service Teacher, School of Education
University of Pittsburgh Research Advising, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Member
• “Addressing Anxiety and Depression in the Classroom”
• “Effective Intervention for Subjective Disciplinary Incidents at the Secondary Level”
• “Evaluating an Online Mental Health Literacy Curriculum for K-12 Staff”
• “Helping Educational Leaders Navigate School Safety Resources to Improve Their School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Practices”
• “Improving Mental Health Literacy of High School Educators”
• “Increasing Parent Engagement in the Transition Planning Process for Students with IEPs”
• “Middle School Student Assistance Program Evaluation”
• “Trauma Reactions in Social Work Students: Increasing Awareness of PTSD and Self-Care Through the PTSD Coach Application”
Conference and Professional Development Keynotes and Presentations:
• “Bringing the Two Worlds Together: Schools and Coordinated Specialty Care Programs as Allies for Youth with Psychosis,” 2024, Grand Rounds: Clinical Care in First Episode Psychosis, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland
• “Navigating School Systems for Children with Disabilities,” 2024, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, TiPS Conference
• “School-Based Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management: Missteps and Solutions,” 2023, University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Area School Study
• “Never Worry Alone: School-based Supports for Crisis,” 2023, Green Tree School and Services Conference for Philadelphia Non-public Schools
• “Understanding 504s and IEPS,” 2023, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, TiPS Program
• “Schools: What Do I Need to Know and Understand to Advocate for My Clients?” 2023, UPMC Western Behavioral Health, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services
• “Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Essentials,” Friends of Safe Schools, U.S.A., 2023, School Safety Symposium
• “Grief and Grieving,” Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, 2022, Envision Conference
• “Implementation of the Columbia Suicide Screen in K-12 Schools,” 2023, STAR (Services for Teens at Risk) Annual Conference
• “Implementation of the Columbia Suicide Screen in K-12 Schools,” 2022, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Crisis Management Summit
• “Increasing our Mental Health Literacy,” PA School Counselors Association, 66th Annual Statewide Conference
• “Preventing Peer and Cyber Bullying,” 2022, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Conference on Violence Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery
• “Supporting the Mental Health of our Employees,” 2022, Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities, Annual Conference
• “The Power of Relationships: Changing the Trajectory for Adjudicated Youth,” 2022, Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders, National Conference
School District Professional Development Presentations:
• “Behavioral Health Awareness for Elementary Educators,” Upper St. Clair School District
• “Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Screener Training and Implementation,” Mount Lebanon School District
• “Increasing the Mental Health Literacy of Educators During Recovery Work,” Southcentral PA School Consortium
• “Managing Uncertainty: Strategies for Managing Historic School Reopening Issues During Times of Turmoil and Extreme Uncertainty,” University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Area School Study
• “Mental Health Literacy: Great Understanding = Great Relationships,” Big Spring School District
• “Mental Health Literacy: Words and Relationships Matter,” Forest Hills School District
• “Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Recovery for Students,” Forest Hills School District
• “Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Recovery for Students,” Mount Lebanon School District
• “Supporting Educators and Their Students During a Pandemic,” Norwin School District
• “The Four Rs of Leadership,” New Story Schools
• “Train the Trainers: Trauma-informed Approaches to Education,” University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Area School Study
• “Trauma-Informed Practices Workshop – Connections, Compassion, and Classroom Strategies: Trauma-informed Approaches to Education,” University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Area School Study
- Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: One with PD&A
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: K12 Educator Standard of Care
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: None
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 100%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: None
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: N/A
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: None
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: None
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: Less than 1 year
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Consulting, Reports, Expert Testimony
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: Hourly rates are the same for all activities and are available on request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: Hourly rates are the same for all activities and are available on request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: Hourly rates are the same for all activities and are available on request.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: Hourly rates are the same for all activities and are available on request.
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Travel expenses and other expenses specified in the engagement letter or contract.
Available Upon Request