Melissa is a behavioral nutrition scientist, and her research examines systems approaches to modify food behaviors to improve nutrition security and planetary health, particularly among populations with socioeconomic disadvantage. She is a registered dietitian and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Co-Director of the USDA-funded Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction. She received her PhD in Public Health from New York University. Her past experiences include managing a school-based obesity prevention program across seven elementary schools and working as a clinical dietitian. Dr. Prescott serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior and is a past chair of the Academy’s Council on Future Practice.