Dr. Melissia (Mel) Wood is a workplace mental health strategist, speaker-trainer, author, and founder of The Hope Alliance, LLC. She leads an international consulting and training organization that implements mental health and trauma-informed strategies and research to customize professional development, mental well-being and safety programs. Mel and her team work directly with employers, faith-based organizations, higher education institutions, K-12 districts, and professional organizations. Her team helps leaders effectively address mental health safety in order to eliminate stigma, develop mentally resilient employees,  and reduce the risk of mental health crisis events and suicide. In addition to the USA, The Hope Alliance has worked with audiences in Africa, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Mel has developed and facilitated numerous trainings, workshops, and presentations on mental health, suicide prevention, on Title IX compliance (sexual assault/domestic violence), and trauma-informed topics for state government agencies, organizations in the private sector, and for faith-based organizations. She has trained, spoken to, and empowered hundreds of individuals, including Executive Leadership, faculty, staff, students, clergy, and community leaders. 

Professional certifications include being a National Mental Health First Aid Trainer through the National Council for Behavioral Health, Certified Title IX Civil Rights Investigator through the Association of Title IX Administrators, Suicide Prevention Specialist from the American Association of Suicidology, and REVIVE Opioid Overdose Prevention Trainer through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Mel also is committed to serving her community. For almost ten years, she served on the Board of Directors for the Southside Center for Violence Prevention (SCVP), an organization that provides free, confidential, and comprehensive services to those affected by sexual and domestic violence. Her most recent appointment was as President of the Board. 

Mel received a Doctoral degree in Education and Leadership in Healthcare  from Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha, NE. She also received a Master’s degree  in Counseling at Virginia State University and an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) from Nova Southeastern University. She received her Trauma and Resilience Professional Certification from Florida State University. Mel also has completed additional coursework at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.