Meet Melissa
Melissa’s love of Sausalito started early…
when she was voted “class leader” at the Sausalito Nursery School in 1993. She attended Redwood High School, where she was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for the Advancement of Human Rights by the Human Rights Commission. In the years since, her leadership has continued in roles at the Obama White House, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office, UN Environment, UN Women, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ campaign. She was the founder and CEO of Allied for Startups, a worldwide network of advocacy organizations focused on improving the policy environment for startups with active members in over 30 countries.
Melissa was first elected to serve on the city Council in 2020…
and was the youngest ever mayor of Sausalito in 2023. In 2023 she was selected by her peers to serve as President of the Marin County Councilmembers and Mayors Committee, representing 55 elected officials from across the county. She also serves as a commission on the Transportation Authority of Marin board, where she sits on the EV Executive Committee, and serves on the county’s microgrid task force.
Melissa holds a master’s degree in public affairs, cum laude, from Sciences Po in Paris, France and an undergraduate degree in American Studies with honors from UC Berkeley and is currently pursuing a masters in Homeland Security from The Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Melissa lives on the waterfront in Sausalito…
and can often be seen swimming along Bridgeway. She is an accomplished Marathon swimmer who swam the English Channel in 2018. She currently holds the world record for the fastest crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. She uses her swims to fundraise and in 2023 raised over $10,000 to bring back Sausalito’s beloved sea lion sculpture. She is a proud member of the resilient 2020 Sausalito Woman’s Club Jinks Class, The Sausalito Rotary, the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce and the Sausalito Historical Society.
Join Our Team
Melissa has the experience and the drive to make Sausalito better for all.