is a journalist and filmmaker based in Oakland, California, that tells visual stories centering communities whose lived experiences have historically been misrepresented and underrepresented in media. Born in Peru and having lived in the Bay Area for most of her life, Melissa’s unique background enriches her approach to storytelling.

Her dedication to inclusive and impactful journalism was recognized in 2022 when she was selected as one of eight international recipients of Getty Images’ Annual Inclusion Grant for her short documentary following two men sentenced to life in prison as teens. That same year, her short documentary Tender Exchange was featured at San Francisco’s Annual Latino Film Festival.

Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Video Journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2022 and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UC Berkeley in 2016.