Melissa Lozoya, Academic Advisor

Melissa is delighted to be returning to higher education after spending nearly 20 years in the elementary education setting. A proud first-generation college student, she earned her BA in liberal studies from California State University, Chico before entering her first graduate program in Higher Education Leadership at California State University, Sacramento. The early years of her career were spent as a residence life director on University campuses before starting a family of her own and transitioning to K-12 education. Her second graduate program at the University of the Pacific concluded with a Master’s in Special Education and allowed her to work for the next eight years advocating for students who had specific learning needs. During her career in the classroom, she taught a variety of grade levels from Kindergarten through Graduate level courses. Melissa has a passion for building relationships through prioritizing respect, trust, and open communication. She aims to provide a safe space for students to come explore and discover their path to happiness and success. When not working on campus, Melissa is a supporter of her kids’ extracurricular activities. As time permits, she loves to enjoy local coffee shops, play games with friends and family, be crafty with her sewing and embroidery machines, and adventure in the amazing Idaho outdoors with her husband, two children, and two doodles. If you see Melissa around campus, feel free to stop and introduce yourself…she wholeheartedly believes in being part of a community.