Melissa Pence is a program support coordinator for the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory. She joined S&T in March 2023.

Can you share your professional background?  
I have worked at the university since March 2023. I currently work at the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory as the project coordinator. I used to work for the undergraduate admissions team as their business support specialist. Prior to that, I worked at the newspaper for 12 years doing nearly every job at one point or another. I drew the line at news articles. I attended Drury University to study business administration and ended up with enough credits for criminal justice and sociology degrees, too. 

What do you most enjoy about working at Missouri S&T? 
I enjoy working at a place where everyone is always willing to help. I’ve never worked with so many helpful people. I’ve never been made to feel like my question was dumb or annoying, and needing help with something is always met with friendliness and a true desire to help.

What advice would you have for a new staff member? 
Take all the trainings and classes offered even if they don’t pertain to things you currently do. They may help in the future.

What is something people may be surprised to learn about you? 
My favorite people are my 3-year-old granddaughter and 1-year-old grandson. They hang out with MiMi nearly every weekend. 

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? 
I’d like to be able to find lost things. This would be very helpful to find all the things my kids stuff in places never to be found again, and I could also use it to find lost people and treasure.

More about Melissa
Position title: Program/Project Support Coordinator II
Years of service at S&T: 2.5 years
Hometown: I grew up in St. Louis, but have lived in the Rolla area most of my adult life.
Favorite food: Mexican, every meal, every day makes me happy
Favorite book: Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It is a retelling of the King Arthur legend from the female perspective.

About Q&A with CEC
Staff members in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) have great stories and deserve to be highlighted. This feature is one way to recognize them.