Melissa obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana in Accra-Ghana, completed an International Master’s Degree in Child Development at the University of Haifa, Israel, and completed my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. In August 2021, Melissa joined King’s College London. She has a growing expertise in using culturally appropriate qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research strategies to unearth factors influencing child developmental trajectories in varied geographical contexts. Melissa has taught courses in Developmental Psychology as an adjunct faculty in the Developmental Psychology department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She also worked as a postdoc in the Department of Counseling and Special Education at VCU.

Research Interests

Melissa's research focuses on parenting and other contextual factors that impact children's developmental trajectories, particularly children with developmental disabilities such as autism and intellectual disabilities. Melissa uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore these factors among families in global contexts. However, she specializes in working with African families. 

• Developmental disabilities such as autism and intellectual disabilities
• Child development in African contexts
• Parenting factors influencing child cognitive and socio-emotional development
• School-based factors influencing child cognitive and socio-emotional development

Expertise and Public Engagement 

Melissa serves as a reviewer for the following peer-review journals:

• School Mental Health
• Journal of Child and Family Studies
• American Educational Research Association