Dr. Melissa Schmitz is an award-winning educator recognized for increasing academic success and motivating educational change. She has over 25 years of experience as a public and private educator. Receiving a Bachelor’s degree in music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University, Dr. Schmitz is an experienced leader capable of organizational development. Currently, she is the senior educational consultant and owner of WISE HD, a workplace for innovative, sustainable, education and human development.  WISE HD specializes in creativity and innovation skillsets for individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Dr. Schmitz is actively involved in shaping the future of mind, brain, and education science. She is a collaborator with the Freddie Reisman Center for Translational Research in Creativity and Motivation at Drexel University’s School of Education. This program is dedicated to addressing the disconnect between teachers’ knowledge of creative, motivated students and societal beliefs that affect how creativity is stifled rather than nurture in education settings. In addition, she is an Associate Researcher with E-LaBS – an Education, Learning and Brain Research collaborative at Drexel University’s School of Education. Dr. Schmitz also serves as the Director of Communications for the Global Creativity Initiative (GCI) an emerging international organization whose purpose is to seek, archive, celebrate, and share global examples of creativity, related research, innovations, and their motivations.