Publications

Creative & Career Highlights

It’s been an honor to pursue so many opportunities in writing, speaking and leadership, both in the Aurora Chasing community and in other circles. These are a few highlights of my creative work, which include leading a tour of Iceland and the Northern Lights for the University of Michigan!

Books & Anthologies

Published Photographer & Aurora Chaser

Read my work in the media

Literary Journals & Chapbooks

Social Media Influencer

  • Founder of Michigan Aurora Chasers, Est. January 20, 2021
  • NASA Social Media Ambassador, Solar Orbiter Launch, February 2020
  • Social Media Forum Host, Various Nonprofits, 2012-2021
  • Museum Instameet Host, Minnesota Historical Society, 2015
  • Social Media Panelist, Minnesota State Government Symposium, 2015
  • Mall of America Tweet Up Host, St. Catherine University Shout Out Event, 2013

Magazines & Nonfiction

  • Amateur Astronomy Magazine, 2023: “Making the Dream A Reality”
  • University of Michigan News Contributor, 2022 – Present
  • Interlochen Center for the Arts, 2021
  • Area Voices: Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone, 2020
  • MSU Today Contributor, 2019 – 2021
  • ComArtSci Today, 2018 – 2021
  • Minnesota Monthly, Cover Story, 2016
  • City Pages, 2013 – 2016
  • Scene in the West Metro, 2016
  • Minnesota Historical Society Magazine, 2015
  • Mitchell on Law, William Mitchell College of Law, 2014 – 2015
  • SCAN: St. Catherine University Magazine, 2011 – 2013
  • Portraits Magazine, 2008 – 2011

Public Speaking & Presentations

  • Keynote Speaker: Astronomy at the Beach, Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs, Friday and Saturday, September 20-21, 2024, Maybury State Park, Northville, Michigan
  • Longway Planetarium, First Fridays: Celebrating the Art, Culture, History and Science of the Aurora | August 2, 2024, Flint, Michigan
  • Michiana Astronomical Society Star Party: 50th Anniversary, 11:00am, Saturday, May 4, 2024 | May 3-5, 2024, Dr. TK Lawless International Dark Sky Park, Vandalia, Michigan
  • 2nd Annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival, Embrace the Darkness: The Majesty of Aurora, STEVE & the Milky Way in Dark Skies, April 11-13, 2024, Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park, Copper Harbor, Michigan
  • Solar Outdoors Club, 7pm, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, St. Paul’s Community Center, Livonia, Michigan
  • National Parks at Night, Guest Speaker, February 2024
  • Chasing the Aurora, Crystal Beech Cottages Association, 7:00 PM, Saturday, August 12, 2023, Private Event near Frankfort, Michigan
  • Northern Lights: A Weekend Celebration of this Celestial Wonder, Hessel School House, Hessel, Michigan, September 9, 2023
  • 1st Annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival, Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park, Copper Harbor, Michigan | 2:00pm, Saturday, April 22, 2023
  • Pay It Forward Day, Virtual Writing Seminar Presenter, 2022
  • A Fool Proof Formula: Catch the Northern Lights, Aurora Summit, 2021
  • Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Wharton Wednesdays, 2021
  • Aurora Folklore & Mythology, Aurora Summit, Presenter, 2017, 2019, 2021
  • Inkwell Poetry Reading Series, Featured Author, 2019
  • Fiction 440 performance, East Lansing Art Festival Main Stage,, 2019
  • Careers in Journalism, Media & Writing, Various Colleges & Clubs, 2013 – 2019
  • Minnesota Congressional Race, Political Debate Moderator, 2016
  • Great Lakes Aurora Hunters Gathering, Presenter 2015 – 2016
  • BrandLab Youth Field Trip, Guest Speaker, 2015

Speaking Invitations to Library & Park Systems

  • Bay County Library, 6:30pm, Wednesday, April 17, 2024
  • Otsego County Library, Gaylord, Michigan, 6-7pm, Tuesday, February 13, 2024
  • Judy & Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 7:30pm, Friday, January 19, 2024
  • Westland Public Library, 7-8:30pm, January 4, 2024
  • Glen Arbor Arts Center, 7pm, Thursday, November 9, 2023
  • Oxford Township Parks and Recreation, Michigan | 7-8:30pm, Thursday, May 25, 2023
  • Ann Arbor District Library, Westgate Branch | May 11, 2023, 6:30-7:30pm
  • The Katydid, Petoskey, Michigan | Saturday, March 18th, from 5PM – 7PM
  • Gary Byker Memorial Library of Hudsonville | 6:30pm, Thursday, September 7, 2023
  • Leland Township Public Library, Leland, Michigan | Saturday, February 11, 1:00pm

Open Mic & Fiction Performances

  • REO Town Reading Series, Author Reading
    — May 30, 2019: Volume 13 | Presenting “Look Up”
    — Feb. 27, 2020: Volume 16 | Presenting “BlackJack & The Dawn of Dark Pollution”
    — Jan. 21, 2021: Fireside Chat 9 | Presenting Poetry & A Novel Excerpt, “Aurora Chasing on the Escarpment”
  • Fiction 440, Various Performances
    — May 18, 2019: #54 Winsome, Whale, Wonder
    — Sept. 24, 2019: #56 Starlight, Exhausted, Price
    — Jan. 7, 2020: #58 Hazard, Bounce, Tonic
    — Mar. 11, 2020: #60 Conquest, Sushi, Lure
    — Oct. 20, 2020: #62 Fall, Fire, Fanciful
    — June 2021: #63 Finally, Yawning, Zip,
  • — January 2022: #67 Duplex, Jumble, Nuisance
  • — June 2022: #70 Willing, Filling, Grave
  • The Poetry Room, Various Performances
    — Aug. 13, 2019: Season Three
    — Nov. 11, 2019: Survivor Series
    — Dec. 7, 2019: Promise
    — Jan. 14, 2020: Dirty Laundry
    — Mar. 10, 2020: Recovery Room
    — Apr. 10, 2020: Last Words

Honors & Awards

  • ADDY Awards in Mid-Michigan, Bronze in Online/Interactive Digital Communications, ComArtSci Today, 2020
  • Outstanding Performance Award, Carnegie Leadership Institute, 2018
  • Medallion Awards, 2nd Place Best College Newsletter, 2017
  • City Pages, Best of the Arts Blog, 2013
  • Capture Minnesota, Photo of the Day, 2013
  • Loft Literary Center, Short Poem Award, 2011
  • Minnesota Newspaper Association, 2nd Place Social Issues Reporting, 2010

Newspaper Writing

With years of experience in journalism, Melissa has written hundreds of articles and feature stories for community newspapers. Selected publications include:

  • The Associated Press
  • Sun Newspapers
  • Carver County News
  • Owatonna People’s Press
  • Waseca County News
  • The Madison Press

Art Exhibits

  • Still Point X, Online Exhibition for Still Point Art Gallery, 2018
    — Painting selected for publication in Still Point Arts Quarterly literary journal
  • Art: Diverse Perspectives Through Local Eyes, Art Works Eagan, 2017
  • Wintry Art Exhibit, Eagan Dunn Bros., 2015
  • Art-A-Whirl, Northrup King Building Open Studio Tour, 2014
  • First Thursdays in the Arts District, Exhibiting Artist, 2014
  • Thirty Years of Hope, Cargill Gallery, Minneapolis Central Library, 2013. A joint effort by Altered Esthetics and Hennepin County Library, for the MN AIDS Project.
  • Summer Art Exhibit, Apple Valley Dunn Bros., 2013
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