Melissa N. Thompson, MSW, LCSW-QS, is a social work educator and behavioral health leader with more than two decades of experience in clinical practice and human services administration. Her areas of expertise include geriatric mental health, grief and bereavement, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, and interdisciplinary behavioral health. She is honored to serve as Senior Instructor and Field Education Director for the BSW Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Her commitment to rigorous and student-centered social work education has been recognized with the 2023–2024 Junior Instructor Teaching Excellence Award from Florida Gulf Coast University.
As Field Education Director, Melissa is committed to preparing BSW students for professional social work practice through meaningful learning experiences and collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations. A graduate of the Colorado State University School of Social Work, she is excited to return to her roots in the Rocky Mountains. Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida and Colorado and a Qualified Supervisor in Florida. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University, where her research focuses on loneliness and culturally responsive social engagement programs for older adults.