Melissa Gonzalez joined HDF in 2021 as a Family College Prep Advisor. As a first-generation college graduate and Kansas City Kansas Public School graduate, she relates to the uncertainties that many students and families face when it comes to the college process. Melissa supports students and their families at two KCK high schools – Bishop Ward High School and Wyandotte High School. Melissa earned her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts at Johnson County Community College and her bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Printmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute. Outside of HDF, Melissa is a visual artist that continues to be part of the art community, exhibiting her work in local galleries and collaborating with other artists.