Melissa Wilhelmi

Affiliation

University of Illinois Chicago

Biography

Melissa Wilhelmi is an elementary bilingual teacher at heart who has built a career around advocating for social justice in a variety of additional roles including immigration attorney, school leader, volunteer, curriculum writer, and consultant in various parts of the country and world. Melissa has extensive language development training with WIDA, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Spanish from Michigan State, where she currently serves on the Alumni Board for the College of Education. In addition, she holds a Juris Doctorate and master’s degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin. Melissa led an exemplary bilingual program with remarkable literacy gains, and has directed highly successful school and district partnerships to ensure engaging experiences and equitable outcomes for all students. Melissa is currently completing a Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she enjoys teaching courses on bilingualism and is continually inspired by the brilliance of her students. Melissa is married to a wonderful teacher, and is mom to one small human and two large fur babies.