Melissa Molloy
Researcher
Herrmann Center for Innovative Catholic Education
Education
Mel earned her bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University where she studied math and physics. She then participated in the Alliance for Catholic Education at Saint Joseph’s University where she began her teaching career and earned a master’s in secondary education. She is now pursuing she Ph.D. in the School of Education at SLU.
Research Interests
Through her work in the PRiME – St. Louis Public Schools partnership, Mel has become interested learning about the effectiveness of research practice partnerships and how they can be replicated in various school settings. Her personal and professional background have also contributed to her interest in strengthening Catholic schools and communities through innovative research and programming. Finally, Mel would be remiss to leave out her passion for all things STEM, especially FIRST Robotics.
Community Work and Service
Mel taught high school mathematics at an urban Catholic school in Philadelphia during her time in ACESJU. Upon moving back to St. Louis, she took a job teaching physics at a private Catholic high school where she also coached the robotics team over the next four years. After pivoting to education research, Mel spent the past two years as a research associate in the PRiME Center where she played a key role in the Center’s research practice partnership with St. Louis Public Schools. In conjunction with the Herrmann Center for Innovative Catholic Education, her work at the PRiME Center will now focus on advancing Catholic education research and providing research and data assistance to Catholic schools and programs.