Melanie Nelson

Melanie Nelson is an adjunct instructor at the University of New Mexico. She received her
Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Utah University, and performed as a member of the
Utah Shakespearean Festival acting company, then went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts
degree in Acting from Southern Methodist University, where she performed at the Dallas
Theater Center and Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Park, among other venues.

She has just under a decade of University teaching experience and has worked in the
entertainment industry for 20 years and remains an active member of the Screen Actors Guild.
While working for Westminster College and the University of Utah theatre departments, she
taught beginning and advanced acting classes, including techniques for both theatre and film
and television. She also directed a number of productions from classical to contemporary to
musical theatre.

As a professional actor, she’s worked in a wide variety of mediums from stage to television to
voice over. Stage credits include The Beauty Queen of Leenane with Pinnacle Acting Company,
Desire Under the Elms with Sting and Honey Theatre Company and A Christmas Carol with
Dallas Theater Center. Film and television credits include Dying for a Daughter, MacGruber, The
12 Gifts of Christmas, Good Luck Charlie and hosting the Megaplex PreShow for Megaplex
Theaters. She also works as a voice over artist and has voiced dozens of commercials and
videos.

Melanie’s administrative experience includes working as the founder and Co-Artistic Director of
Pinnacle Acting Company, where she has produced nearly 30 plays. She also held the position of
Artistic Director of the Classical Greek Theatre Festival for 6 years – producing a Greek classic
each year.