Melissa A. Walker, Ph.D. is an autistic adult who has worked with grant funded educational programs and talent development. Melissa has presented at international conferences such as TICE; national conferences such as COE; and has been a returning panelist for the US Office of Personnel Mgmt.(OPM) as an expert in the future of leadership. Melissa is the founder and previous Director of the TRIO Training Academy at Penn State University, which provides training and advocacy consulting nationwide.