“My hope is to be that support and sounding board for my clients as well and to provide them with a safe space to share and to allow for self-care.”

Melissa Bradley is a loving mother of three earning her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2012, Melissa graduated from U-M with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and upon graduation, she served in two AmeriCorps programs in Detroit, City Year and Teach for America. She then taught as a classroom teacher and academic interventionist in Detroit for seven years. Melissa was beloved by her students and colleagues, as a supervisor writes, “Melissa exemplifies a commitment to lifelong learning, equity, justice, and empathy.” 

In 2019, Melissa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At the time, she and her husband were trying to start a family, and Melissa struggled deeply with the worry that she wouldn’t be able to conceive or carry a child. She continued to work throughout her chemotherapy treatment and completed several rounds of egg retrievals with the hope that she might become pregnant someday. In 2020, she was found to have no evidence of disease and, in the summer, completed a successful round of in vitro fertilization. She is now the mother of two twin boys and a newborn daughter.

Melissa credits her persistence during this difficult time to a therapist who lent her an empathic ear. That experience inspired Melissa to leave teaching and return to school to earn her MSW. Melissa intends to provide therapy to clients struggling with infertility and those who are pursuing fertility interventions. About her dreams, Melissa writes, “My hope is to be that support and sounding board for my clients as well and to provide them with a safe space to share and to allow for self-care.” She advocates for open, honest discussions of fertility and hopes that the topic will one day no longer be taboo. 

CEW+ celebrates Melissa’s vision and names her a Joan P. Ireland Scholar.