After years in scientific laboratories and corporate environments, Melissa came to recognize the profound healing and life-changing potential of working responsibly with psychedelics and plant medicine. In 2015, she made the intentional decision to leave Corporate America and relocate to the Amazon jungle, where she could live and work more closely with this path. Drawing on her background in engineering, science, and management, she has helped support the growth of the plant medicine and psychedelic movements—first as Operations Manager at a highly regarded ayahuasca center in Peru, then as Director of Business Development, and now as Founding Partner and COO for Soltara. She is deeply committed to using her technical, organizational, and problem-solving strengths to help bridge Western perspectives with the powerful healing possibilities of plant medicine and holistic health.
Melissa earned a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and has managed a wide range of businesses, from a small café to the logistics department of a large supply company. Her professional background also includes work as a cancer research biologist, which further sparked her interest in the healing potential of ayahuasca and other plant medicines. Today, she has found her calling in supporting people who are seeking healing through traditional plant medicine ceremonies. Her work in this field has included coordinating scientific studies, developing website content and educational resources, helping raise over $12,000 to support solar panel installations for the Amazon village of Libertad, and contributing to the production of a documentary about war veterans with PTSD and their healing journey with ayahuasca. Having lived in both Peru and Costa Rica, she has also deepened her relationship with the plants through several master plant dietas.
Melissa hopes to help each person undertaking such a meaningful and transformative journey feel confident in the process by caring deeply about their well-being, making sure every question is answered, and handling logistics with care so they can feel fully safe and supported. She feels honored to contribute to this project alongside a high-quality team that understands the sacredness and importance of this work. Her values center on authenticity, professionalism, respect for tradition, reciprocity, and exceptional service. These shared principles shape Soltara’s vision, and she is grateful to help create a space that serves as a powerful channel for healing, sustainability, and knowledge—empowering every guest to become a beacon for positive change in the world.