Melissa Navia is a writer, editor, and actor.

 

She graduated summa cum laude from New York Institue of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts in English. During her college years, she won numerous writing and academic accolades, along with two national business awards, earned her technical writing certificate, and acted in the theatre program. She was also editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper.

 

Melissa has been writing and editing professionally for the past four years in the fields of magazine journalism, creative writing, ghostwriting, and copywriting. The subject matter of her writing varies widely, depending on what the assignment calls for, including design, fashion, wellness, martial arts, extreme sports, cuisine, history, architecture, medicine, and high-profile interviews with the likes of Tim Gunn, designer Arik Levy, and Roman Prokes, tennis stringer to the stars. She is currently working on a children's literature novel and collaborating on multiple projects with acclaimed medical professionals.

 

In addition, she is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Vigilant Monkey, a news and culture online magazine. Departments include: News & Things, Culture Shock, Entertainment, Society Rising, Mind-Body-Soul, Gears & Gadgets, The Blog Hole, and Comic Corner.

 

Based in NYC, Melissa is also an experienced actor with film and theatre credits. First introduced to the stage at the age of 10, she studied musical theatre in high school and went on to perform in college productions. Although Melissa can still be seen on stage, she has set her sights on film and television. For the past year, she has been training exclusively with on-camera acting teachers and casting directors.

 

Melissa is also completing a master's degree in film studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her thesis focuses on the portrayal and importance of children in the images, propaganda, and films of the Spanish Civil War. As for extracurricular activities, she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, studying kung fu, filming, taking pictures of practically everything, and competing in endurance events and adventure races.

 

Passionate about all things creative and fiercely dedicated to her work, Melissa is seldom at a loss for something to do.

 

And if she has her way, that's just how it will stay.