Melissa graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's in Music Education and is currently a high school band director in Frisco, TX. During her time at UNT, Melissa was an outspoken advocate for student musician health – particularly those involved with marching band in the public schools and college settings.

Realizing that this constituency is grossly under-represented and underserved in the performing arts medicine literature, Melissa decided to undertake a large-scale study as an undergraduate researcher.  Throughout her tenure as an undergraduate student, she pursued this idea with passion, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude.

With the guidance of Dr. Chesky, she completed all phases of an epidemiologic study of the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band – one of the most prestigious college marching groups in the nation.  Now published in the Medical Problems for Performing Artists journal, Ms. Hatheway’s research data represents the first to examine injuries presented in collegiate marching band as well as to differentiate these concerns across instrument types and major. Other researchers are now following her lead.

Ms. Hatheway won several UNT financial awards that helped fund presentations at the annual meetings of PAMA in 2012, 2013, and 2014 and the Texas Music Educators Association convention in 2013.

PAMA recognized Melissa through the Alice G. Brandfonbrenner Young Investigator Award in 2013 – an international award usually given to a student researcher pursing a doctoral degree in a health science discipline.  Melissa continues to work on research projects related to the marching arts and wellness education within the field of music education.

Publications

Hatheway M, Chesky K. Epidemiology of Health Concerns Among Collegiate Student Musicians Participating in Marching Band. Medical Problems of Performing Artists 2013 28(4): 242-251.