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Melissa L. Pope joined the Triangle Foundation in October of 2006 as the first Director of Victim Services. Prior to this, Melissa served as the Staff Attorney at the Women’s Survival Center of Oakland, representing survivors of domestic violence who otherwise could not afford an attorney.
Melissa was born and raised in Detroit. Politically active from a young age, Melissa became involved with organizations dedicated to diversity and social justice while a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In addition to holding leadership roles in Native American and multicultural organizations, Melissa was a Congressional intern for two summers in Washington, DC. Melissa also helped organize the Annual Ann Arbor Pow Wow, and she remains active with the Pow Wow today. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Literature, Science and the Arts, Melissa began working at the University of Michigan as the Multicultural Program Associate at the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, where she was instrumental in providing campus-wide multicultural programming. Melissa also taught courses through the Intergroup Relations and Conflict Program at the University. Melissa is probably best known for filing a successful racial harassment complaint against a University organization that misappropriated Native American culture, religion and tradition.
Melissa attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. While pursuing her law degree, she interned at the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs, worked for the Michigan House of Representatives and was a founding member of the Native American Law Students Association. After graduating with and passing the Bar Exam, Melissa served first as the Assistant Director and Diversity Coordinator for Admissions at Cooley and then as the Deputy Director of Cooley’s Rochester Campus. Throughout her time at Cooley, she taught Federal Indian Law and Introduction to Law courses. Melissa hosted the first program in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., successfully lobbying for the suspension of classes on the federal holiday and meaningful diversity programming throughout the day. While on the Rochester campus, Melissa became involved with S.A.F.E., a program for LGBT students, faculty and staff at Oakland University, including serving on the Board.
Melissa is active with the State Bar of Michigan and has served in all leadership capacities of the American Indian Law Section. She continues to be active in the effort to eliminate all Indian sport team names and logos. Melissa also serves on the Executive Board of the Hazel Park Band Boosters, where she and her husband are actively involved with their son’s Instrumental Music program.
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