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Melissa Hauschild-Mork has been teaching in higher education for 27 years; she is the only dance faculty at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University. Mork coordinates the dance minor curriculum, teaches all the dance requirements in the minor, directs two university/partnership dance companies and acts as the resident choreographer for State University Theatre and Prairie Repertory Theatre.

Melissa has studied with a plethora of somatic-based dancers and educators over the years, received her graduate degree under the tutelage of William Evans at Indiana University, holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã and is certified in Evans Contemporary Technique. She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization and Dance 2050. Her creative and qualitative research interests have been awarded through a variety of university and regional grant funding and focus on the effects of engagement experience in somatic-based dance environments on student development and learning. Mork presents regularly at regional, national and international conferences.

Over the years, the ‘art and science’ of teaching has been a major focus. She has been recognized as South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Outstanding Dance Educator, Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Artist for the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as awarded several university teaching awards. Her goal as a dance educator is to nurture young dancers in an anatomically and biomechanically sound environment while promoting harmonious intellectual, somatic, emotional, social, spiritual and artistic growth.