Melanie Elliott is a UNC-Chapel Hill graduated. Her academic focus was the physics of renewable energy systems, and her research involved a case study on the use of energy storage for the electrical grid in North Carolina. Her paper (currently under review) explores the potential grid stability and consequent greenhouse gas emissions reduction resulting from utilizing a fully electrified school bus fleet as energy storage.

She now works as the sustainability analyst for Sustainable Carolina where her professional focus is data analysis for sustainable systems on campus. She is also involved in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within UNC Institute for the Environment.