Melissa Rice, Ph.D.

BIOGRAPHY:

Melissa Rice, M.Ed, Ph.D. is a professional public speaker and author to The Worry Shark and The People You Meet in Real Life. Melissa also serves as the Director of Programming for the national non-profit mental health organization, CogWell, which involves training development, event planning, social media marketing, fundraising, website development, and public relations interests. She is the co-founder of the first Suicide Prevention First Responders and Military Personnel Symposium in Philadelphia, which was co-sponsored by the Philadelphia 76ers, the National Fraternal Order of Police, the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, the National Alliance on Mental Health, among other non-profit organizations. Melissa was the keynote speaker at the Tactical Pause Day for over 400 Airmen at Joint Base McGuire. She has also appeared on several radio and television programs including CBS, KYW, the CW, NBC, 9.25 XTU, and Q102.

Courses Taught:

• COM350: Business and Professional Speaking
• COM335: Crisis Communication
• IDM220: Interactive Digital Media
• COM403: Field Experience I
• COM406: Field Experience II and Senior Seminar
• IDM110: Living in the Digital World
• FYS: First Year Seminar
• IDM325: Podcasting and Vodcasting

Research Interests:

Social Media and Mental Health
Interpersonal Communication
Active Listening
Communication in Sports

Rice. M. (2024, December). A Qualitative Analysis Applying Uses and Gratifications Theory to Explore the Types of Spaces within Facebook Post Comments Regarding Mental Illness and Suicide. Scholarly Crossing at Liberty University.

Publications: 

Rice, M., & Halpern, D. (2024, Spring). The Worry Shark. Pegasus Publishing

Rice, M. (2014 & 2024). The People You Meet in Real Life. Brighton Publishing LLC & Kindle Direct

Presentations: 

Rice, M. (2025, January). Listen Up!, An Active Listening Workshop. Philadelphia Fire Department’s Peer Support and EAP Unit, Philadelphia, PA

Rice, M. (2024, September). Mental Health and First Responders. First Responders Symposium of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Rice, M. (2024, September). Listen Up!, An Active Listening Workshop. Philadelphia Police Department’s Peer Support Unit Academy, Philadelphia, PA

Rice, M. (2023, October). The People You Meet in Real Life. Tikvah Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Rice, M. (2023 & 2024) The People You Meet at IU. Immaculata NSO II, Immaculata, PA

Rice, M. (2020). The People You Meet in Real Life. HOPE Rising Mental Health Global Virtual Conference, Australia, USA, England, Japan, & Canada

Rice, M. (2020, September). Opioid Prevention Education Program, Philadelphia, PA.

Rice, M. (2018 & 2019). Mental Health and the Military. Keynote Speaker for the United States Air Force Tactical Pause Day.