East Tennessee is entering a once-in-a-generation period of rapid growth.

For more than 27 years, Melissa Browder has worked at the intersection of workforce education, economic opportunity, and community development—helping workers develop skills, helping employers find talent, and helping communities prepare for growth.

That experience is why she is running for Tennessee House District 32.

Raised in rural East Tennessee in a hardworking Appalachian family, Melissa learned early the values of faith, service, personal responsibility, and the importance of hard work and education.

She is the daughter of a disabled D-Day veteran and the youngest of five first-generation college graduates.

After earning degrees from the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech University, Melissa dedicated her career to workforce education, economic opportunity, and career training. She served in leadership roles with Roane State Community College, the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Throughout her career, Melissa has built partnerships between educators, workforce leaders, businesses, local governments, and state agencies to cultivate opportunity and solve problems.

Melissa and her husband David have been married for more than three decades. David served as President of TCAT, and their son Matthew is an Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Today, Melissa is running for State Representative because she believes East Tennessee needs leadership with the right experience to ensure that growth becomes a blessing—not a burden—by protecting our heritage, preparing for the future, and getting growth right.