Jackie Melissas is a member of the art department faculty at the North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka. She majored in painting/printmaking at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has illustrated books, received awards for her art work, received two ceramics fellowships (Skidmore College), and has earned both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees while raising 4 children and working daily in her studio - she has lots of energy!

Her work is in numerous private collections and she has exhibited nationally and internationally (Singapore, Brussels and Iceland).

Melissas is drawn to the sensual nature of clay and fire. This fascination is reflected in the the undulating organic forms expressed in her ceramic work.