Melissa Owens Kaley

Melissa Owens Kaley is a Professor of Theatre and the Chair of Theatre & Dance at Converse University. As an educator and director, she is dedicated to cultivating a deeply supportive, inclusive studio environment where students can freely explore performance theory, develop their unique artistic voices, and confidently navigate character transformation.

Melissa’s journey with the Michael Chekhov technique began under the mentorship of Mark Monday within the MFA Returning Professional Acting track at Kent State University. Proudly serving as a member of GLMCC's inaugural certification cohort (Mod 1: 2011), she has continuously expanded her expertise within global training networks. Her advanced training includes extensive masterclass collaboration with teachers Joanna Merlin, David Zinder, and Lenard Petit through MICHA (The Michael Chekhov Association), alongside international Chekhov intensives in Canada, London, and Ireland.

Elected to the GLMCC Board of Directors in 2021, and now serving as Board President, Melissa brings a passion for institutional stewardship and creative ensemble-building. She treasures the opportunity to help support and sustain this national training community. In her workshops, she loves equipping performers with psychophysical tools that inspire them to be eternally curious about the interconnections of body and imagination—teaching them how to recognize and manipulate these impulses to profoundly transform themselves, their characters, and their audiences.