Our Team

Melissa Akie Wiley is the only facially disfigured woman to lead local government at an executive level in the United States. After surviving a severe pit bull attack at age 5, Melissa navigated over 30 reconstructive surgeries and relentless experiences of social rejection throughout her childhood. She went on to work for the U.S. Economic Advisor to Northern Ireland, develop and lead Denver Peak Academy (the City and County of Denver’s nationally recognized innovation program), and publish her story in The New York Times. 

She holds a BA in history and sociology from the University of Colorado where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is recognized as a “Top 10 Local Government Influencer” by Engaging Local Government Leaders and won the Colorado City and County Managers Association’s Trailblazer Award for her efforts to lift women in government. In 2025, Melissa founded Forget the Fairytale LLC, an organization with a mission to reduce the burden of social rejection for children with disabilities and disfigurements by creating schools and workplaces where disability is familiar. She leads keynotes and workshops to help audiences transform their toughest story into their greatest chapter and restore human connection.