Melanie LaForce was born in Painesville Ohio and has lived in Chicago, Illinois for 18 years. She is a 10-year senior research scientist at the University of Chicago, and also serves as adjunct faculty at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Melanie holds a PhD in Social Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and a BA from Ohio University. She is a retired skater and current trainer for The Windy City Rollers, and occasionally performs improv comedy at The Second City. Her hobbies include butter and flirting.