{"id":4831,"date":"2025-11-06T17:46:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T22:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/case\/?p=4831"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:28:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:28:08","slug":"meet-melissa-sreckovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.umflint.edu\/case\/2025\/11\/06\/meet-melissa-sreckovic\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Melissa Sreckovic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Associate Professor of Education<\/em>
Director of the Honors Program<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWhile I was teaching in North Carolina, I had a student named Lucas who was on the spectrum. We had an affinity for each other \u2013 I understood him and he understood me. I quickly realized that I wanted to do more to support Lucas and other autistic individuals. I learned so much from Lucas. He started me on this journey,\u201d shares Melissa Sreckovic, associate professor of education<\/a> and director of the honors program<\/a> at the University of Michigan-Flint. \u201cI got my master’s degree in special education through Michigan State University and then went on to pursue my PhD in special education with a focus on autism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is a world-renowned department, and I had a very supportive experience \u2013 I even had the opportunity to hold professional development classes at Lucas\u2019 school to train those teachers how to work more effectively with students who have autism, which was truly a full circle moment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Clinton Township, Melissa moved to North Carolina shortly after graduating from MSU with a degree in elementary education. \u201cWhen I graduated, Michigan was laying off a lot of teachers. One of my professors told us that if we wanted a job and to keep it, we should head to North Carolina or Arizona, so I did,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI showed up at a job fair at 6 in the morning and I was offered a job on the spot that day! So I told my boyfriend \u2013 now husband \u2013 \u2018hey, I\u2019m moving to North Carolina\u2019 and he came along. I taught 3rd grade for a few years and worked with an incredible group of people. I learned a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Mezibov, Melissa began to explore the intersection of autism and law enforcement, ultimately becoming her primary scholarly focus. \u201cDuring my early years as a professor, I stuck with a broader research agenda, but after receiving tenure, I began focusing more deeply on the intersection of autism and law enforcement, exploring ways to support autistic individuals during police encounters and to prepare officers with strategies and resources that lead to safer, more positive interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing her PhD, Melissa sought to return to Michigan to be closer to her family. She chose to pursue a position at UM-Flint in 2015 because of its balanced atmosphere. \u201cI wanted to work in a space where my family could come first, where I could talk about them and bring them to campus, and involve them in my work. Even though I love research, I thought a teaching institution would be a better long-term fit for me. So I was thrilled when I got the job at UM-Flint because it is the ideal balance between teaching and research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the research projects Melissa is conducting is \u201cOptimizing Police Responses: A Sensory Bag Initiative for Improved Public Safety Interactions with Autistic Individuals,\u201d which was funded by a grant from the Theophilus S. Lynch Fund for the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Performing Arts Faculty. The study involved creating bags containing a variety of tools and resources for officers to use when interacting with individuals on the spectrum. She distributed these bags to agencies throughout Genesee County. \u201cI hope that I can expand this work across the country, to really systematize autism training and tools for law enforcement. Right now, it\u2019s really hit or miss what kind of training they\u2019re receiving, and I\u2019d love to help change that,\u201d she shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
Inclusive Halloween 2024 Volunteers<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Melissa has been integral to the creation of two popular community events at UM-Flint: Officer Friendly Day<\/a> and Inclusive Halloween<\/a>. Both events are designed with individuals on the spectrum in mind, providing opportunities to connect with the broader community in new ways. \u201cInclusive Halloween is so special! To be part of a team that makes an event that is so unique for our community, it really is the highlight of my year,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be possible without all of the volunteers and community members showing up \u2013 we had 460 volunteers this year! \u2013 and it\u2019s so neat to see so many people who are willing to give of their time and resources to bring others joy. You just can\u2019t put a price tag on that! This year\u2019s Inclusive Halloween had a record 1427 attendees, and it was truly inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
Officer Friendly Day 2024 Volunteers<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Officer Friendly Day invites officers from across the area to connect with autistic community members. Also growing each year, the event hosts staged traffic stops, cross-walk guidance, storytelling with a police officer, interactive toys and games, and even virtual reality experiences that allow attendees to practice interactions with law enforcement. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing it for four years now, and it has been such a meaningful experience. I\u2019ve had the chance to meet so many law enforcement officers, connect and hear stories from autistic individuals and their families or caregivers \u2013 it really is impactful and an important event for them each year,\u201d she notes. \u201cCreating opportunities for autistic individuals and law enforcement officers to interact and build mutual understanding can influence how autistic individuals engage in their communities and how officers interact with them during public safety calls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her work on these annual events, Melissa loves working with the faculty, students, and staff at UM-Flint. \u201cIt\u2019s small enough that you can truly get to know your colleagues and your students. It\u2019s really collaborative and I can easily connect with other units to create cross-disciplinary events or research studies,\u201d she shares. \u201cOur students are so special because most of them work really hard to be here, so they really show up. They\u2019re often juggling full-time jobs and families, and they truly want this degree to extend their learning \u2013 it\u2019s awe-inspiring to be part of that journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of these research projects is in partnership with UM-Flint\u2019s Department of Public Safety. \u201cI\u2019m the lead researcher working alongside Chief Ray Hall on the nearly million-dollar MCOLES grant that DPS received <\/a>to implement and examine the efficacy of problem-oriented public safety,\u201d she explains. \u201cAs part of this project, we are working collaboratively with a community in Flint to reduce crime and improve the quality of life. In this community, Dr. Sam Hilbert and I have just started holding a 90-minute drop-in session every Wednesday for youth in the neighborhood. First, we\u2019re inviting them to come play games and hang out with us, and we\u2019ll add more activities as needed in the future. It\u2019s going well so far \u2013 we already have had about 30 kids show up each time, so that\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of her future professional goals, Melissa wants to continue expanding her expertise at the intersection of autism and law enforcement. \u201cI\u2019d love to work with schools to provide more education to autistic individuals \u2013 specifically, what to expect when you engage with law enforcement, what to do if you\u2019re pulled over, and personal safety,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso, crime prevention education \u2013 people with autism can sometimes get involved in crime and not even know that what they\u2019re doing is illegal, and I\u2019d like to help change that. I want to support everyone who is part of these experiences \u2013 autistic individuals, their families or caregivers, their teachers, and law enforcement officers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melissa notes that her time at UM-Flint has enabled her to become deeply involved in the Flint community, which has been highly rewarding. \u201cIt has made me want to be even more service-oriented than I was before. It\u2019s a practice that permeates both my professional and personal lives \u2013 I give back to my community, and we teach our kids how important it is to do so. We\u2019re starting to do different community service events as a family, and that\u2019s wonderful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exciting because now students are starting to approach me about creating inclusive events, and that transfer of knowledge is inspiring,\u201d she explains. \u201cI love that I\u2019ve become someone others turn to when it comes to creating inclusive and accessible spaces. And I\u2019m proud that our students are taking that on, taking it further, and making Flint a more inclusive and welcoming place to live for everyone. I\u2019m excited to see Flint continue to revitalize and grow, and for it to again become a safe community where our kids can run around in the streets, ride their bikes around, play with their neighbors, and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flint Faves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n