Melissa Swonger is a transformational keynote speaker, author, and Ph.D. candidate in Psychology whose work integrates neuroscience, trauma recovery, leadership development, and spiritual formation.

She is the developer of the Integrative Transformation Blueprint, which utilizes Radical Kindness as a driver, strategically and comprehensively integrating the most fragmented aspects of mind, body, and spirit. As the founder of The Sage Hill Project and co-creator of the Mind-Body-Spirit Transformation Institute, she equips audiences with practical tools to heal, lead, and build intentional communities shaped by both individual and collective transformation.

Standing at the intersection of personal experience, faith, and education, Melissa creates instant connections with her audience and inspires them to overcome adversity as she shares her journey of relearning how to walk after a freak accident that left her confined to a wheelchair for four years, requiring daily physical therapy.

She not only defied the odds of walking without assistance but also learned to run a 5k, then a 10k, and then summited mountains before her second freak accident, where she fell through a “trap door.” Here, she broke her back in two places, had an avulsion fracture in her pelvis, and tore the hamstrings on what used to be her ‘good’ leg.

This second recovery is marked by her writing of her first solo book, Whom He Raised, which was released on February 22, 2026. Blending psychological research, nervous system science, identity formation, and the human search for meaning, Melissa teaches how the mind, body, and spirit operate in a powerful interconnection.

Her work helps people transition from a state of survival to one of purposeful, connected living—strengthening emotional regulation, resilience, and leadership capacity at every level of influence. Regardless of role, leadership begins with self and then creates culture that results in a measurable impact through positive influence rippling outward.

With a style that is both intellectually rich and deeply relatable, she offers frameworks that inspire both personal change and culture-shifting impact. Her audience often comments on how she breaks complex concepts into easily relatable applications. Melissa’s story-driven approach resonates across corporate teams, universities, ministries, women’s leadership spaces, and wellness communities.

She has been featured in eight magazines, appeared on five podcasts, and will soon reach national audiences as the co-host of Mind Shifts: Exploring the Hidden Gems of Neuro, Physical, and Spiritual Sciences, premiering in January 2026.

Her forthcoming books include Whom He Raised, releasing on February 22, 2026, and Radical Kindness: The Driver of the Integrated Transformation Blueprint, arriving in May 2026, with its companion workbook following in June. Her signature topics include overcoming adversity, trauma-informed leadership, organizational and personal resilience, psychological safety, mind-body-spirit integration, the neurobiology of kindness, identity and meaning-making, and the role of intentional community in human flourishing.

Melissa’s work demonstrates how leaders and communities can transform from the inside out—by creating a congruent narrative that aligns internal coherence with external purpose and relational connection. Above all, Melissa is passionate about helping people understand themselves more deeply, challenge themselves to achieve beyond what seems possible, ead with grounded presence, and create environments where others can thrive.

She believes transformation is both personal and communal, and that when individuals heal and step into clarity, they shape cultures capable of compassion, innovation, and meaningful change.