Schoeplein’s journey at Uni started in middle school, when she became curious of Uni, and would spend days off from her middle school at Uni with a friend who went there. She realized that she might enjoy the small school environment and the quirkiness of Uni, and entered Uni as a Subfreshman in 1990. Coming from a small family of a single mom and no siblings, Schoeplein recalls Uni becoming something of a home for her, another bigger family. 

While at Uni, Schoeplein was involved in a wide variety of activities, and she tried out different things and was able to become friends with older students. Her strongest memories are from being on the basketball team under head coach Sally Walker. Schoeplein greatly enjoyed her time on student council as well, holding the position of Executive President of Student Council in her senior year. Schoeplein also took part in a number of plays and Big Show, served as president of Students for a Better World, wrote articles for the Gargoyle, and took part in chorus and orchestra. 

Schoeplein graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in History, and went on to recieve a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University, and a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Schoeplein first taught at a high school in the Washington, DC area and later worked for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois for four years. Missing teaching, Schoeplein took up a teaching position at Uni High.

At Uni, Schoeplein is the Executive Teacher for the Department of Social Studies. She currenty teaches "Introduction to Social Studies" to the subfreshman class, and anticipates teaching her first elective classes during the 2022-2023 school year, "Contemporary Issues in Politics, Government & Society" and "World Since 1989". Outside of classes, Schoeplein coordinates the Uni High Oral History Project, and sponsors the Uni WILL interns. 

Sources:

Interview with Melissa Schoeplein