“Hilarious and Heartfelt” - Refinery29

Melanie LaForce is a filmmaker, comedian, and social psychologist.

LaForce has written featured essays and humor for The Washington Post, Marie Claire, McSweeney’s, and New York Magazine. She is a frequent contributor to BUST. She has trained with and performed improv, sketch, and stand-up at institutions such as The Groundlings, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Second City Chicago, and Flappers.

In 2018, LaForce’s coming-of-age humor essay collection, Corn-Fed: Cul-de-sacs, Keg Stands, and Coming of Age in the Midwest received accolades from publications such as Refinery29 and BUST.

Dr. LaForce was a Principal Scientist at the University of Chicago for 12 years, and taught social psychology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

She is a retired skater and trainer for The Windy City Rollers roller derby league. Her religion is dogs.