Melissa Raman Molitor

Melissa Raman Molitor is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Art Therapy and Counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). She is a first-generation South Asian Pacific Islander American artist-educator whose work bridges visual art, performance, and culinary practices to explore themes of cultural preservation and social justice.

Her research focuses on creating spaces for marginalized voices through projects like the Story Table, a mixed-media installation that archives family history and immigrant journeys. This artwork combines personal artifacts with ritualistic creation processes to address grief, resilience, and intergenerational healing.

As a feminist-activist and mental health practitioner, Molitor’s practice emphasizes healing justice and community engagement. Her work has been showcased in exhibitions such as the Kitchen Table Stories Project, which travels to community sites to foster dialogues around identity intersections.