About Melissa

Melissa Shusterman is a small business owner, wife and mother who was elected State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 157th District in 2018. Raised in Easttown, Melissa graduated from Conestoga High School in 1985, Lafayette College in 1989, then graduate school at American University in 1993.

Melissa began her campaign for the 157th District, in 2017. She was prompted to run by the old boys’ club and special interests that control Harrisburg and prevent progress on important issues in Pennsylvania from being addressed. Her slogan was “Common Sense Before Politics”. Melissa campaigned on government transparency and accountability, education equity, environmental sustainability, and gun control reform. Over the course of the campaign, Melissa knocked on tens of thousands of doors, and gained recognition and support across the county, state, and country. In November 2018, Melissa was elected to office, defeating a four-term Republican incumbent by over 4,000 votes. She was elected in a historic year for women in Pennsylvania, with women increasing their share of representation in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. She was reelected in 2020 and 2022 and is now serving for her third term.

Before running for office, Melissa worked in the video production industry. She worked for large networks like Food Network, VH1, and HGTV before returning to Pennsylvania to raise her son as a single mother. There, she started her own successful business, a video production company. Melissa’s business experience gives her a unique perspective in the legislature. Family includes husband Hans Mueller and son, Paris T. Shusterfallou.

In the legislature, Melissa serves on the Health, Judiciary, Chair of the Family Law Subcommittee, Rules & State Government Committees and Transportation. She is co-chair of both the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Caucus and the Animal Protection Caucus.