Melissa Cheyney

Dr. Melissa Cheyney was born and raised in the Little Havana area of Miami, Florida. Cheyney’s parents worked in education, so she often traveled around. After she graduated from high school she attended Calvin College, receiving a BS in Biology and a BA in Ancient and European History. She then attended Western Michigan University where she received a Masters in Bioarchaeology. After that, Cheyney received her doctorate in Medical Anthropology from the University of Oregon, publishing her dissertation, “Born at Home,” on the US home birth movement in 2005.

While at the University of Oregon, Cheyney also attended the Oregon School of Midwifery in Eugene, where she trained to become first a doula, then a midwife; she ultimately became a Certified Professional Midwife and a Licensed Midwife. After completing her schooling, she moved to Corvallis, Oregon to begin teaching as a medical anthropologist at Oregon State University. At OSU, she co-directs the Reproductive Health Lab and the Uplift Lab, which focuses on equity in birth. Cheyney is also involved in extensive service efforts at the university, state, national, and international level. At the time of this interview, Cheyney continued to teach classes in biocultural anthropology and attend home deliveries as a midwife.