Melissa Mork

Melissa Mork received her MA and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Minnesota School of Professional Psychology (MSPP). Her dissertation was a study of criminogenic thinking in repeat offenders for the State of North Dakota. Since 2025, Dr. Mork has served as Core Faculty in Forensic Psychology in the College of Psychology and Community Services Program at Walden University. Dr. Mork's professional foci include forensic psychopathology, traumatic grief, and clinical/crisis interventions. She has worked with the Ministry of Health for the Republic of Norway on issues related to mental health and illness, she has assisted in the creation of law enforcement curriculum for the state standards and testing board of MN, and she currently assists victims' families, survivors and first responders with crisis management and traumatic grief following mass shootings.

Public Service

Gilda's Club of MN, Board Member -

Awards / Honors

Excellence in Teaching, University of Northwestern, 2017

Excellence in Service, University of Northwestern, 2017

U.S. Professor of the Year, Carnegie Foundation, 2015

Publications

Mork, M. (2024). Mental Health Matters: How ten psychological principles will enhance your mental health.

Mork, M. (2023). Bounce: Persevering through loss with resilience, humor and purpose.

Mork, M. (2020). Dark Humor in Difficult Work. Forensic Mental Health Insider

Presentations

Mork, M. (2025). Dead Serious: Can Dark Humor Save Us? . TEDx

Mork, M. (2025). Coping after Mass Violence. National Christian Forensics and Communications Association

Mork, M. (2024). The Use of Dark Humor in Law Enforcement (and other difficult work). Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor

Mork, M. (2024). Coping After Mass Violence. Life 88.5

Mork, M. (2022). Racial Trauma, Community Violence, and Traumatic Grief after Mass Shootings. Delaware North