Melanie Powell

About Melanie Powell

Dr. Melanie Powell is a pediatric neuropsychologist, NC licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist with more than 20 years of experience. She specializes in neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations, ADHD, learning disabilities, kindergarten readiness and giftedness. She founded MindSpark, PLLC, where she is managing psychologist. Dr. Powell and her team of school psychologists believe in the potential of every child. The mission at MindSpark is to cultivate natural talent and spark true potential in children. The focus is positive and strengths-based, because, after all, children are beautifully, wonderfully made. And all children deserve to have their innate talents recognized and encouraged. Dr. Powell and team advocate that all children have an equal opportunity to learn and follow their dreams. They help parents discover how their children learn best and then strategize on the solutions and interventions that will help students excel in the classroom and later in life. Dr. Powell earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Furman University. At the University of Georgia, she earned her master’s degree in school psychology and her doctorate in school psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology. At UGA, she worked for three years as a clinician and researcher at the Center for Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology. She also completed pre- and post-doctoral internships at the Child Neuropsychology Clinic at Medical College of Georgia. As an undergrad psychology major, Dr. Powell took a class in the education department because there were no more psychology courses for her to take. In this class, she learned about learning disabilities and was fascinated by how the brain works. She wrote a paper on the neurological underpinnings of dyslexia, and her professor encouraged her to continue these studies in grad school. She has been intrigued by how children learn, how they thrive – and helping them in their educational journeys – ever since.Dr. Powell lives in Charlotte with her husband and their two daughters. When people ask what it’s like to be a child psychologist and a mother, she assures them that being a mom makes her better – even more compassionate – in her work.

Experience

1. Founder & Managing Psychologist

   Mindspark, Pllc

   Jul 2019 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Help parents unlock the mystery of how their children learn and thrive.• Provide strengths-based comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, kindergarten readiness evaluations, and school admissions evaluations.• Consult with parents on interventions, support, and school placement decisions.• Coordinate and strategize with parents and teachers on neuropsychological evaluations, learning disabilities, ADHD, and kindergarten readiness.

Education

• UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education

  Master's & Doctorate degrees in School Psychology, Pediatric Neuropsychology

• Furman University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology