Still proudly hanging on to her 512 area code, our school and nonprofit writer Maleesa Smith was born in Dallas, but raised right outside of Austin. Upon earning a journalism degree from Baylor, she moved to the Metroplex and started her career as a local reporter. She enjoys getting acquainted with North Texas the only way she knows how – by writing about it. In her free time, Maleesa likes exploring new places with her husband and sipping whatever coffee they have to offer.