About Melanie Tacti

Melanie McAlister Tacti was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but it was her grandmother who gave her the name that stuck: “Smiling Eyes.” She was raised in the small riverside town of Lake Asbury, spending most of her childhood surrounded by water, nature, and the strong support of her close-knit family.

Her parents, whom she considers her biggest inspirations, and her older brother, Jason, were the anchors of her upbringing. From the very start, Melanie brought warmth and joy to every room she entered. Their home was the heart of the neighborhood, filled with laughter, backyard adventures, and constant company.

As a kid, Melanie had a deep love for movement. She was a competitive gymnast until a back injury at age 12 led her to pivot to cheerleading, where she shone just as brightly. She quickly rose to captain on every team she joined, a role that perfectly suited her natural ability to inspire and lift others.

In school, Melanie thrived in science and math, graduating with honors from Middleburg High School with dreams of attending the University of Florida or Florida State on a cheerleading scholarship.

A Cheerleader for Life

Melanie dreamed of being a cheerleader since she was in middle school. But little did she know, those dreams were about to be crushed, only to make way for greater ones. Her best friend called one day and asked if she wanted to try out with her that weekend for the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL cheerleading team, The Roar.

Melanie Tacti had never even thought about professional cheerleading before. She was a tomboy most of her life. But something told her to go ahead and try it out. After two months of grueling tryouts, Melanie made the team.

From 1999 to 2001, Melanie did more than perform in the field. She also toured overseas for three USO Middle East tours while representing the Jaguars and entertaining U.S. troops. Those years were about more than football—they were about sisterhood, growth, and service.

A Heart for Healing

After her cheerleading chapter ended, Melanie realized she was truly being called to something different: caring for others. She went to school while working, earning a degree from St. Leo University before accepting a job as a radiation therapist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. For seven years, she walked with patients during some of their darkest days. It changed her life and molded her into who she is today.

In 2009, Melanie pushed even further. She went back to school and became a medical dosimetrist, another crucial but under-the-radar profession in cancer treatment. As a dosimetrist, she accurately determines how much radiation a patient needs, ensuring that it’s enough to kill cancer cells but not too much for the healthy tissues to handle. Today, she’s the Chief Medical Dosimetrist at Terk Oncology—a career milestone she’s worked tirelessly to achieve.

She may be an expert in her field, but for Melanie, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling she deeply cherishes. Each patient gets 200% of her time and energy, and she treats them like family because that’s exactly what patients become over time.

Family, Fitness, and Finding Joy

Outside of work, Melanie’s world revolves around family. She has been married to her husband, Lundy, for over a decade now. In true Melanie style, their wedding was spontaneous and full of heart. They ran off to Las Vegas and got hitched on June 21, 2014.

They now have two incredible kids: Presli (9) and Kane (5). Whether traveling the world as a clan, seeing live music, or cheering on the Jags, the Tacti are always up to something.

Melanie also makes time for herself, finding energy and balance through regular workouts at her favorite gym, Orange Theory. And at home, there’s one more member of the family who keeps things lively—their majestic Maine Coon cat, Zeus.

Proud Moments and Perspective

Becoming Chief Medical Dosimetrist is one of the proudest things Melanie has done. Still, she also cherishes memories of her time as a gymnast and cheerleader, especially when she was touring with the USO, bringing joy to soldiers far from home.

Besides, her first marriage to the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot, Jaxson de Ville, was a memorable chapter in her life. It became a well-known story in her hometown and online. While that part of it often shows up in Google searches, Melanie embraces it as a unique piece of her journey.

Her maiden name was McAlister, and during that first marriage, she went by Dvorak. None of that fazes her now, and her husband, Lundy, fully supports keeping that story in the spotlight if it helps her build something better today.

What Next?

Melanie Tacti is proud of where she’s been but is even more excited about where she’s headed. The last seven years have been hard—she won’t deny it—but with her family, faith, and the desire to do good, she’s looking forward to making more happy and healthy memories.

She’s also passionate about giving back. She hasn’t officially partnered with a specific charity yet, but her entire career has been about helping others, and that isn’t going to change any time soon.

Whether designing radiation plans to fight cancer, cheering on her kids from the sidelines, or sharing a laugh with her coworkers, Melanie brings the same energy to every part of her life: warmth, joy, and a lot of heart.