Oklahoma State University appoints Morgan dean of Graduate College
Friday, April 26, 2024
Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University has named Dr. Melanie Morgan as dean of the Graduate College following a national search.
Morgan has served as professor and associate dean of the Graduate School at Purdue University since 2018. The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved her appointment during their April meeting Friday in Miami, Oklahoma.
“President Kayse Shrum and I are confident we succeeded in identifying the individual best suited to lead the strategic execution of our land-grant mission for the Graduate College,” said Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU provost and senior vice president. “OSU is committed to elevating our graduate programs, expanding our certificate programs to provide our graduates with enhanced career opportunities, and promoting student involvement through our multidisciplinary programs. I know Dr. Melanie Morgan is poised to lead the Graduate College’s commitment to preparing students for fulfilling careers.”
Morgan is expected to assume her duties as dean in July.
As associate dean, Morgan directed graduate records function for Purdue, managed the Graduate School Fellowship Office and oversaw professional development for the graduate school.
She also previously served Purdue as director of Graduate Studies in the Brian Lamb School of Communication (2014-18) and director of the Oral Communication Curriculum Program (2001-18) and held a previous appointment as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Louisville (1998-2001).
“I look forward to building upon OSU’s excellent reputation as a top land-grant institution and am excited about the role graduate education will play in realizing the strategic plan of the university,” Morgan said. “OSU is well-positioned to prepare graduate students for the challenges of today’s world. I plan to increase access to post-graduate education by promoting and creating unique graduate experiences with novel delivery methods across the OSU system for the residents of Oklahoma, the country and the globe.”
Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas Christian University, a master’s in interpersonal and organizational communication from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in communication and social gerontology.
Morgan has received numerous awards, including the Brian Lamb School of Communication Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award, the Don Yoder Outstanding Faculty Award by the National Communication Association and the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.
“I am enthusiastic about collaborating with the outstanding faculty and staff at OSU to provide the resources and training for our students to achieve new levels of research excellence while maintaining and fostering the current culture that ensures graduate students thrive during their graduate experience,” Morgan said.