Dr. Melanie Hulbert serves as the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, a role she assumed in 2025.
During her 20 years of progressive leadership, she has served institutions of higher education as well as national organizations focused on college completion, student success, college accessibility, and student belongingness. She has served as a serial founder of new university/college-wide academic and student success initiatives that champion institutional priorities by using data-driven decision-making and inclusive collaboration. She has both written for and awarded over 4 million dollars in grant funding for student success and has won several state grants for faculty professional development. Dr. Hulbert’s areas of research have primarily focused on race/ethnicity, gender, identity, leadership, and social movements. She has spoken on college campuses around the nation on issues of student success, academic equity,, leadership and reconciliation. More recently, Dr. Hulbert has been asked to lead workshops and retreats on service excellence, executive leadership training, and strategic planning. Finally, Melanie loves to travel the world, hike and play in the mountains, run marathons, and is a cycle and yoga instructor. She loves her husband, Jeff, her two sons, Caleb and Aidan and her pup named “Duke.”
Education
- Ph.D., Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York
- M.A., Women’s Studies, University at Albany, State University of New York
- B.A., Sociology & Psychology, Western Washington University
Experience in Field
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
- Senior Executive Director for Academic Equity and Student Support, Fall 2023 - Summer 2024
- Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of the Honor’s College, Summer 2022 - Summer 2023
- Full Professor of Sociology, Fall 2022 - Spring 2024
LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE
- Vice President for Student, Summer 2021 - Spring 2022
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
- Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Fall 2015 - Spring 2021
- Director of Operations and Dean of Students, School of Graduate Studies, Fall 2019 - Spring 2021
- Associate Professor of Sociology, Fall 2014 - Spring 2015
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
- Associate Professor of Sociology, Fall 2004 - Spring 2014
- Association of American Colleges and Universities
- Coalition of Student Success Practitioners
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- Complete College America
- Young Life College Ministry
- Council for Advancement and Support for Education
- American Sociological Association
- Work and Occupations, Families, and Race, Gender, Class, Teaching Sociology Sections
- Sociologists for Women in Society
Awards and Honors
- Alumni Award for Excellence, Western Colorado University (Awarded May 4, 2018)
- 2008 World at Work Publications Contributor of the Year (Awarded June 2, 2009)
- Nominee for “George Fox Undergraduate Teacher of the Year” (2006, 2011, 2013)
- Paul Meadows Teaching Award, University at Albany (Awarded Spring 2003)
- Benevolent Research Association Dissertation Grant, University at Albany (Awarded Spring 2002)
- Graduate Student Organization Professional Grant, University at Albany (Awarded Summer 2002)
- Summa Cum Laude, Western Washington University (Inducted Spring 1996)
Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications
Peer Review Publications
- Hulbert, Melanie and L. Katherine Smith, and Dustin Fife. 2020 “Activating Agency in the Time of COVID19.” Journal of College and Research Libraries.
- Dougherty, Kevin, Melanie Hulbert and Ashley Palmer. 2014 “Marital Name Change Attitudes among Students at Four Christian Colleges.” Religions, Volume 5, pgs. 1116-1131.
- Hulbert, Melanie A. 2009 “Unveiling Gendered Assumptions in the Organizational Implementation of Work- Life Policies.” World at Work Journal. Volume 18, No. 1: pgs. 34-44.
- Hulbert, Melanie A. 2008 “Lessons from the Office: The Organizational Implementation of Work-Life Policies.” World at Work Journal. Volume 17, No. 2; pgs. 44-54.
Other Publications/Featured Interviews
- Mowreader, Ashley. April 14, 2023 “Student Success Champion: Melanie Hulbert Connects Students, Establishes a Sense of Belonging.” Inside Higher Ed, News, Student Success.
- Santovec, M.L. 2007 “Campus Work/Life Policies: Moving from Policy to Practice.” Women in Higher Education Publication Volume 16, No. 5, pgs. 1-2.
- Copeland, Cara and Melanie A. Hulbert. 2005 Women, Work, and Family: Christian Women in Student Affairs Balancing Life. Koininia Magazine Winter 2006; p. 12-15.
Scholarly & Professional Presentations
Hulbert, Melanie A., B. Becker, S. Raynor and E. Sickle. “Leveraging Leading Indicators for Student and Institutional Success.” AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders. Denver, CO. July 16-19, 2024.
Hulbert, Melanie A. and V. Robideaux. “What if Students Aren’t the Problem?: Reclaiming Our Transformational Missions Amidst Institutional Performance Pressure.” (poster presentation). AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders. Denver, CO. July 16-19, 2024.
Hulbert, Melanie A. and V. Robideaux. “Where Do I Fit In?: How to Assist Advisors in Navigating Rapid Organizational Change.” NACADA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, October 4-7, 2023.
Hulbert, Melanie and A. Aronovitz. “From Zero to Hero: Building a Sustainable University GAP Semester Program During the Time of COVID-19.” Gap Year Association Conference, Virtual, October 27, 2020.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Chairs and Deans: Managing Resistance to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” Colorado Commission on Higher Education Fall Conference, Denver, CO, October, 2019.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Colored White: Building a Positive White Identity as Justice Work.” White Privilege Symposium, Denver, CO, November 3, 2018.
Hulbert, Melanie A. and L. Fast. “The Impact of Masculinity on Interaction Anxiousness: Self Esteem and Sexual Orientation Matter.” Association of Psychological Sciences Meeting, New York, May 22, 2015.
Fast, Lindsey and M. Hulbert. “Erotophobia and Sex of All Kinds: Religiosity Matters.” Association of Psychological Sciences Meeting, New York, May 22, 2015.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “It’s Our Responsibility: Students of Color on White Identity Formation and Stereotype Reduction on a White-Dominated College Campus.” The Teaching Professor Conference, New Orleans, LA, May 30-June 2, 2013.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “I am Afraid to Tell You This: White Students Fear of Authentic Dialogue about Race and Ethnicity.” Pacific Sociological Association Meeting. Seattle, WA. March 10-13, 2011.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Getting Credit for Your Teaching Excellence and Feminist Pedagogy: Publishing in TRAILS.” Roundtable Presentation. Sociologists for Women in Society Winter Meeting, San Antonio, TX, February 2-6, 2011
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Lessons from the Office: The Dilemma of Work-Life Balance Within the Academy.” Oregon Women in Higher Education Annual Conference: Action Challenges and Opportunities. January 25, 2008.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “The Way Forward: Women Finding their Voice in a Culture of Confusion.” Pacific Sociological Association, Oakland, CA, March 29-April 1, 2007.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Work-Life Policy Practices among Professionals both in and outside of Academe.” The College and University Work Family Association Conference: Santa Barbara, California: February 7-9, 2007.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Work-Family Balance: Discovering the Vocational ‘Good’ Place.” The Along the Road Symposium, Point Loma Nazarene University: Wesleyan Center for 21st Century Studies. San Diego, CA, February 9-11, 2006.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Balancing Work and Family Life: A Practical Approach.” The Association for Christians in Student Development; Newberg, OR, June 6, 2005.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Organizational Culture and Work-Family Policy Implementation.” Pacific Sociological Association, April 8, 2005.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Discovering the Sociological Career for Junior Faculty.” Sociologists for Women in Society, Winter Meeting, January 31, 2005.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “The Gendered Nature of Work-Family Policy Implementation.” Pacific Sociological Association, April 19, 2004.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Work Family Policies: An Organizational Decision.” American Sociological Association, August 16, 2002.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “The Meaning and Experience of Temporary Work.” The 95th Meeting of the American Sociological Association, August 14, 2001.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “Gender and Temporary Work.” Symposium: Gender and Work Spaces, SUNY Binghamton, April 15, 2000.
Hulbert, Melanie A. “More than Just a Temp.” The 70th Meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society, March 5, 2000.