Dr. Melissa Gregory, who has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters since February 2022, has been selected following a national search to continue to lead the college as its permanent dean.
Specializing in nineteenth-century British literature, Gregory joined the UToledo English faculty in 2002 and served as associate dean of the college from 2018 to 2022.
Gregory
“I love the people at this University. They are the hardest-working faculty and staff I know, and they truly care about our students and our community,” Gregory said. “It’s my honor to lead the College of Arts and Letters at a strong public university that transforms people’s lives.”
In her experience as associate dean and interim dean, Gregory led initiatives to increase student participation in undergraduate research, improve student retention and elevate the visibility and reputation of liberal arts and humanities. She has led multiple curricular initiatives including a new minor in the health humanities supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, a minor in Latinx studies, a major in data analytics and a unique associate of arts in the liberal arts that is now embedded within every four-year degree program in the college.
“Dr. Gregory is an advocate for the arts, humanities, social sciences and interdisciplinary programs and I look forward to opportunities for her to increase collaborations between the College of Arts and Letters and our other academic programs in the years ahead,” said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Specifically, Gregory will lead an effort to work toward a merger of the College of Arts and Letters with the Judith Herb College of Education throughout the 2024-25 academic year with the goal of a merged college effective July 1, 2025, that will be led by Gregory.
“This collaboration is focused on enhancing our curriculum, field experiences, co-curricular opportunities and advising support for current and future Rockets in both colleges,” Molitor said. “By building on our long-standing curricular partnerships that already exist between Arts and Letters and Education, we can explore innovative ways to come together to positively impact student recruitment and retention and support the workforce needs of our community.”
Gregory has a bachelor’s degree in English and studio art from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in English literature from Indiana University.
