Following a national search, Carlow University’s Board of Trustees appointed Suzanne K. Mellon, Ph.D., as the institution’s tenth president. She succeeds Dr. Mary Hines, who will retire next month after serving as Carlow’s president for eight years.
Dr. Mellon comes to Carlow from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where she has served as Executive Vice President and Professor since 2009. As the chief operating officer and second in command to the President, she had responsibility for all areas of the College, inclusive of academic affairs, advancement, finance, marketing, enrollment, student affairs, athletics, and other administrative areas.
“Without question, Carlow’s Board of Trustees believes that it has found a wonderful match in Dr. Mellon, and we are delighted to welcome her as its tenth president,” said Board of Trustees Chair George L. Pry. “She has outstanding experience in all facets of higher education administration and proven knowledge of the major issues facing higher education. She is a visionary leader, whose creative outlook will help to strengthen Carlow and inspire others to join her. The Board is confident that Dr. Mellon will advance Carlow’s Catholic identity while modeling the values of the Sisters of Mercy.”
Said Sister Marie Immaculée Dana, local leader of the Sisters of Mercy and Chair of the Sponsor Council of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, “In addition to her strong academic background, her experience in all aspects of higher education, and her history of leadership on campus and in the community, Dr. Mellon has lived and understands Catholic higher education, the Mercy mission and values that are fundamental to Carlow University. She will be well positioned to support the continued development of students, staff and faculty as the University moves forward.”
Under Dr. Mellon’s leadership, Saint Anselm’s revenue from foundations and grants grew significantly. She also has demonstrated important fundraising experience in her previous positions. Prior to her tenure at Saint Anselm, she held a distinguished series of faculty and administrative positions at the University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University. During her tenure as Dean of the College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing at the University of Detroit Mercy, the College saw significant growth in the number of students and entrepreneurial academic programs were achieved, including the first online program at the University.
“I am delighted to come to Carlow University and the city of Pittsburgh at this exciting time,” said Dr. Mellon. “I look forward to immersing myself into the community and meeting the supporters of a university with Carlow’s distinctive and distinguished history.”
Dr. Mellon graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan with a B.S.N. in nursing, a master’s degree from the Ohio State University, and a Ph.D.in philosophy from Wayne State University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As Dr. Mellon assumes the role of president, she will also hold the academic rank of Professor at Carlow.
A leader in higher education, her influence spans multiple arenas. Dr. Mellon is an accreditation evaluator for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. She previously served as an evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and as a consultant for the Ohio Board of Regents. Her scholarship has resulted in published articles in national journals and invitations to present at national and international conferences on a variety of health topics, including the risk for inherited breast/ovarian cancer.
Dr. Mellon is the recipient of numerous professional, leadership and service awards. For example, she was the 2009 recipient of the “Integrity Matters” award from the College of Health Professions Honors Council, University of Detroit Mercy. In 2008, she received the Symond Gottlieb Award for Outstanding Health Care Leadership from the Greater Detroit Area Health Council. Additionally, she was recognized for outstanding contributions to the Urban Health Education Center by the University of Detroit Mercy.
Her community and professional activities have included practice as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in several community organizations, service to the underserved in the community, and higher education consultation. Dr. Mellon has served on the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, New Hampshire, where she is currently the Vice Chair. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Trustees for Manchester’s YMCA and on the Board of Trustees for the New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation.