CHP dean to assume new position at Saint Anselm College
CHP Dean Suzanne Mellon
Suzanne Mellon, dean of the College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing, will be leaving University of Detroit Mercy to become executive vice president at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, effective January 2009. In her new role, she will serve as the chief operating officer over all aspects including academic affairs, for the Benedictine college, which is located just north of Boston.
Mellon joined Mercy College of Detroit as an assistant professor of nursing in 1989 and became associate dean and chair of the McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) in 1998. Her clinical specialization is in psychiatric mental health nursing and family mental health.
Mellon's awards include the UDM President's Award for Faculty Excellence in 1996, the first doctoral nursing student fellowship from the Helen Newberry Joy Foundation at Wayne State University, the Phenomenal Women's Ashley Grey Legacy Award from Student Life at UDM in 2008, and most recently, the Symond Gottlieb Award for Outstanding Health Care Leadership from the Greater Detroit Area Health Council.
Mellon was named dean of the College of Health Professions in 2001. Under her leadership, the College has seen progressive growth in the number of students, faculty members and academic programs. She has guided the College in the following achievements:
- Student enrollment has increased to more than 1,400 students, a 60% increase overall in the College and specifically 80% in MSON from 2001-2008.
- Faculty lines have increased in the College and faculty scholarly productivity has grown more than 300%.
- Academic programs were expanded to include a 12-month accelerated nursing program, a 5-year PA program, and two new master's tracks in nursing education and clinical nurse leadership.
- Over $4 million in grant funding was generated during her tenure as dean.
- A pre-licensure nursing program in western Michigan was established in collaboration with Aquinas College and St. Mary's Health Care.
- Multiple partnerships with hospitals/health systems for onsite delivery of a RN- BSN Degree Completion Program were developed and implemented.
- The first online program at the University was established in partnership with a national health care system.
- The McAuley Nurse-Managed Health Center was developed to meet the health care needs of the underserved on Detroit's east side.
- Two community boards and a student advisory board were created, along with revitalization of the alumni board for greater constituent involvement in the College.
- Successful accreditation visits for MSON undergraduate and graduate programs in 2005, Nurse Anesthesia program in 2005, and the PA program in 2004 were accomplished.
- The College was moved from the Outer Drive Campus into a new building on the McNichols Campus.
In addition to leading these College initiatives, Mellon continued to pursue her own research in family survivorship of a cancer illness and family decision-making related to inherited cancer risk. She recently completed a NIH/NINR-funded study of family communication and decision-making regarding inherited cancer risk information with survivors and family members at risk of breast/ovarian cancer and is currently conducting a study and community-based project with Arab-American, Latina, and African-American populations on inherited cancer risk.
Mellon holds a BSN from University of Michigan, a Master of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University. She is also a full research member at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and an affiliate faculty member in the School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine at Wayne State University. In addition, she has served the community through membership on numerous boards in the Greater Detroit region, including the St. John Health System, the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, and Heart Academy.
Mellon has been active in professional organizations and has served on several state-level advisory boards, along with service in leadership capacities in several areas. Mellon also is an accreditation evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and a consultant for the Ohio Board of Regents. Additionally, she is involved in legislative advocacy for health profession and nursing education at the federal level.
"The University and the College of Health Professions appreciate Dean Mellon's leadership and commitment to educating skilled, professional health care providers and developing innovative approaches to addressing the health care needs of our community, says Pamela Zarkowski, interim vice president for Academic Affairs & Provost. "We wish her much success in her new position."
A search firm will be enlisted to conduct a national search for Dean Mellon's replacement. McAuley School of Nursing Associate Dean Judith Lewis will assume the role as interim dean of the College of Health Professions, as of January 2, 2009
