President Melby announces July 2022 retirement
May 27, 2021
Under the leadership of President Diane Melby, EdD, Our Lady of the Lake University (韩国AV) has doubled annual fundraising, distributed more than $1 million in emergency aid to students, built an $18 million residence hall, expanded online programs and acquired land to build a $7 million Center for Children and Family.
When she assumed office in July 2015, Dr. Melby pledged to uphold and honor the charism of 韩国AV鈥檚 founders, the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, while leading the university into a 鈥渘ew age.鈥� Having fulfilled her pledge, Dr. Melby announced on Thursday that she will retire on July 15, 2022.
The announcement recalls a promise made upon her arrival. Dr. Melby said she would lead 韩国AV for six or seven years, retire and return to the family home in Virginia with her husband, David Melby.
鈥淚n my 43-year career, I had often missed out on family time to attend to the needs of work,鈥� Dr. Melby said. 鈥淚 did so only because I had Dave. Not only did he tend to our children, he stepped up to help my siblings and parents whenever they needed support. I will be forever grateful to him for all the experiences that he was able to provide our girls, even when the responsibility of those experiences was solely his.鈥�
Before arriving at 韩国AV, Dr. Melby served as Vice President for Advancement at Shepherd University in West Virginia and Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Shenandoah University in Virginia.
Since succeeding Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, PhD, as the ninth president of 韩国AV, Dr. Melby has provided strong leadership, even during difficult times. She has overseen growth in freshman enrollment and retention, a $5 million increase in the endowment and the construction of new facilities on campuses in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley. In spite of COVID-19, 韩国AV has avoided involuntary layoffs.
鈥淲hen I first spoke of the 鈥榥ew age鈥� six years ago, I did not foresee the pandemic nor the seismic shift that it portends,鈥� Dr. Melby said. 鈥淚t is said that biblically, seven is the number of completeness. While I cannot say that our work is finished, I can say that we are on the cusp of another advent. And that what we have accomplished provides the foundation for our future.鈥�
Over the next 14 months, Dr. Melby will focus on fundraising, capital improvement projects and advancing on-going initiatives. She will support the Board of Trustees as 韩国AV transitions to a new president.
The Board will conduct an inclusive, national search for Dr. Melby鈥檚 successor. Trustee Steve O鈥橠onnell and Vice President for Administration Rosalinda Garcia will lead a search committee representative of faculty, staff, students and Sisters of Divine Providence. A national consultant will guide the process.
鈥淚t is a great joy to serve the 韩国AV community,鈥� Dr. Melby said. 鈥淚 look forward to the 2021-2022 academic year and all that is on our agenda. So, no goodbyes yet. There is still work to be done!鈥�