Melissa Valiska Gregory, Ph.D.
Office hours: By appointment.
Melissa Valiska Gregory serves as Dean of the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Education at the University of Toledo, a role she assumed in 2024 following a national search. She joined the University two decades ago as an English professor and has since held a range of leadership roles shaped by her commitment to advancing higher education. As Dean, Dr. Gregory led a major reorganization aligning liberal arts and education programs into a unified college focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, expanded academic pathways, and stronger connections to career outcomes. Since its launch in July 2025, the College continues to grow under her leadership with an emphasis on innovation, partnership, and student success. Dr. Gregory has advanced key curricular initiatives, including embedding an Associate of Arts in the Liberal Arts across all four-year BA programs, while also supporting faculty success in tenure and promotion. Under her leadership, the College has achieved record levels of external research funding. Dr. Gregory is equally committed to student success, helping stabilize enrollment, expand undergraduate research opportunities, and strengthen the overall student experience. She also plays an active role in philanthropic advancement, enhancing alumni engagement and contributing to record-setting development outcomes, including the creation of a global study abroad cohort program for student leaders.
