Assistant Provost
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Dr. (Mel) Melanie Jenkins-Simpson is a seasoned higher education administrator with over 17 years of experience in institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and data-informed decision-making. She currently serves as Assistant Provost and SACSCOC Liaison at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), where she oversees institutional research, assessment, and compliance. In this role, she manages university-wide accreditation efforts, faculty credentialing systems, enrollment projections, strategic planning support, and federal/state reporting. She also serves as UAH’s IPEDS Keyholder and is a nationally recognized IPEDS Educator through the Association for Institutional Research.
Dr. Jenkins-Simpson holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Delta State University, an M.A. in Political Science from Arkansas State University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Delta State. She has held prior institutional research leadership roles at Delta State University and research positions with the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She is also the founder and senior consultant for Educational Data and Assessment Solutions, Inc.
An active member of the institutional research community, she has served as President of the Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR), SACSCOC peer reviewer, and technical review panelist for NCES. She has received multiple honors, including SAIR’s James R. Montgomery Outstanding Service Award. Widely published and frequently invited to present nationally, Dr. Jenkins-Simpson is a leading voice in higher education assessment, planning, and data governance.
Academic Excellence: Implementing and Managing a Faculty Credentials System
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM East Coast USA Time