Overton Named Assistant General Secretary for Schools, Colleges, and Universities
Melanie B. Overton, a program manager at
Prior to her work at Vanderbilt overseeing assessment, strategic planning, finance, and marketing for the university’s M.S. in Clinical Investigation, Overton was dean of students at
As assistant general secretary, Overton will relate to and support UM-related educational institutions and their presidents. She will be responsible for addressing issues raised by college and church leaders in a timely way that furthers the church’s mission in higher education, strengthening higher education partnerships with the church and the academy, and addressing emerging and ongoing issues relating to educational, denominational, and public policy. She will report to Gerald D. Lord, the Division of Higher Education’s associate general secretary.
Overton will also work on development of a comprehensive institutional database for United Methodist-related schools, colleges, and universities. She will promote and advocate for UM higher education institutions within The United Methodist Church and to the public.
Overton earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from