This article continues a series focused on Creating an Innovative Institutional Mindset. The previous articles in this series are: The 10 Barriers to Innovation in Higher Education 7 Ways Academic Leaders Can Cultivate Creativity Innovation is all the buzz these days in higher education circles, and it is no wonder. Many mainstream media observers have […]
Melissa Morriss-Olson, Ph.D.
Melissa Morriss-Olson currently serves as provost at Bay Path University, a 3,300 student women-focused institution located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. As provost, she serves as the institution’s chief academic officer and also oversees admissions, enrollment marketing and analytics, student life and athletics, institutional research and all academic research and support functions.
Throughout her thirty-plus year career, Dr. Morriss-Olson has gained a reputation as a creative academic entrepreneur. While at Bay Path, she has led the re-engineering of the learning community and structure including the development of the Thumbprint—Bay Path’s distinguishing educational aspirations—as well as the Women Empowered as Learners and Leaders (WELL) program. Under her leadership, a new academic structure consisting of schools and colleges has been established and faculty resources have been diversified and strengthened. Dr. Morriss-Olson has led the development and launch of more than twenty new graduate degree programs, resulting in a significant increase in student enrollment.
Dr. Morriss-Olson is a nationally recognized higher education thought leader, speaking and writing often on topics such as higher education innovation, disruption and leadership. Her blog can be found here: The Accidental Provost or you can follow her on Twitter @BayPathProvost
