After a nationwide search, Cox College trustees have chosen one of the school’s current administrators as its new president.
Dr. Amy DeMelo has served as the college’s vice president for academic affairs since 2014.
“This is an exciting time to be involved in health care and education, and I’m looking forward to being involved in the many opportunities ahead of Cox College. We have a wonderful group of people dedicated to making a difference for our students and the community as a whole, and I’m privileged to be part of those efforts,” DeMelo said in a news release.
In her vice presidential role, DeMelo grow the school’s Master of Science in Nursing and the Master of Occupational Therapy programs.
As president, one of her first objectives is fulfilling a $6.6 million capital campaign, announced last month, which will help renovate classroom space, incorporate new equipment, and expand enrollment capabilities.
DeMelo has been involved in Springfield’s education system since 2007 when she worked as the director of Springfield Catholic Schools (SCS). She helped SCS become nationally ranked as one of the top 50 in the country.
She has degrees in history and administration, as well as an Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The news release notes that one of DeMelo’s main goals is to increase enrollment through Cox College so that the region will have more health care professionals.
“We are very excited about the ideas and initiatives Dr. DeMelo will champion in her role as president of Cox College,” says Jan Harris, chair of the Cox College Board of Trustees. “We wanted to find the perfect candidate for this position, and even though we looked across the country to find the right fit, we were blessed to find the right person already here at Cox College.”
