Author Profile

Current Position and Past Experience
Dr. Melissa Vito currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and as the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and Student Success at the University of Arizona.

Her current role is a hybrid one that informs nearly every touchpoint of the student journey and spans both traditional student affairs / enrollment areas with those typically housed in academic affairs. As such she oversees a diverse array of areas including early outreach, financial aid, admissions, registrar, orientation and welcome week activities, commencement, Dean of Students, Campus Health, Campus Recreation, University Bookstores, Student Unions, Residence Life, Career Services, Faculty Fellows, cultural and academic support, the University’s flagship 100% Engagement Initiative, and online and distance education, including one of two UA branch campuses.

Education, Honors and Achievements
Vito earned her B.A. in Journalism and English and two Master’s degrees in Higher Education Administration and Counseling from the University of Arizona. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in May 2007 (completion fueled in equal parts by passion for her dissertation and Red Bull).

She has received a number of awards both nationally and locally. Highlights include: the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Excellence in Practice Award in 2012; the Pi Kappa Alpha University Administrator of the Year Award in 2012; Tucson Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnus of the Year Award in 2011; Mentor of the Year by Tucson’s 40 under 40 award program in 2013. In 2015, Vito was named a “Pillar of the Profession” by NASPA Foundation (National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).

Personal Details and Community Involvement
Vito is an active member of the Tucson community and volunteers her time on the Rialto Board and the Center for Compassion Studies. She is also a member of the Arizona Academy and Greater Tucson Leadership.

In her spare time, her activities include road cycling, travel, music (she has been known to DJ at a local restaurant/club), cooking—her chocolate chip cookies are well known among her friends and colleagues – and she is the mother of 25-year old twin sons!

Connect
Learn more about Melissa Vito via The University of Arizona website. Connect with the University of Arizona’s Student Affairs and Enrollment Management team on Twitter @UA_SAEM_AISS.