Walls named Waynesburg U. Provost

Waynesburg University officially named Melinda Walls provost, effective Aug. 18.

Walls had held the position of interim provost for one year prior to being named to the position permanently. She also serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs, the W. Robert Stover Chair for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Associate Professor of Business Administration.

"We are thrilled that Ms. Walls has accepted the provost position," said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. "She has already made profound contributions to the University through her direction of the entrepreneurial leadership program and of academics as a whole over the past year. Her expertise in higher education and entrepreneurship is an invaluable asset to our students, faculty and staff."

"I am honored to continue serving Waynesburg University as Provost," said Walls. "Over the past year, as Interim Provost, I have seen firsthand the dedication of our outstanding faculty, staff and students. I look forward to building on that momentum as we work together to strengthen academic programs, support student success and advance the University's mission."

Over the course of the 2024-25 academic year, as interim provost, Walls led the four-member assessment team in developing a comprehensive assessment strategy and implementing an expedited assessment cycle for all academic and non-academic University programs, resulting in the reaffirmation of the University's accreditation with Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Walls came to Waynesburg in August 2018. She was appointed by President Lee to build a campus-wide infrastructure and culture around entrepreneurial leadership and the entrepreneurial mindset, which resulted in the creation of both the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and the eHIVE, Waynesburg's hands-on center for the development of innovative ideas and ventures which includes a state-of-the-art makerspace, shop, classroom and collaborative learning space. Her leadership of these initiatives resulted in Waynesburg University being named the Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and being recognized for Excellence in Student Engagement at the 2024 Deshpande Symposium. She also designed and led a team-taught course in product development for faculty members across several disciplines, earning the Rising Star for Curricular Innovation award at the 2022 Deshpande Symposium.

At Waynesburg University, Walls previously served as department chair for and professor of Business Administration. She was named a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow by the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship for outstanding contributions furthering entrepreneurship education.

Walls previously served in leadership positions at West Virginia University and Chesapeake Energy. She also has five years of experience practicing energy-related law.

Active in her community, Walls currently serves on the board of advisors for The EdVenture Group. She previously served as board chair and vice chair for the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, a national organization for entrepreneurship educators; board chair of the WVU Women's Business Center Advisory Board; a member of the Monongalia - Preston United Way Board of Directors; and a member of the Finance Council at Saint Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Morgantown.

About Waynesburg U.

Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University's Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with an additional site for graduate and professional programs in Southpointe.

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