Melynda Huskey Selected as Vice President for Enrollment & Student Services

Melynda Huskey has been selected as vice president for Enrollment and Student Services at Western Washington University, WWU President Sabah Randhawa announced today.

Huskey, most recently interim vice president for Student Affairs at Washington State University, was selected following a national search and will start at Western on July 1. She succeeds Eileen Coughlin, who is retiring.

“Melynda brings a breadth of experience that encompasses student affairs and academic affairs, and a deep understanding of advancing inclusive excellence and a student-centered culture. She has a genuine interest in students and is committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds,” Randhawa said.

Huskey received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and a doctorate from Ohio State University, both in English.

“I am delighted to join the community of talented students, faculty and staff at Western,” Huskey said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a terrific team of Student Affairs professionals and faculty colleagues to advance student success and inclusive excellence across campus.”

In her 19 years at WSU, Huskey held a variety of leadership positions. In her most recent job, as interim vice president for Student Affairs, she managed 22 departments, an $80 million budget and 500 employees. Prior to that, she also served as dean of students and associate vice president at WSU, providing leadership to the Office of Student Conduct, Residence Life, the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Women’s Resource Center, the Gender Identity and Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center, Center for Civic Engagement, Student media and the Access Center for Students with Disabilities. She was the deputy Title IX coordinator. At WSU, she also supervised administration of a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women grant to pilot best practices in sexual assault prevention.

At WSU, she was founding director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Allies program. In collaboration with colleagues from WSU University Extension, she co-wrote a nationally recognized research-based training in cultural competency, “Navigating Difference.”

Before coming to WSU, she was director of Independent Study at the University of Idaho and assistant professor of English at North Carolina State University.

Eileen Coughlin announced last summer that she will be retiring from her position as vice president at Western following the current 2016-2017 academic year.

Coughlin, now the senior vice president and vice president for Enrollment and Student Services at Western, will remain in her current role until July 2017, when she will have served 23 years as vice president at Western. She will provide transition consultation as needed after completing her time as vice president.

Contact: Paul Cocke, director, Office of WWU Office of Communications and Marketing, (360) 650-3350; Paul.Cocke@wwu.edu