May 17, 2024
Farewell reception for Melinda Cro June 5
The College of Arts and Sciences will host a farewell reception for Melinda Cro, associate dean for student success, engagement and undergraduate studies, from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, in Room 227 of the K-State Student Union. She is leaving K-State to become the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University. Her last day will be June 30.
Cro, a professor of French and Italian, joined K-State's modern languages faculty as a visiting assistant professor of French in 2010 and was promoted to full professor of French and Italian in 2021. She served as French section head from 2016-2021, director of graduate studies from 2017-2018 and department head from 2020-2022. Cro focused on creating opportunities to engage students and charting pathways to support their success. She served on all major departmental standing committees as well as on the Graduate Council, Graduate Committee on Planning and University Handbook Committee.
In 2022, Cro was appointed assistant dean of students for the College of Arts and Sciences. She was promoted to her current position in January 2024. Cro has led the college's academic advising and student success endeavors, strategic enrollment management and admissions. She has addressed grade appeals, withdrawals, reinstatements, graduation, complex transfer issues and study abroad, and she's overseen and coordinated various student-centered programs and activities.
"In her relatively short time in the Dean's Office, Melinda has really led the reenvisioning of our student success, retention, advising and recruiting efforts," said Chris Culbertson, dean of the college. "Our college's total enrollment is up for the first time in 12 years due in large part to these efforts. She will be sorely missed, but this is a great opportunity for her, and we wish her only the best!"
"I am so incredibly grateful for the time I have spent at K-State," said Cro. "The College of Arts and Sciences is at the core of the land-grant mission, and our focus has always been on access, student success and research excellence. It has been rewarding to see how those priorities have shaped the work of our Center for Student Success and Engagement, and I have been fortunate to collaborate with a fantastic system of student success advocates in the college and across the university. It has been an honor to serve the College of Arts and Sciences."