Page 14 - MGA Today - Fall 2016

By Sheron Smith

If you didn’t know that at one point in her career
Dr. Melanie Hatch analyzed combat-ready
aircraft for the defense industry, then
discovering she loves to write poetry might not be
such a surprising revelation.

But the native Midwesterner with an extensive
background in engineering and business said
penning verse is one of her favorite ways to relax.

“I tend to write poetry that’s comical in
nature,” said Hatch, who in late summer became
Middle Georgia State University’s provost and vice
president for Academic Affairs. “I try to have fun
with it. It clears my head. One of my secret
ambitions is to be the next Dr. Seuss.”

Whether due to the whimsical nature of her
hobby or something else, Hatch brings a calm
focus to her new position, which carries with it all
the responsibilities of being second-only-to-the-
president in MGA’s administration. Her duties
include leading the University’s faculty, overseeing
the development and realization of new academic
initiatives and maintaining continuity and growth
of existing programs.

“Melanie’s depth of leadership experiences,
both academically and operationally, ensures that
she will strengthen the integration and delivery of
academic programs, which now include graduate
degrees, in our multi-campus environment,” said
MGA’s president, Dr. Christopher Blake.

“I am confident she will lead the way in
opening new doors of opportunity for
our students and developing initiatives
to help the University enhance the
region economically and culturally.”

Born in Ohio, Hatch mostly grew up there
and in Indiana, but she graduated from high
school in Buffalo, N.Y. She earned her undergrad-
uate degree in Mathematics from Indiana
University and later completed a master’s degree
in Engineering Management from the University
of Dayton.

She began her professional life as a reliability
engineer at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in

Dr. Melanie Hatch, shortly after her arrival at Middle Georgia State University.
Inset: Hatch gets to know mascot Duke at an MGA volleyball game. JESSICA WHITLEY

14 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY