Melanie Fox named new director of assessment for veterinary college
When Melanie Fox walks through the halls of the veterinary college, she's thinking about more than just her love of animals. She's thinking about how to make veterinary education better.
As the new Director of Assessment in the Office of Academic Affairs at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Fox will support and develop the college's high academic standards and oversee accreditation processes while creating meaningful assessment systems that benefit faculty and students alike.
"It's really about elevating the services and programs that we provide to be as effective and innovative as possible," says Fox. "It's about ensuring curriculum quality excellence and exceeding accreditation requirements to position our graduates as leaders in the field."
From humanities to assessment
Fox's journey to assessment wasn't a straight path. With a background in English and creative writing, she initially taught in Radford University's core curriculum before discovering her talent for assessment work.
"If you told me when I was doing my master's degree in creative writing that I would work with data someday, I would have laughed," Fox says. "But I really enjoy the interaction with the faculty and the focus on the students. I feel like I'm helping students without actually having to grade all their papers."
Her humanities background gives her a unique perspective that balances quantitative analysis with people skills — a crucial combination for effective assessment.
“What I truly enjoy about my role in assessment is connecting with people," Fox explains. "I love the engagement, the outreach, and professional development — helping faculty see assessment not just as data collection, but as a pathway to better teaching and learning."
Supporting excellence in Veterinary Education
For Fox, this position perfectly aligns with her professional expertise and personal interests.
"This, to me, feels like a really meaningful use of my skill set because I am such an animal lover," she says. "It just seemed like a way to take the thing that I do as a career and combine it with some of my personal interests and my lifelong love of animals in support of students."
In her role, Fox will ensure the DVM program maintains and advances its rigorous standards, positioning graduates as leaders in veterinary medicine. Her work also directly impacts the quality-of-care animals will receive from future veterinarians.
“Knowing that I have helped ensure that the students who have come through this curriculum are trained and that they have the skills and ability to provide the highest quality service to their patients and clients is exciting," Fox said.
Working closely with faculty is central to Fox's vision for excellence. She will collaborate with instructors to develop assessment methods and elevate their teaching through data-driven insights.
"One of the important things as an assessment person, we can't expect people to do quality assessment if we don't train people and give them the skills and the confidence to do so," she said. "I'll be able to help and support faculty with their exams, questions, things like that."
Experience and education
Fox earned her Doctor of Education in higher education administration from the University of West Georgia in 2025. She also holds a Master of Arts in English from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Indiana University.
Before joining the veterinary college, Fox built a strong foundation in assessment at Radford University, where she most recently served as director of academic planning. Her previous experience over the past decade includes roles as associate director of institutional effectiveness and assessment specialist.
Fox is energized by the opportunity to dedicate her expertise to veterinary education.
"I'm thrilled to focus on these veterinary programs," she said. “Here, I can make a real difference in how we prepare students for a profession that matters so much to animals and the people who love them."
Fox lives in Blacksburg with her family, including her husband, a Radford University professor, and her two daughters. Her love of animals extends to her home, where she has a cat and two dogs — a Pomeranian named Jersey and a rough collie named Eris.
"I'm a big bird nerd," she adds. "I do have a livestream and live bird feeder."