Melissa shivers, ph.d.

Dr. Melissa Shivers has dedicated her nearly 30-year career in higher education to removing barriers to student and staff  success, serving her community and contributing to the world in ways that help to advance the health, safety and security  of others. As the Senior Vice President for Student Life at The Ohio State University since January 2020, Dr. Shivers serves  on the university’s senior administration team and provides leadership and strategic oversight on matters related to the  student experience. She is proud to work alongside an extraordinary team that serves more than 60,000 Buckeyes on six  campuses throughout the state of O-H-I-O! The team’s foundational aspiration is to challenge and inspire students and  staff to take every opportunity to engage, learn and thrive throughout their time at Ohio State, and beyond. Dr. Shivers has  broad leadership responsibility for numerous university operations affecting students outside the classroom, including the  residential experience, dining services, the Ohio Union and student activities, student leadership and service, mental health  support, career development, recreational sports, health care and wellness programs, disability services, belonging and  inclusion strategies and education, off campus and commuter student engagement, the student judicial process, student  advocacy and crisis intervention. 

Before becoming a Buckeye, Dr. Shivers was a Student Affairs executive at the University of Iowa, University of Tennessee,  Knoxville, University of Georgia, Clemson University and Georgia Southern University. Dr. Shivers has held faculty  appointments at multiple institutions. 

A proud first-generation college graduate and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Dr. Shivers holds a  BS from Georgia Southern University in Communication Arts, a Master of Education, Counseling and Guidance Services  degree from Clemson University and a Doctor of Philosophy, College Student Affairs Administration (CSAA) program from the  University of Georgia.  

Dr. Shivers was honored as a 2022 Legend and Legacy by the King Arts Complex and was selected as a 2021 Diamond  Honoree by ACPA, which is one of the highest honors bestowed by the international student affairs professional organization.  Dr. Shivers is a member of the YWCA of Columbus Board of Trustees, the Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation Board of  Directors, the King Arts Complex Board of Directors, the Campus Partners Board of Directors, a university representative on  The Ohio State University Foundation Board of Directors and member of the Association of Public Land-grant Universities  Council on Student Affairs for which she serves as the Programming Chair and sits on the Executive Board. She participated  as a Faculty Member for the 2024 NASPA Aspiring Vice Presidents for Student Affairs Institute and was recently named as one  of 40 higher education leaders to follow on social media.  

Dr. Shivers is an avid college football fan, reader, world-traveler and “Auntie-Hero” to her two favorite humans, Jhared  and Jordan.  

As a seasoned Student Affairs Senior Executive, Shivers has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experiences, with particular  expertise in: leading large, complex organizations with a variety of funding sources; friend-and-fundraising; student and  staff belonging and inclusion strategies; organizational and structural planning, implementation and change management;  auxiliary administration and new revenue growth; advancing a positive and productive culture; authentic leadership  strategies; team recruitment, onboarding and development; navigating politics at all levels; strategic planning and strategy  framework development; traditional media, social media and public speaking; and, the power of partnership.