Tag: Melina Padron

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Office of General Education

Celebrating Melina Padron and her next adventure

Students, alumni and staff participate in SMU Giving Day on the main quad, March 5, 2024 on the SMU Campus.

Since joining the Office of General Education in July 2023 as Senior Advisor, Melina Padron has made a transformative impact on the undergraduate academic experience at SMU. With energy, vision, and a commitment to student success, Melina has led initiatives that strengthened support for students navigating the Common Curriculum and deepened our academic engagement culture across campus.

During her time with our office, Melina:

  • Rebooted the Peer Academic Leader (PALs) program, broadening its reach and improving training to ensure students received informed, peer-centered support within the Residential Commons.
  • Launched the Common Curriculum Reading Program, pairing students with curated readings to spark shared intellectual experiences and conversation.
  • Supported advisor and student adoption of Degree Planner, helping streamline pathways to degree progress and empowering students to take clear ownership of their academic journey.
  • Led several faculty working groups on the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS), resulting in clearer course alignment and improved credit transfer outcomes for transfer students.
  • Contributed to several research projects involving academic testing centers and testing irregularities, informing SMU practices for academic testing.

Melina also shared her work widely with the campus community through blog features and updates (which I know she loved!). Her posts often highlighted how thoughtful supervision, advising, and shared academic experiences enriched student belonging and success at SMU.

As Melina transitions out of the Office of General Education, we want to express our deep appreciation for her leadership, partnership, and care. Her last day in OGE will be November 28.

However, we are thrilled that Melina is not going far! She will be joining the Division of Student Affairs as the Assistant Director of Signature Academic Experiences in Residence Life and Student Housing, where she will continue to support meaningful, high-impact learning experiences for students—this time embedded directly in the heart of our residential communities.

Join Us in Celebrating Melina!

We invite colleagues, partners, and friends to a come-and-go reception honoring Melina:

Monday, December 1, 2025
Noon – 1:00 PM
Laura Lee Blanton 112

Please join us in congratulating Melina on her next adventure on the Hilltop! We are so grateful for the impact she has made and excited to see the work she will continue to lead at SMU.

Categories
Office of General Education

Meet the new Senior Advisor for General Education and the 2023 – 2024 Peer Academic Leaders

The Office of General Education is excited to welcome our new Senior Advisor and twelve Peer Academic Leaders to the team.

Melina Padron will join the Office of General Education team on Monday, July 24. Padron’s professional experience includes serving as an enrollment counselor and, most recently, serving as an admissions counselor at Arizona College of Nursing.

As Senior Advisor, Padron is responsible for coordinating the Office of General Education’s undergraduate student outreach and timely offering of academic advising to ensure progression through Common Curriculum requirements. The Senior Advisor develops, oversees, and provides Office of General Education programs, initiatives, and student interventions to undergraduate students.

When asked about what excites Padron to join Student Academic Engagement and Success, she shared:

Higher education has always been a passion of mine, especially as a first-generation college student. I am honored to play a role in helping SMU students achieve their goals, both academically and personally. I’m excited to connect students with the great resources SMU offers to help them be successful during their time with us. SMU is a vibrant and diverse campus, and I look forward to joining you all on the Hilltop.

In her role, Padron will also serve as the primary supervisor of the Peer Academic Leader (PAL) program. PALs are a diverse group of undergraduate students to help students better understand the Common Curriculum, utilize academic resources, and navigate academic challenges.

PALs work directly with students in their Residential Commons, empowering them to take ownership of their collegiate careers through mentorship and educational programming.

Get to know the twelve Peer Academic Leaders serving for the 2023 – 2024 academic year. Their headshots, biographies, and assigned Residential Commons are on the Office of General Education’s website.