April 2020
Melissa Hale
Title/s: Director of Academic Success and Bar Programs
About
Department/School/Division: Law
Campus: Water Tower Campus
Years at Loyola: Two years in May 2020 (May 1, 2020 will be my two year Anniversary.)
What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola? The people. Many schools talk about being a family, or supporting each other ,but Loyola really is a family, and takes that seriously.
What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee? My position was created to establish an academic success and bar program. I still have work to do, but in two years I’ve established most of the programming I’d like to. I’ve also started focusing on first generation students, including advising a first generation law student group. I think it’s important to make those students feel welcome, especially since I was a first generation undergrad and law student. I’ve also been working on assisting our repeat bar exam takers. This is difficult, as they are no longer students, but I think we owe it to our alumni to keep supporting them past graduation ,so while I still have a long way to go in supporting them, I’m proud of the progress that I’ve made. Finally, as part of bar programming, I brought a bar exam lunch program to those taking the bar, which I’m very proud of, and students love!
What does Loyola's mission mean to you? It means going out of our way to care for each and every student. Not just their academics, but each one of them as whole people. This means understanding that students often have things going on outside of class, and helping by being a sympathetic ear. It also means helping them problem solve, and assisting them in achieving greatness.
What motivates you to succeed each and every day? My students. When they succeed, that means I succeed.
Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. I think I show it in how I interact with students. I also am currently working remotely with a Loyola hoodie and water bottle by my side!
Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. I am a huge fan of rock music, and met my husband at a music festival. I also found out about my current job at a Chicago music festival, so music festivals have been good to me.
