2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium Keynote Speaker

Dr. Jeanne Mekolichick is Associate Provost of Associate Provost of Research, Faculty Success & Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Sociology at Radford University. She provides strategic leadership and direction for the research and creative scholarship enterprise, faculty development, experiential learning, the online enterprise and strategic initiatives. Dr. Mekolichick spent the early part of her career teaching, mentoring, and publishing with undergraduates, and collaborating with community partners. Over the course of her career, Dr. Mekolichick has served in a variety of progressive leadership roles, winning awards for both teaching and leadership. Her work has been funded by public and private agencies for mission-central efforts including inclusive excellence, community-engaged work, undergraduate research, scholarship and creative inquiry, student success and career readiness. Dr. Mekolichick has held several leadership roles in the Council on Undergraduate Research, serving as President in 2021-2022. She has also served nationally as a consultant, facilitator, speaker and peer reviewer. Dr. Mekolichick graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in sociology from Kent State University. She earned her masters of science and doctorate of philosophy both in sociology also from Kent State University.