Melody Tankersley is the first woman to serve as Kent State’s provost.

As provost, Tankersley is the second-highest-ranking executive officer at the university. She oversees all things academic such as the deans, the institutional research and the university’s accreditations.

“Provost is a weird term,” Tankersley said.

Tankersley stepped into the role of provost in October 2020 after serving as Todd Diacon’s provost fellow when he was Kent State’s provost.

Tankersley has always been in the education sector, since she began her career as a teacher of students with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.

“I loved what I did, but realized it’s a hard job both physically and emotionally and mentally,” Tankersley said. “I just knew that it wasn’t something I would be able to do for a long time, but I loved it so much and wanted to teach other people how to do it.”

After leaving her teaching job, Tankersley came to Kent State in 1993.

She began her career here as an associate professor, then a full professor and then department chair. After working with the dean in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, she had the chance to be Diacon’s provost fellow.

“I just kind of found myself every now and then taking on more roles at the university and with my department and with my college,” Tankersley said.

Tankersley holds the title of provost with a lot of pride, especially since she is Kent State’s first female provost.

“It’s certainly an honor and a privilege but I think it also speaks to where Kent State is, I mean, we have so many first at Kent State right now,” Tankersley said.

She attributes these firsts to Diacon and him ensuring that there is a diverse leadership group, faculty, student body and staff.

Diacon’s cabinet and senior leadership are diverse. Not only is Tankersley the first female provost, but Lamar Hylton is the first African American to serve as vice president of student affairs and Taléa Drummer-Ferrell is the first African American to serve as dean of students.

To Tankersley, the value of diversity within Kent State’s senior leadership is unmatched.

“You’re compounding the effects of all of those voices, all of those experiences, all of that knowledge into being able to be the best version of an institution you can be,” Tankersley said.

These diverse perspectives allow for a lot of intersectionalities, something Tankersley values highly within Kent State and herself.

“I’m the first female in the Provost Office but I’m also the first in my family to graduate college,” Tankersley said. “So it means a lot to me for both of those identities to be sitting in this seat.”

Tankersley’s vision for the university is to invest in students.

“I’m really focused on our students and continuing to elevate that uniqueness that only Kent State can bring,” Tankersley said. “ I think we offer something that’s distinctive that you can’t get in any other institution, and I want to elevate that and shine a light on that.”

Tankersley’s passion is clear to those who work closely with her.

“All the good things you hear about the provost are true,” said Jennifer Hebebrand, the provost’s project director.

Hebebrand works closely with the provost, handling high-level academic projects. Due to this, Hebebrand sees much of Tankersley’s work firsthand.

“Melody embodies Kent State,” Hebebrand said. “I don’t know what this university would do without her.”

Tankersley shares the same sentiment for those in her Kent State community.

“If I could just get a shout-out to all of the women around me because I am in awe of the women I get to work with every single day,” Tankersley said. “ It’s an incredible group that we have.”

Jocy Holtsberry is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].