Melanie C. Shorter
Fayetteville,NC
Summary
Accomplished educator with extensive expertise in career development guidance and subject specialisation. Demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion advocacy, coupled with advanced skills in grading proficiency and persuasive presentation. Proficient in specialized software usage, public speaking fluency, and fieldwork coordination, enhancing faculty administration and virtual learning environments. Skilled in online course design and teaching techniques, providing effective feedback with pedagogical expertise. Aspires to leverage advanced subject knowledge and exam setting capabilities to foster an inclusive and dynamic educational environment.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
6023
6023
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Clinical Assistant Professor
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
2014.01 - 2026.01
- Associate Faculty member of Honors College
- Teaches Anatomy and Physiology I and II, General Biology, Medical Terminology, and Vertebrate Physiology
- Advisor to health science majors
- Advisor to Undergraduate Student Dental Association and Minority Pre-medical Students
- Founder and advisor of Pre-Health Professional Society
- Advisor of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine
- Contributed significantly to curriculum development, ensuring relevance and rigour.
- Encouraged a culture of inquiry amongst students with interactive class discussions.
- Delivered engaging lectures to enhance student learning and interest in biological sciences.
- Increased awareness of biodiversity issues through public seminars and guest lectures.
- Developed innovative teaching methods for improved student comprehension.
- Ensured students grasped complex biological concepts through clear and concise explanations.
- Reviewed manuscripts for prestigious scientific publications, contributing to high standards of scholarly work.
- Combined traditional teaching methods with digital tools to enhance learning outcomes.
- Organised annual biology symposiums for stimulating intellectual discourse among peers and students.
- Maintained state-of-the-art laboratory facilities by implementing strict safety protocols.
- Helped students explore concepts through challenging assignments and stimulating class discussions.
- Contributed to department and faculty meetings to continuously assess and improve internal practices.
- Tutored students struggling with material, improving understanding and academic performance.
- Administered examinations, assessed results and issued fair grades.
- Facilitated workshops, tutorials and seminars with opportunities to stimulate students' critical thinking and analysis.
- Modernized syllabus, updating with current research, new techniques, and latest findings to improve relevancy.
- Coordinated laboratory experiments for students to test in-class theories.
- Taught online classes to large groups using multiple platform learning materials to assess students' work.
- Provided students with available contact hours in weekly lectures and seminars.
- Maintained sterilisation of instruments, resulting in a hygienic work environment.
Adjunct Professor
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA
2003.01 - 2004.01
- Taught undergraduate Biology courses 101,102,101L, and 102L.
- Designed and implemented laboratory experiments.
- Developed and implemented course exams.
- Assessed student performance with fair and comprehensive grading system.
- Advanced knowledge of academic subjects through rigorous research and study.
- Led faculty meetings to improve departmental efficiency.
- Incorporated use of technology into curriculum to cater modern learning needs.
- Initiated successful grant applications for funding of major research projects.
- Introduced innovative teaching methods to increase student engagement in class discussions and assignments.
- Developed lesson plans for engaging student lectures.
Science Teacher
Lewis Chapel Middle School
Fayetteville, NC
2002.01 - 2003.01
- Taught science concepts to seventh grade students.
- Advised homeroom students on daily activities and academic progress.
- Designed and implemented challenging laboratory experiments.
- Prepared engaging lesson plans for effective teaching.
- Used technology effectively to enhance the learning experience.
- Promoted a positive learning environment with clear behaviour expectations.
- Incorporated real-world applications of scientific theories into lessons, making material more relevant and interesting.
- Assisted weaker students after school hours, offering personalized support for better understanding of topics covered in class.
- Facilitated learning with hands-on activities.
- Encouraged critical thinking through open-ended discussion sessions.
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NCDoctor of Dental Surgery - General Dentistry
Howard University College of Dentistry
Washington, DCBachelor of Arts - Biology
Hampton University
Hampton, VASkills
- Career development guidance
- Subject specialisation
- Diversity and inclusion advocacy
- Grading proficiency
- Persuasive presentation
- Specialised software usage
- Advanced subject knowledge
- Public speaking fluency
- Fieldwork coordination
- Faculty administration
- Virtual learning environments
- Language proficiency
- Online course design
- Online teaching techniques
- Effective feedback giving
- Pedagogical expertise
- Exam setting
Presentations
- Panelist for 15 White Coats HBCU Tethered Tour. Fayetteville State University 2025.
- It’s Not Only Who You Know, but Who Knows You!- Honor’s College Speaker-Fayetteville State University 2023.
- Leveraging Your Failures Towards Your Success- Honor’s College Distinguished Speakers Series- Fayetteville State University 2017.
- Emergency 911 Fight for Your Life- Women’s History Committee at Fayetteville State University 2016.
- How to Make it into Professional School-students in the Department of Biological Sciences 2015.
- Red Cabbage Experiment-Delta Academy for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 2013.
- Introduction into STEM careers- Oral presentation given to students interested in STEM careers. 2012.
- How to Survive the First Years of Dental School- Oral presentation given to first year dental students. 2010.
Teacher Workshops
- Online Teacher Workshop-Fayetteville State University –Fayetteville, NC 2017
- Pre-Health Advisors Workshop-McHarry Medical College-Nashville, TN 2016
- Flipped Pedagogy Workshop- Fayetteville State University -Fayetteville, NC 2016
- Association of American Colleges and Universities Diversity Workshop – San Diego, CA 2015
Work Committees
- Graduation Marshall Committee
- Health Careers Committee- Chair 2023
- Pre-Health Professional Society- Advisor 2015-Present
- Courtesy Committee 2015-Present
- Technology Committee-Webmaster 2014-Present
- Women’s History Committee-Member 2014-Present
Community Organizations
- Ethics Commission 2025-2027
- Fair Housing Board 2024-2026
- The Links, Incorporated, Vice President
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Regional Emergency Response Team
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
Certification
Doctor of Dentistry
Doctor of Educationcompletion year 2026
Affiliations
- Reading Journals
- Traveling
Research Experiences
- Fayetteville State University-Mental Health and Its Effect on Students in Post -Secondary Institutions. Current
- Fayetteville State University-A Fish Out of Water: Learning the Roles of Student Affairs.
- Howard University College of Dentistry-Department of Periodontics: Studied the effects of periodontal disease on patients who smoked. June 2000
- Howard University College of Dentistry-Department of Pediatrics: Studied the correlation between caries rate and socioeconomic levels. June 1999
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Clinical Assistant Professor
Fayetteville State University
2014.01 - 2026.01
Adjunct Professor
Germanna Community College
2003.01 - 2004.01
Science Teacher
Lewis Chapel Middle School
2002.01 - 2003.01
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education
Fayetteville State University
Doctor of Dental Surgery - General Dentistry
Howard University College of Dentistry
Bachelor of Arts - Biology
Hampton University