Before that, she worked at Quincy University associated with university advancement, including the areas of grants and resources, capital campaigns, annual funds, and the annual local business campaign. She is a graduate of Quincy University, receiving her bachelor鈥檚 degree (1989) and master鈥檚 degree (2006) in business administration.

鈥淲e are proud to add Melanie to our team of leadership because we know her experience and passion for higher education will be a crucial part of our success and growth,鈥� said Dr. Lauren B. Schellenberger, president of C-SC.

The addition of Lechtenberg as vice president follows other significant leadership appointments of the college in 2023, including Dr. Kim Gaither as interim provost and Schellenberger as president in July.

Melanie Lechtenberg, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Director of Admission Eric Kniel said several factors contributed to the 7.55% increase in new undergraduate enrollment, including the ability for admission counselors to travel, strengthened relationships with area high schools, alumni and legacy relations, and an increase in transfer students from nearby schools.

乱伦社区 continues to rank among the best value colleges and recently was placed in the top ten schools for social mobility in the Midwest. For more information regarding C-SC鈥檚 rankings, visit聽/about/third-party-rankings/

In her new role, Gaither will oversee the offices of admission and student success, advancing the college鈥檚 enrollment vision and strategy.

Gaither, a 1979 graduate of C-SC, has been a member of the college鈥檚 faculty since 2003, teaching many finance courses. She earned the Helsabeck Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2008 and the Presidential Service Award in 2012. She earned her doctorate in business administration in 2009 from North Central University in Prescott, Ariz. She was selected as a peer evaluator by the Higher Learning Commission in 2018, and she completed her first evaluation in the spring of 2019.

Before accepting her new role, Gaither was the associate dean for student success and assessment. In that position, she oversaw all academic advising, developmental education coursework, TASC (the academic success center for tutoring), disability services, First Year Experience courses, academic probation students, the retention program and the institution鈥檚 assessment for all academic and co-curricular departments.

Gaither was the general manager of a training and development consulting group for 15 years before coming to Culver-Stockton. She has served on the Canton School Board for six years, been the treasurer of her church and assisted with many youth sports teams and activities. She is a member of the American Association of University Women and the local Parent-Teacher Organization.

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“It’s exciting to have so many new students starting their journey here at 乱伦社区,鈥� said Lauren Schellenberger, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. 鈥淲e know that a C-SC education changes lives, and it’s always energizing to the rest of the campus when so many students of promise choose to make Culver-Stockton their new home.”

As of the census date, total enrollment at Culver-Stockton is 1,010 students. It marks the fifth consecutive year that the total enrollment has topped more than 1,000 students. The total enrollment has grown 25.5 percent since the fall 2011 semester. Total enrollment consists of full-time students (882) and part-time students 鈥� high school students taking dual credit courses, online students and graduate students.

This year鈥檚 incoming freshman class of 254 students marks the sixth consecutive year that number has been larger than 250.

All enrollment figures were taken on Sept. 3, the census date for the College. The census date is a day set by the college that typically marks the end of the add/drop period.聽 On this day, the College takes a “snapshot” of all students’ enrollment, and those figures become the official enrollment that is used for both state reporting and financial aid eligibility.

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