Melodye Wehrung. Photo by Jon Chase.

Melodye Wehrung, a specialist in educational research and university administration, has been named director of Equal Opportunity Programs and Compliance for Harvard University, according to Associate Vice President James Hoyte.

Hoyte says that Wehrung is particularly well suited for the position. "We needed someone with experience and sensitivity in multiple areas: higher education administration, organizational analysis, and field research."

With extensive training and experience in statistics and measurement, Wehrung most recently served in the Office of Research, Assessment, and Evaluation for the Boston Public Schools. Hoyte also notes that Wehrung is highly skilled in designing, pinpointing, and critiquing research questions and conducting surveys. Among her responsibilities for the Boston School Department, Wehrung led and conducted research on bilingual education and equity programs designed to integrate the city's schools. She was also an annual contributor to an analysis on racial/ethnic gap reduction in academic achievement in Boston.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity of working with the Harvard community in strengthening our role as a world-class leader in education and research," said Wehrung, who began serving as director on Feb. 22. "A commitment to access the full complement of available, excellent talent assures our position in that role."

Wehrung is no stranger to the Harvard community. From 1985 to 1987, she served as assistant director of the Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute, Radcliffe's postdoctoral fellowship program. She is also a recent graduate (MPA '97) of the Kennedy School of Government, where she focused on organizational management and conflict resolution.

Wehrung, who earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, has additional experience working in university central administration. As assistant to the vice chancellor for external relations at the SIU system office, Wehrung was responsible for coordinating the university's communication efforts with government and private agencies. As assistant to the chancellor, Wehrung worked for the board of trustees in conducting policy analysis in personnel matters, fiscal responsibility, and legislative impact.