Melissa L. Freeman holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration (2007); an M.A. in political science/public administration (2000); and a BSS in political science, sociology, and interpersonal communications (1997) from Ohio University (Athens, OH).  She is an assistant professor of business/public administration, director of the School of Business Survey Research Center, and track chair for the public administration emphasis in the MBA program at Adams State College.  Dr. Freeman teaches courses on public administration and nonprofit management, survey/marketing research and public opinion, public policy and analysis, and higher education. 

She specializes in quantitative applications for policy and research drawing upon her experience as a researcher with the Center for Higher Education at Ohio University and her experience working with national datasets at the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).  Her research interests include access issues to higher education, particularly for rural and first generation students.

She currently serves on the board of directors for the Gingerbread House Early Learning Center as Co-chair.  In 2000 she was awarded the Department of Political Science, Outstanding Public Administration Scholar Award.  In 2006, she received a national fellowship for dissertation study from the National Center for Education Statistics/Association for Institutional Research (NCES/AIR), one of only two awarded that year. 

Before coming to Adams State College, Freeman spent 22 years working for the State of Ohio, 18 of which were at Ohio University.  There she served in several capacities including, research administration, legislative liaison, special projects, grant and budget management, research associate, and adjunct instructor.