Melissa Thomas Hunt

Research Interests/Areas of Expertise

Inclusive Leadership, Conflict Management and Negotiation

Biography

Melissa C. Thomas-Hunt is the vice provost for inclusive excellence at Vanderbilt University.

Leadership

Provost Thomas-Hunt is responsible for helping to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the trans-institutional research and educational missions of Vanderbilt University, building on the numerous efforts currently underway in the provost’s office and across academic affairs to create a welcoming environment for students, faculty and academic staff. Prior to Vanderbilt, she served as senior associate dean and global chief diversity officer at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Teaching

Provost Thomas-Hunt has spent numerous years teaching negotiation to executives, and served as the faculty leader for The Women’s Leadership Program.

Research Interests

Provost Thomas-Hunt research interests focus on conflict management, negotiation and inclusive leadership within global teams and organizations. Her current research activities focus specifically on the effects of status and power on negotiation processes and outcomes and the evaluation and integration of expertise within diverse groups.

Education

PH.D, Organization Behavior, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, 1997

M.Sc., Organization Behavior, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, 1995

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1989