Wesleyan's 26th President,

Meaghan Blight

President Blight comes to Wesleyan from Huron University College, London, Ontario, Canada, where she served as Vice President, University Growth and Chief of Staff. During her eight-year tenure at Huron, Blight’s responsibilities increased to include supervision over advancement, alumni relationships, communications and marketing, recruiting and admissions, and student services. She is credited with leading Huron’s success in all those areas, including significant increases in fundraising and leading all Canadian institutions in enrollment growth. As a new import to Macon, Blight says she is attracted to the vibrancy of the community, and that she, her husband, and their two sons are looking forward to joining the Middle Georgia family and participating and contributing to the life and fabric of the community. She said, “I will be focused on growing our brand recognition in local and international markets and attracting high performing women from across the globe. We will be actively fundraising to support strategic initiatives, and capital revitalization plans. I am very much looking forward to meeting our alumnae and getting to know their stories about Wesleyan. Our history is rich, and I feel very privileged to get to be a part of it.” president@wesleyancollege.edu

The President’s Cabinet

Melody Blake

Provost

Since 2017, Dr. Melody Blake has served as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. As provost, is also responsible for strategic planning, development of new programs, and leading a world class faculty in educating women.

Prior to serving Wesleyan Dr. Blake worked as provost at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She also served for three years as vice president of Mission Services at Goodwill of the Heartland. She spent 20 years in the classroom, teaching development and social psychology. A native of California, Blake earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her master’s degree and Ph.D. in social psychology from Claremont Graduate University. Her research areas of interests include assessment of academic programs, change management, and women’s friendships. mblake@wesleyancollege.edu

Tonya Parker

Chief Diversity Officer &
Dean for Equity & Inclusion/Title IX Coordinator

Tonya Parker '01 is the Chief Diversity Officer and Dean for Equity & Inclusion. Parker, a 2001 graduate of Wesleyan College, previously served as the director of education and outreach at the Tubman Museum of African American Art, History, and Culture, and as the executive camp and program director for Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc. Parker provides support, trainings, workshops and other educational opportunities for campus community members to be informed, engaged and intentional about inclusive behavior and practices. Parker is the campus Title IX Coordinator and is responsible for the implementation and management of the College's policies, procedures, investigations, and compliance efforts concerning harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct, and retaliation. Parker works with campus members to foster inclusivity, respect and responsibility through awareness, acceptance and appreciation of the unique individuals within our campus community. tparker@wesleyancollege.edu

Larry Wakefield

Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
 

Andrea Williford 

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Williford started her career at Wesleyan in 2011 as director of annual giving, and assumed her current position in the office of advancement in 2014. She also oversees the offices of advancement, alumnae affairs, and communications.

Williford is a graduate of Wake Forest University and brings to Wesleyan a background in fundraising for various organizations including United Way of Central Georgia, Central Georgia Technical College, and the Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway (now the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail). Prior to joining the Wesleyan College staff, she was a Bill Blass New York Regional Manager for seventeen states. A member of the Downtown Rotary Club, Williford currently serves on the Board of Historic Macon. She is a past board president of the Museum of Arts and Sciences and Macon Arts Alliance, and has served as a board member for the Hay House, Macon/Bibb Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Macon. awilliford@wesleyancollege.edu