“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato

When you walk into Dr. Desireé Melonas’ office on the third floor of the Harbert Building, you are greeted with this quote from Plato, thoughtful reading list suggestions, and pictures of prominent black figures, such as Frederick Douglas and Ida B. Wells, all placed around the door frame.

As a political theorist of space and place, Melonas, assistant professor of political science, often spends time contemplating what she has chosen to surround herself with.

“I think about space a lot,” Melonas says. “I think about how space shapes us, at the level of identity. I think about what goes into constructing physical and social spaces.”

Adapting her office into a place where she felt inspired was an important step when she arrived at Birmingham-Southern College three years ago. A graduate of Saint Vincent College and Temple University, Melonas came to BSC from Swarthmore College, where she was a visiting assistant professor.

One of her first projects was to change the lighting and add more comfortable seating, creating a softer, more humanized environment for students and colleagues to come visit and have discussions. Pictures of the people most important to her are hung right above her computer, as she wants to keep them in close proximity. Beside these pictures, many cards filled with kindness are pinned to a board.

“I see these as really, really beautiful reminders of how I have been able to impact students,” Melonas says. “I appreciate their willingness to share that with me, and don’t think they truly understand how meaningful their words are.”

Above her desk hangs the Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award that Melonas received in 2018 for excellence in teaching.

Melonas hopes to exemplify excellence in teaching through her focus on a positive classroom dynamic. One way she does this is by taking 10 minutes at the beginning of every class to have conversations with students.

“I aim to cultivate an environment where students feel connected, appreciated, and enabled,” says Melonas. “With this foundation, we are then able to learn and teach other people.”

During her time at BSC, Melonas has focused on the development of a black studies distinction and the addition of a political theory focus in the political science department. Although both have since been established, she wants to continue improving future course offerings to students.

Beyond working to create new classroom opportunities, Melonas is involved with the Black Women’s Union, the Mortar Board, Students Demand Action, and the Diversity Committee. She also helps with recruiting efforts for the BSC softball and football teams.

About BSC’s Distinction in Black Studies

Dr. Desireé Melonas has worked since 2017 to create a focused study on the Black experience. BSC’s recently established Distinction in Black Studies program introduces students to the political, social, economic, and historical dimensions animating the lives of Black people in Africa and the African diaspora.

“Taking into account that BSC is situated in Birmingham, we need to have curriculum that reflects a broad set of interests as we make active efforts to build a more diverse and inclusive environment,” Melonas says.

Faculty from departments of political science, history, and media and film studies came together in spring 2018 to develop course ideas and determine a direction for the transdisciplinary distinction. This fall, students quickly enrolled in and filled up the flagship introductory course.

“The program was already something students needed. We just responded,” Melonas says.

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.