Melissa Bessette DeBlois, Program Manager for Computers

In the ten years that Melissa Bessette DeBlois has worked at CCV, she has held a variety of positions ranging from Financial Aid Assistant to Library Coordinator to Computer Guru to Site Office Manager for Facilities. But no position resonates with her quite like the Coordinator of Academic Services role that she currently holds. “The unique nature of the position encourages work with faculty, students, AND curriculum,” she says. “When your decision-making process takes all those pieces into consideration, it makes for an exciting job, a remarkable college, and a cutting edge technology opportunity.”

Melissa is delighted to be adding Program Manager to her growing list of job titles. While she has participated on this program committee for the past six years, she hopes that her daily work with students and faculty will help shape the future of computer coursework in this leadership role. “The Computer Program at CCV is one of the most responsive groups with which I have worked. Because of the nature of computer education, there is a constant need for revision, re-evaluation, and re-configuration. Although the computer program makes annual adjustments to the curriculum, the subtle changes are oftentimes seamlessly integrated because of the dynamic faculty members at CCV who take the changes, incorporate them, and have students achieving new goals with ease.”

Melissa knew that she wanted to work in higher education when she graduated from St. Lawrence University with a double major in English Literature and French. She landed in the field of computers because she often volunteered to take the lead and try her hand at troubleshooting. This interest in technology and its use in the classroom led to completion of a Master’s of Education with a focus in Instructional Technology at St. Michael’s College.

Melissa has also served on College Council, Academic Council, and Learning Technologies committees college-wide; Faculty Development in the Burlington site; and is currently involved in the VSC Strategic Planning group, Technology Futures.

Melissa grew up in Addison County on a dairy farm purchased by her great-grandfather. She made a cameo appearance in the award-winning children’s video based on a year on her family’s farm, Let’s Go to the Farm. When Melissa is not at CCV or on her computer, she is fully immersed in the wonders of parenthood. She and her husband, Matthew, are the proud parents of two boys, ages 2 ½ and almost 5 years. She enjoys gardening, hiking and playing any kind of ball game with her family.