With a background in philosophy and interdisciplinary work, Melinda Hall is set to lead CCIE’s newest school. (Photo by Danielle Hendrix)
For over a decade, Melinda Hall has undertaken various roles in both administrative and strategic capacities within higher education. Now, she is bringing her experience to UCF.
Hall, a professor of philosophy, is the founding director of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies the newest academic unit in the College of Community Innovation and Education. Prior to her time at UCF, she served in multiple leadership positions at Stetson University, including philosophy department chair and most recently the associate dean of Stetson’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“What really drew me to this role was the sense that the College of Community Innovation and Education itself was doing a lot of great interdisciplinary work,” Hall says. “The college already welcomes connection across disciplines, which makes it the ideal home for a school focused on that. I’m excited to come in and help continue the positive work being done here.”
Hall describes interdisciplinary studies as a field that uses multiple analytical tools to address complex phenomena.
“Interdisciplinary studies is fun because it’s community-based,” Hall says. “It’s exciting to cross disciplinary boundaries because disciplines can become siloed. Sometimes you’ll ask a question in one discipline that’s highly relevant in another, but you’d have no idea because you haven’t been working with anyone in that area. Interdisciplinary studies helps us give students the opportunity to combine various fields of study to answer complex questions.”
Much of her academic background, in fact, already takes a highly interdisciplinary approach. Hall holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in philosophy from Vanderbilt University and two bachelor’s degrees from American University — one in philosophy and one in political science. She enjoys bridging gaps in the work she does, whether by developing grants or building new degree programs. Her interest in communal research is rooted in her years as a university student, when her early fascination with politics evolved into a passion for philosophy.
“I wanted to be a politician when I was growing up, but I didn’t understand how politics worked,” Hall says. “In my political science classes, I liked the discussions about how people work together, but I enjoyed my philosophy classes more. The mere description of how people behave didn’t interest me as much as questions about how we could build a positive, forward-thinking community together, so I began to pursue philosophy.”
Hall says that, as a philosopher, she enjoys cultivating relationships and helping others find a sense of direction. She believes her new role at UCF is the perfect opportunity for her to do just that.
“I love connecting with people, and I feel you have to connect to take steps into the future,” Hall says. “I think there is something really special about a relational space where you tackle complex problems alongside other thinkers and seekers. Whether it’s relationships among academic disciplines or insights from mentors and mentees, there is magic to mixing tools for your own purposes. Complex problems deserve complex solutions—and in SIS, our faculty make sure that complex doesn’t mean complicated.”
Looking forward, Hall says she hopes fostering awareness of the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary work will not only help the school grow but also inspire widespread, long-term interest in interdisciplinary studies.
“Students need to know this field is something they can pursue here,” Hall says. “I want to help elevate what faculty and students are already doing so others can follow in their footsteps. Our job is to help our students discover how interdisciplinary studies can open up a world of possibilities."