Published on February 20, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. by Alison Ingle  
Melissa Lumpkin

Melissa Lumpkin, dean of Samford University’s School of Public Health, has retired after a decades-long career dedicated to public health and academia. A first-generation college student, she discovered her passion for improving population health while working in Rural Health Affairs at the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Initially planning to attend law school, she instead pursued a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she worked for the next 34 years and earned a doctorate in gerontology and behavioral science.

In 2014, Lumpkin joined Samford University as the chair of the Department of Public Health, becoming interim dean six years later. She assumed leadership at a challenging time in March 2020, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her guidance, the school expanded its offerings, including online, international and professional studies programs. Lumpkin played a pivotal role in securing program accreditations and ensuring the integration of faith-based learning into the curriculum. She emphasized financial sustainability, while fostering a supportive environment that enabled the faculty to thrive.

Lumpkin takes pride in the students she has mentored, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions in public health. She credits the school's success to its dedicated faculty and staff, emphasizing their leadership, expertise and commitment to students.

"The school's greatest success lies in hiring outstanding faculty who are leaders in their fields, dedicated to our students and exemplify the love of Christ to all," said Lumpkin. "Samford students continue to make a difference in the world once they leave, and I always enjoyed hearing from them and the path they are on."

She will kick off her well-earned retirement with spring travels to Greece and Turkey, followed by a European tour in the fall. When home, she will volunteer, spend time with grandchildren and tend to her 40-acre Cahaba River farm, which she shares with her husband, Frank.

As she steps away, she will deeply miss the Samford community, its faith-driven mission and the camaraderie of her colleagues. She also won't soon forget professor "David Robbins' legendary cakes." Lumpkin’s impact on students and faculty ensures that her legacy will endure for years to come.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.