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School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Board of Advisors: Margaret B. Melady

President, American University in Rome

Dr. Margaret B. Melady, M.A. ‘71, served in both academic and corporate positions.  She taught at several universities, teaching speech, public relations and media communications before being appointed President of the American University in Rome where she served for six years. Dr. Melady held senior positions in corporate communications and governmental affairs. She served as Director of Corporate Communications of United Illuminating, a Connecticut public utility company, directed a nationwide program in state governmental affairs at Chesebrough-Ponds and worked at Stauffer Chemical Company in both public relations and governmental affairs. Dr. Melady has authored four books on social and political commentary and studies in international culture and communications. An alumna of the College of New Rochelle where she received a B.A. degree, Dr. Melady received her M.A. from Seton Hall University. She earned the Doctor of Social Sciences degree summa cum laude from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Dr. Melady is an active volunteer. From 2014-2018, she served as the elected President of the Federal Association of the Order of Malta, one of 47 national associations of the Sovereign Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Catholic Church. She is a trustee of the Catholic Distance University and has received honorary doctorates from Seton Hall, John Cabot and Albertus Magnus universities.   

Education:

  • Doctor of Social Sciences, Gregorian University
  • M.A., Seton Hall University
  • B.A., College of New Rochelle

Academic Distinctions and Scholarship:

  • Robertus Bellarmino Medal, Pontifical Gregorian University
  • Cross of Merit with Star, Order of Malta
  • Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa, Seton Hall University and John Cabot University