Editors’ Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Melissa Neal took over as Washington and Lee’s 12th university registrar in June, succeeding interim registrar Fred Rodriguez. She came to W&L from Radford University, where she served as interim registrar during the 2023-24 academic year. In an emailed statement to the Phi, she reflected on her first few months in the role and shared her vision for the office.
Q: What inspired you to join W&L as its new registrar?
A: I visited W&L before applying for the position and almost instantly felt at home. The community is warm and engaging, and I love the wonderful opportunities given to students here. W&L was looking for someone to focus on relationship building, streamlining and improving processes with technology––all of which are parts of the job that I enjoy. It was a good fit for me, and I’m grateful to be a part of the W&L community.
Q: What have been your initial projects or areas of focus since stepping into your role as University Registrar?
A: The biggest focus for me has been to build relationships and get to know the campus community. To collaborate across campus, and lead my own team, it’s important to listen to the needs and pain points, as well as the strengths of the office. This has allowed me to assist both internally and externally with some streamlining of processes and policies to better support students, staff and faculty.
Q: Can you explain the role of the Registrar’s Office in managing registration and academic records at the university?
A: The Office of the Registrar sets up and maintains the majority of the registration process including entering the course schedules into Workday, setting up the registration parameters, and assisting students during registration regardless of the question. We also manage all the academic records for students, ensuring they are accurate and secure.
Q: Have you encountered any specific challenges at W&L that have shaped your priorities so far?
A: The Registrar’s Office has had a challenging few years with turnover and staffing. That is a difficult environment for everyone. My immediate priority was building trust, stability and a positive morale with my team and the campus community.
Q: How does the Registrar’s Office gather feedback from students and faculty about registration systems like Workday?
A: Internally, we gather feedback through surveys and information that students and faculty provide during office interactions and focus groups. We also gather data from other schools and universities through professional organizations and conferences.
Q: What advice would you give to students to make their registration process as smooth as possible?
A: My advice would be to prepare early. Make sure you have your classes lined up, with a few backups in case your top choices are full. Meeting with your advisor in advance is essential to staying on track for your degree. If a class is full, make sure to waitlist. Also, if you are confident and comfortable with Workday registration, try to find a place that is more isolated. When everyone meets together to register, sometimes the network can take a hit and it slows down slightly. If you choose a place that is further away from the crowds, your registration process might be less frustrating.