A new scholarship fund at UNT College of Engineering has been set up in honor of Melanie Dewey, a graduate program administrative specialist within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Melanie began working at UNT in October 2015 with Professor Krishna Kavi in the Industry & University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC). She transferred in 2018 to the Computer Science and Engineering departmental office where she began her role as the graduate program administrative specialist and served as the first point of contact for CSCE graduate applicants, most of whom were international students. Melanie assisted the students by helping them navigate the UNT application process, including discussing leveling courses and English Language Proficiency requirement; meeting with them one-on-one when they arrived at UNT or within the United States; and helping them get registered and settled into university life.

“Melanie was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known, and a joy to work with. She was always looking for creative ways to do a task or a way to brighten someone’s day,” said Diana Bergeman, administrative coordinator in the department. “If you told her she couldn’t do something, that just made her more determined to do it, and do it perfectly. That was her personality – she never gave up on her family, her friends, and definitely not ‘her students,’ as she liked to call them.”

Melanie learned on June 9, 2020, that she had cancer. Unfortunately, her health deteriorated rapidly and on July 9, 2020, at just 40 years old, Melanie passed away.

The Melanie Leigh Wilson Melanie Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Computer Science provides support for master’s students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

To contribute to the fund, visit the University Advancement gift portal or contact Angus McColl, assistant dean of strategic partnerships and executive director of development, at angus.mccoll@unt.edu or (940) 565-2180.