In her role as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at California
Lutheran University, Dr. Melinda Roper leads a comprehensive Student Affairs Division
of five units including Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Life, Health
Services, Campus Ministry, and Residence Life & Student Conduct. Dr. Roper is now
in her eighteenth year at Cal Lutheran.
Prior to serving as Vice President and Dean of Students, Dr. Roper was the Associate
Dean of Students and Director of Student Life at Cal Lutheran. In that role, she
provided direct leadership to the offices of Residence Life & Student Conduct, Student
Leadership Development, Intramural Programs & Outdoor Recreation, the Fitness Center,
the Community Service Center, Wellness Programs, New Student Orientation, and other
programs related to student life.
Before joining the Student Affairs staff at Cal Lutheran, Dr. Roper spent 13 years
at Duke University, most recently as Senior Associate Director of Student Activities
and Engagement and Interim Director of the Duke Women’s Center. Prior to that, she
was a member of the Student Affairs staff at Pennsylvania State University working
in the University Union.
A Southern California native and Newbury Park High School alum, Dr. Roper earned a
B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a master’s
degree in Exercise and Sports Science and a doctorate in Student Affairs Administration
from the Pennsylvania State University.
