Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D.
Dr. Merodie A. Hancock serves as the fourth president of Thomas Edison State University, having assumed office March 5, 2018, following an extensive national search.
She is a nationally recognized leader in the administration and delivery of innovative education programs for adult students. Access, success and completion make up Hancock’s educational philosophy. Through decades of meaningful interaction with nontraditional learners, she says she knows empirically that education is the nexus through which one’s capability is harnessed for positive personal and professional growth and societal impact. She has dedicated her career to serving a multitude of under-represented populations, including veterans and active-duty military members.
Prior to her election as president of Thomas Edison State University, she served as president of State University of New York Empire State College, where she was responsible for the operation of the school’s 35 locations throughout New York, its worldwide online programs and eight international sites.
Previously, she served as vice president at Central Michigan University Global Campus and held administrative leadership and teaching positions at the University of Maryland University College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Hancock serves on the Nomination Committee for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame. She is also on the Transfer Committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. Hancock is a member of the board of directors for Greater Trenton Inc.; New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities; the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey; and New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
She previously served on the board of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges; Inside Track Advisory Board; the Distance Education Commission Advisory Group for the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities; the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services (past president); United Way of Isabella County (Michigan); United Way of Greater Capital District (New York); and Special Olympics Michigan. She has served in active roles at the American Council on Education; Council of College and Military Educators; and League for Innovation; and as a member of the National Commission on Online Learning Benchmarking Study.
As an external reviewer for several universities, she has participated in numerous self-studies, reports and evaluation visits for regional accreditors, the Department of Defense, state-approving agencies and specialized accrediting organizations. She speaks widely on such topics as strategic partnerships, pricing models and innovative teaching best practices at professional conferences and meetings.
Hancock holds a Ph.D. in urban services and education administration from Old Dominion University, an MBA from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Scripps College. She holds certificates from the Institute of Educational Management, Harvard University and the University Professional Continuing Education Association Leadership Academy, New York University; a certificate in Process Design and Implementation: Reengineering and Change Management from Michael Hammer and Company; and a certificate in Nonprofit Board Leadership from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University, Michigan.
