Two HE Alumni Win Dissertation Awards

The Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) proudly congratulates Higher Education PhD graduates Abby (Wilfert) Raznik and Greg Mellas on receiving prestigious national dissertation awards.

Abby (Wilfert) Raznik was honored with the Dissertation of the Year award from the Society for Experiential Education (SEE) for her dissertation, Constructing Meaningful Work through Collegiate Experiential Learning. 

Greg Mellas received the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC), a network of colleges and universities—including the University of Minnesota—committed to advancing engaged scholarship. His dissertation examined the role of senior outreach and engagement officers in fostering university-community partnerships.

These accomplishments reflect the impact and excellence of OLPD’s Higher Education PhD graduates in advancing research, practice, and leadership across the field.