UF Online gets new director
A veteran University of Florida online education leader has been named the new director of UF Online.
Melissa Allen brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in online education and student services, with the last 11 years spent at UF. As an inaugural leader supporting UF Online since its inception in 2014, she played a pivotal role in the program’s growth from 600 students to over 6,000 graduates.
“I’m truly honored by the confidence others have placed in me to step into this role,” Allen said. “The program’s past accomplishments are significant, but I’m even more excited about its future opportunities — and, most importantly, the impactful outcomes that lie ahead for our students.”
In her current position as director of UF Online Enrollment Services within the Division of Enrollment Management, Allen built and expanded essential student support infrastructures, increased operational capacity, and fostered collaborations across key university divisions.
Her expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision-making aligns strongly with UF Online’s vision. She is recognized for her ability to unite cross-functional teams, drive institutional change, and champion student success. She is a national thought-leader in the greater online community.
Allen’s dedication to UF Online’s mission of increasing access to affordable, high-quality education is rooted in her personal experience as a first-generation college student.
Earlier this year, she was honored with a Superior Accomplishment Award for Sustained Excellence at UF. She also recently authored a chapter on her approach to building new student support systems in From Grassroots to the Highly-Orchestrated: Online Leaders Share Their Stories of the Evolving Online Organizational Landscape in Higher Ed.
In addition to her work at UF, Allen has contributed publications on student services and presentations at numerous higher education conferences. She was the recipient of the UPCEA South Region Outstanding Service to Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Award in 2021.
As the director of UF Online, Allen will oversee academic program management, student success initiatives, and innovations in online education. Under her leadership, UF Online is expected to continue to modernize program offerings, enhance the student experience, and strengthen UF’s reputation as a leader in online education.