Melissa Sturge-Apple was officially installed as Warner School dean at a campus celebration
The Warner School community gathered at LeChase Hall on April 17 to celebrate Melissa Sturge-Apple’s appointment as dean of the Warner School of Education and Human Development. During the ceremony, Ƶ Provost Nicole Sampson presented Sturge-Apple with a Dean’s Medal in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the field.
In her opening remarks, Sampson described Sturge-Apple as an accomplished academic leader and a distinguished scholar, noting that her research on parenting and child development—particularly among families experiencing adversity—has shaped the field in meaningful ways.
“What I find particularly compelling about Melissa’s work is how it is grounded in practice,” Sampson said. “Earlier in her career, she served as a middle and high school counselor—an experience that continues to inform her research, her teaching, and her leadership. She understands, firsthand, the complexities facing students, families, and educators. And that perspective is essential as we think about the role of schools like Warner in addressing today’s most pressing educational challenges.”
At the celebration, Sturge-Apple reflected on stepping into the role as much more than a professional milestone.
“It’s a commitment to care for and advance a school grounded in purpose, service, and a deep belief in the power of education to change lives—and in the importance of centering humanity in that work,” she said. “Guided by our past, grounded in our mission, and strengthened by one another, I am excited for the future we will build together and for the impact we will continue to have—on education, on communities, and on lives. As I begin this chapter as dean, I do so with deep gratitude for the legacy and history of this remarkable school, for the leadership and care of those who came before me, and for the community I am honored to serve.”
Ƶ Melissa Sturge-Apple
Melissa Sturge-Apple ’92 began her tenure as dean of the Warner School on January 1, 2026. In this role, she is leading efforts to build upon the school’s longstanding legacy of teaching, research, and service while advancing a forward-looking vision for its future.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics from the Ƶ and her MEd from Harvard Graduate School of Education, she worked for several years as a school counselor supporting students experiencing trauma and risk. That experience led her to return to graduate study, where she completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in developmental psychology at the University of Notre Dame.
In 2006, she returned to the Ƶ as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology and a researcher at the Mount Hope Family Center. During her tenure at Rochester, she moved into academic leadership roles, including vice provost and dean of graduate education (2019-2024) and dean of graduate studies in Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (2016-2019)
A noted academic leader and scholar, Sturge-Apple’s research focuses on family functioning and parenting in contexts of elevated risk and adversity, with a sustained commitment to translating research into practice that supports children and families.