Melissa Lavitt
Dean
College of Social Sciences & Public Affairs
Boise State University
Melissa Lavitt serves as dean to the College of Social Sciences & Public Affairs at Boise State University. The college and its ten departments serve a statewide mission to inform public policy. Lavitt's scholarship and professional background are in social work. She was a practicing family therapist for over 20 years in addition to being a member of the faculty. Her previous institutional affiliations included Arizona State University and Eastern Washington University where she helped implement a JD/MSW degree with Gonzaga Law School. Lavitt received her PhD and MSW from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her BA was awarded with Honors from the University of Chicago.