Thiel College Business professor, department chair and alumna named Miller endowed chair

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Professor of Business Administration and Chair of the Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting Melissa Oakes ’03 was recognized as the David M. Miller Chair of Accounting at Thiel College’s Academic Honors Convocation recently.

The chair is named for David M. Miller ’61 H’20, a mentor of Professor Oakes. He was a 1961 graduate of Thiel College and taught at Thiel from 1963 to 2020. His 57-year tenure is the longest in Thiel College’s history. He taught more classes and advised more students than any professor in Thiel College’s history. Miller was awarded an honorary degree and retired in 2020. He passed away in 2022.

Oakes is a Thiel College graduate who has been teaching at the College since 2010. She earned an MBA from Clarion University in 2012 and has been a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner since 2007. She was the Associate Department Chair from 2020-23 and was elected as chair in 2023.

Each of the College’s five endowed positions were recognized during the Feb. 9 ceremony. The four other endowed positions are:

• Professor of English Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D. was awarded the Dr. James Pedas ’50 H’89 Chair of Communication;
• Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Accounting Steven Kandray was named the Norman P. Mortensen H ’81 Chair of Economics;
• Associate Professor of History Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D. was recognized with the Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute Chair; and
• Craig Thurber was recognized with the Rod E. Wilt ’86 Head Coach for Thiel College Wrestling.

Related Links

• Academic Affairs
• Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.