Dr. Judy Melton, 81, professor emerita of German and Women’s Studies, died on February 8, 2023.
Melton retired in 2007 after a 35-year career at Clemson. She was associate department head and later department head of the Language Department as well as coordinator of Women’s Studies. From 2000 to 2007, Melton served as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Architecture, Arts & Humanities. In addition, Melton served on the board of the Modern Language Association.
Melton joined the faculty at Clemson in 1972 after teaching German for several years at the University of Tulsa. A pioneer in curriculum development, Melton co-founded the Language & International Trade program. She also co-founded and taught in the Women’s Studies Program and was responsible for creating the Women’s Studies minor which has since evolved into the Woman’s Leadership major. Later collaborative research led to the creation of a course Literature and the Arts of the Holocaust, which she team-taught with Humanities professor Alma Bennett. As a result of her caring engagement with students and faculty, she received the Class of ’39 Award for Excellence in 1999, awarded annually to one distinguished member of the faculty for highest achievement of service to the student body, university and community, state, or nation as one of many awards for service to Clemson.
A celebration of life will take place on March 11, 2023, beginning at 2:00PM at the Emeritus College, 511 Westinghouse Road, Pendleton, SC 29670. Access Dr. Melton’s full obituary online.
