Anoka-Ramsey Community College welcomes new full-time faculty to Cambridge Campus

April 09, 2019

Anoka-Ramsey Community College is pleased to welcome two new full-time faculty members to the Cambridge Campus.

Hillary Gokey will join the Psychology Department.

Gokey has been teaching Psychology courses at Anoka-Ramsey since 2011 on both the Cambridge and Coon Rapids campuses. She holds a Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in School Counseling with post graduate work in psychology. Goekey is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration.

Beyond part-time teaching at Anoka-Ramsey, Gokey has also been active in her service to Anoka-Ramsey serving on the First Year Experience team, Strategic Planning Committee, Diversity Committee and Organizational Climate and Culture Committee.

Gokey loves and stands by the Emily Dickinson quote, “dwell in possibility.” She believes there is always hope and states, “hope is something that can never be taken away.”

Dr. Melanie Melendrez will join the Biology Department.

Melendrez obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish/Latin American Literature from Pacific Lutheran University. Along with her two degrees, she also earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science with a focus in Microbiology from Montana State University.

Prior to joining the Anoka-Ramsey faculty, Melendrez has spent the past seven years engaged in research with the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangkok, Thailand and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, MD as a Lead Scientist and Bioinformatician, with a focus on viral diseases.

Melendrez moved to Minnesota in 2016 to be closer to family and started pursuing opportunities in academia. She has also assisted in science outreach with K-12 students, taught at Inver Hills Community College and St. Cloud State University, and served as a mentor for science teaching and best practices in curriculum design for the American Society of Microbiology.

"What drew me to Anoka-Ramsey Community College was the strong commitment to equity, integrating research into classroom curriculum, and preparing students with relevant knowledge and skill sets to ensure future success in whatever field they pursue,” said Melendrez. “The Cambridge and Coon Rapids campuses have talented and supportive faculty and I am looking forward to the teaching, collaborations and friendships I will be able to make. I am excited to make Anoka-Ramsey’s Cambridge Campus my academic home."