About Us

Dr. Michelle Payne serves as Vice Provost for Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs at Boise State University. As Vice Provost she is responsible for coordinating programs and services in Academic Affairs that support the career development of faculty and the growth of effective academic leaders. She works with partners across Boise State and Idaho to provide leadership development programs for Academic Affairs; support faculty shared governance processes and policies; facilitate healthy department cultures; manage faculty personnel processes; and contribute to Boise State’s strategic goal to foster thriving communities. Dr. Payne is also a member of the planning team for the inaugural Idaho Academic Leadership Academy, which is funded by the Idaho State Board of Education.

Dr. Payne is a Professor of Writing Studies and has a Ph.D. in English, Composition,
and Literature from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A. in Composition and
Rhetoric from Florida State University, and a B.A. in English Literature, with a minor in Creative Writing, from Miami University in Ohio. Prior to serving as Vice Provost, Dr. Payne served as chair of the English Department at Boise State for 12 years (2006-
2018); Assistant Director (1998-2003) and then Director of the First-Year Writing
Program at Boise State University (2003-2006).

She is the author of Bodily Discourses: When Students Write About Abuse and Eating Disorders (Portsmouth: Boyton/Cook, Heinemann, March 2000); The Curious Reader: Exploring Academic and Personal Inquiry (New York: Pearson Longman, 2005) with Bruce Ballenger; as well as co-author of The Curious Writer (2022) (with Bruce Ballenger and Kelly Myers) and The Instructor’s Manual to Accompany The Curious Writer (2022), in addition to various articles and book chapters.

Prior to her role at Boise State, Stephanie was an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the College of Western Idaho for 12 years, where she was the founding faculty member of the Criminal Justice program. While at CWI, Stephanie also served four years as the faculty senate president. This role sparked a passion for supporting and advocating for faculty, which prompted her transition to Boise State. Stephanie holds a M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Boise State and a B.S. in Crime and Justice Studies from the University of Idaho. She has also sought out additional education in civil mediation, leading with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and project management. Stephanie is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Public Policy and Administration.

After teaching mathematics and visual arts in various schools across the country, Melissa worked as a Quality Data Analyst, verifying complex bond calculations and as a Learning and Development Lead and has experience communicating complex technical information to non-technical users as well as creating training programs. In addition, Melissa has experience with educational policy and advocacy work, having analyzed and reported data on education for policymakers to inform education-related legislation. Most recently, she was an educational specialist for the TRIO Teacher Prep program at Boise State.

Melissa earned her BA in Mathematics with minors in Art Studio and Education Studies from Colorado College, her MAT in Art Education from Columbia College of the Arts, and a User Experience Research Certificate from BSU.

• Resource broker for faculty and academic leadership
• Coordinates Academic Leaders Council, Faculty Senate, and Faculty Committees (Adjunct Advisory Committee, TRACFAC, FACC, DLAC, Honors & Awards)
• Emeriti Guild Liaison/Treasurer
• AL-FA reporting resource (quarterly reports, budget, annual reports)
• Manages Promotion & Tenure process
• Manages day-to-day calendar coordination, purchases, and travel expenses for the VP and Faculty Employee Relations Specialist