Cathy Coxey Snow Alumnae Award for
Distinguished Service to Wesleyan College

Melanie Filson Lewis ’93

Melanie Lewis’s devotion to Wesleyan is evident to anyone who knows her or speaks with her for more than a few minutes. “True, faithful, and loyal” can be used to describe Wesleyan’s most devoted daughters, and Melanie Lewis exemplifies this motto.     

Even as a student, Melanie was an active campus leader. She served on the SRC committee, participated in STUNT, organized class activities, and planned campus events, all while pursuing a double major in history (because she enjoyed it) and in math (because she was good at it!).     

After graduation, Melanie continued to serve the College as an alumna volunteer, and she has demonstrated her love for her alma mater by serving in many roles. Her service on the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association Board of Managers spanned 15 years – two terms as treasurer and nine years of presidential duties as WCAA president-elect, president, and past president. As president (2015-2018) she invested significant time behind the scenes to ensure that the Board made sound fiscal decisions and that alumnae voices were heard and treated respectfully during discussions surrounding class name changes. Under her leadership, the Board planned two successful Alumnae Leadership Days in 2016 and 2017 and took an active role in supporting the archives in Willet Library.     

In addition to her service on the Board of Managers, Melanie has devoted countless other hours of service to Wesleyan. In 2011 she was awarded The Wesleyan College Alumnae Admissions Representative Award for all of her efforts in recruitment. As an AAR (alumnae admissions representative), she opened her home to prospective students, represented Wesleyan at college fairs, and brought students to campus for tours. She was a part of the Wesleyan First roll-out, a program that works with high-school guidance counselors to recognize students with Wesleyan scholarships.     

Throughout the years Melanie was always ready and willing to volunteer as a class liaison, a member of every Class of 1993 reunion planning committee since graduation, a campus mentor through the e-Link program, an alumnae panelist, a Fiscal Fitness convocation speaker, and as a candlelighter. She has hand–sewn flags for Alumnae Weekend, donated handmade quilts for Wesleyan auctions, and participated in the mask-making challenge during the Covid-19 pandemic - all while raising four children and working for Bank of America, where she is currently senior vice president and business support manager for CyberSecurity Technology within the Global Information Security Team.     

The College also has benefited from Melanie’s support of The Wesleyan Fund, and she has provided for Wesleyan’s future as a member of the Forever First Society. Outside of college activities, her servant spirit extends to her church, where she is president of the United Methodist Women and a member of the church administration council, among other roles.     

For a lifetime of devoted service to Wesleyan and for promoting Wesleyan’s legacy to current and future Wesleyan sisters, it is with gratitude that the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association recognizes Melanie Filson Lewis for her distinguished service to the College.