Chef Melanie Campbell is an Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Davis & Elkins College, where she brings a dynamic blend of culinary expertise and creative passion to the classroom. A Certified Executive Chef through the American Culinary Federation, she began her professional journey as an apprentice at The Greenbrier and went on to serve as Executive Chef at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. At D&E, she has held multiple leadership roles, including General Manager, Innkeeper, and Executive Chef.

With a philosophy rooted in bringing creativity and joy to learning, Chef Campbell now focuses fully on enhancing the student experience through hands-on, engaging instruction in hospitality, tourism, marketing, and management. She believes the culinary arts are an edible form of artistic expression—one that marries technique with imagination. In recent years, Campbell has returned to her early love of visual arts, working in acrylic and watercolor. Though she pursued a culinary career, she also minored in art during her college years, studying under the mentorship of her art professor, Mr. Oldaker, who encouraged her to continue in the fine arts. Now, after years of painting privately for family, she’s sharing her visual artwork publicly for the first time—revealing another layer of her creativity and passion.