Melissa Davidson prepares for a new adventure after 29 years at CMU

After nearly three decades of keeping things organized, anticipating needs and helping the College of Business navigate change, Melissa Davidson is preparing for a different kind of adventure. Davidson, an administrative office assistant in Central Michigan University's Department of Economics, will retire Oct. 30 after 29 years with the university. Her next chapter may take her far from the familiar halls of campus as she prepares to travel the country with her two dogs.

But before she hits the road, Davidson is making sure the department she's supported for the past 16 years is ready for what comes next. That means sharing the knowledge and experience she's accumulated throughout a career that has spanned generations of students, faculty and staff.

Nearly three decades of change

Davidson joined CMU on Oct. 20, 1997, spending her first 13 years in the College of Business Administration Dean's Office. During her nearly three decades at the university, she's witnessed considerable change, including renovations that transformed Grawn Hall and the spaces where she began her career.

When she moved to the Department of Economics, she found an office in need of organization. With records to sort through and processes to restore, Davidson spent much of her first year getting things in order. It was a challenge that helped lay the foundation for the institutional knowledge she's developed over 16 years supporting the department.

Today, that expertise extends from coordinating course schedules and navigating scholarship processes to understanding the preferences and needs of individual faculty members. Much of what Davidson knows comes from years of experience solving problems, making it difficult to capture everything in written instructions.

That's one reason she plans to remain available to answer questions and help her successor after retirement. It's also a reflection of the pride she takes in her work and the relationships she's developed with her colleagues.

"The economics department wishes Melissa many happy years of retirement. She has earned them after all her years of outstanding service,” said Greg Falls, chairperson of the economics department. “All of us will greatly miss her each day."

A career built on experience and relationships

Although Davidson has spent much of her career working behind the scenes, she recognizes the importance of the relationships she's developed throughout her time at CMU. In a written reflection on her retirement, she expressed appreciation for the people and experiences that made those years meaningful.

"CMU has been much more than a workplace—it has been a community and an important part of my life," said Davidson. She also expressed gratitude for the friendships, experiences, challenges and memories she'll carry into retirement.

Her years at CMU have also shaped the advice she offers students preparing for their own futures. 

"Explore different classes, meet different people, try things that are outside your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to discover that something you thought you wanted isn’t right for you," Davidson advised. "Changing your major, changing your career plans, or simply changing your mind isn’t failure—it’s part of growing and learning who you are."

It's a perspective that also seems fitting as Davidson prepares to embrace a new chapter of her own. After nearly three decades at CMU, she's looking forward to the freedom to explore new places and experiences.

Looking ahead to the open road

For Davidson, retirement will bring an opportunity to exchange familiar routines for new experiences. She's planning to explore van life, traveling with her dachshund, Gracie Lou, and German shepherd, Commander. The idea appeals to her practical nature: It's a flexible, economical way to travel, and it means her dogs can accompany her on the journey. She's already considering what she'll need to make the experience comfortable for everyone, including climate control and other accommodations for her four-legged companions.

Her plans are still taking shape. For now, Davidson is content to take her time, find the right vehicle and see where the road leads. She's approaching the transition with the same practical outlook that has served her throughout her career.

And while she's looking forward to the freedom of retirement, she knows she'll miss the daily interactions that have been part of her working life for nearly three decades. She also expects to return to campus for visits, perhaps with her dogs and a new van to show her former colleagues.

After 29 years of helping the College of Business prepare for what's next, Davidson is ready to discover what's next for herself. The routines may change, but the relationships and experiences that shaped her years at CMU will remain part of the journey.