Dr. Denise Williams Mallett currently serves as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs and a member of the Sustainability and Recovery team at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. As a Sustainability and Recovery team member she played an instrumental role in the successful transition of the institution and its academic functions from a Liberals Arts College to a Graduate and Professional Development institution.
Before joining Marygrove, Denise served as Provost for the Division of Education Affairs at Wayne County Community College District, a five campus multi-cultural institution serving more than 70,000 students annually. Prior to WCCCD, she was on staff at University of Detroit Mercy for nearly 14 years, the largest Catholic university in the State of Michigan, serving in multiple leadership roles. In 2009, Denise was named the first African American Vice President for the University of Detroit Mercy and her areas of responsibilities included Undergraduate, Graduate and International Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Student Life, International Student Services, the Counseling Center and the Wellness Center. In addition to her senior leadership role at Marygrove College, she is currently a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and an adjunct professional in the College of Education at Wayne State University.
Denise’s leadership style emphasizes accountability while shaping diverse and productive outcomes for direct staff and colleagues. She’s a collaborative and thoughtful team member skilled in project management, clear and concise communication, budget fidelity, strategic planning and community based outreach programs. Denise prides herself on being a proven, result oriented higher education professional that has successfully led and managed in both two-year and four-year institutions. She has had continuous success as an Enrollment Manager and Student Affairs executive. Her recent endeavors have included education policy, development and academic based job readiness programming.
Denise earned a Bachelor in Business Administration, a Master of Arts with a concentration in Human Resources, an Educational Specialist certification with a concentration in Administration and Supervision, and a Doctor of Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Denise’s current post-doctoral studies include being a Fellow for the University of Michigan’s New Leadership Academy focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Community engagement is important to Denise. She focuses her attention on organizations “that embrace Detroit; empower women and girls (mentally, spiritually and emotionally) and The Arts.” As part of that commitment, Denise is a member of a variety of organizations that support the advancement of the community. And, as a Board member of the National Conference of Artist, she works to make sure The Arts is accessible to the wider community, especially children.
Denise has been recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Detroit’s 40 under 40, The Michigan Chronicle as A Woman of Excellence, The Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan “One Tough Cookie” Awardee, The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. with the Educational Leadership Award, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Detroit Branch, Inc. “The Power of A Woman’s Voice in the Community Award” and The Detroit Club of the National Association of Negro Business, Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. as the 2013 Professional Woman of the Year, and has served as a Mayoral appointee from 2015-2017 as a Commissioner on the Elected Officials Compensation Committee, just to name a few.
Denise is also extremely proud to be a mother, wife, educator, health & meditation enthusiast, art collector, community advocate and philanthropist.