During his more than 40-year affiliation with UST, Mel has worn many hats, including Director of Faculty Development, multiple positions in the Center for Nonprofit Management, and Professor of Economics and of Business Economics. His other current title is Professor Emeritus. He is delighted to be able to continue his commitment to social justice research, teaching, and community engagement through the Center for the Common Good.

Prior to joining St. Thomas, Mel was an instructor at Transylvania University, research economist at the Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Minneapolis, co-CEO of a nonprofit community development agency, and staff economist for a Minnesota state agency. He has also held visiting or adjunct appointments at Washington University, Macalester College, Central Michigan University, the Universities of Minnesota, North Carolina, British Columbia, and Oslo, and the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business and Eastman School of Music.