Melanie Escue
Assistant Professor Sociology
- Email:melanie.escue@uncp.edu
- Phone:910.521.6232
- Office:Sampson Hall, Room 222
Dr. Melanie Escue is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal
Justice and a member of the Maynor Honors College Faculty at the University of North
Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). She earned her B.A. in Psychology (2013) and M.S. in
Criminal Justice (2014) from the University of Central Florida. In 2023, she earned
her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of South Florida. Dr. Escue teaches both
sociology and criminal justice courses, including social statistics, social research,
sociology of mental disorders, juvenile justice, sociology of drug use, social problems
and law & society.
A mixed-methods scholar, Dr. Escue's research interests include rural studies, immigration,
and health. Her work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals, including
American Behavioral Scientist, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Latino Studies
and Journal of Cultural Geography. Most recently, she has served as Principal Investigator
and Co-Principal Investigator, respectively, on two NC Collaboratory grant-funded
interdisciplinary projects on the opportunities for and barriers to the adoption of
artificial intelligence on small farms in Robeson County, NC, and the influence of
the built environment on the health of rural and urban North Carolina residents. Importantly,
she includes undergraduate student scholars on her grants and frequently mentors students
on individual research projects, many of which have been shared at university, state,
and regional conferences. Dr. Escue welcomes aspiring scholars, especially those interested
in rural studies, immigration, and health, to connect with her for collaboration opportunities.
Dr. Escue leads the campus debate and dialogue program at UNCP through her role as
a Lee Barnes Faculty Fellow. In partnership with the College Debates and Discourse
Alliance (CD&D), she has chaired and organized classroom debates across disciplines,
including sociology, criminal justice, computer science, business and political science,
and campus-wide debates that welcome students, staff and faculty to engage in some
of the most contentious issues we confront as a nation today. The impactful work of
the UNCP civil debates and discourse program has been featured on UNCP news and at
the NC Board of Governors meeting in 2026. Dr. Escue welcomes students interested
in leading the mission of respectful debate and dialogue at UNCP to connect with her
for student fellow opportunities.
Additionally, Dr. Escue is passionate about using her professional experience to serve
the university and invest in community well-being. Since 2023, she has served students
as the faculty advisor for the Latin Student Union (2023-present) and the African
Student Organization (2024-present) and the community as the treasurer (board of directors)
for the NC Farmworkers Project. Dr. Escue finds great joy in volunteering at local
community events, frequently joined by her supportive husband and their two children.