Rate My Professor Melissa Lethaby

Lethaby's contributions extend to governance and national advocacy. Elected in 2019 as the professional staff representative on the University Council for a four-year term starting January 1, 2020, she represents staff voices in key decisions. As President of ACHIEVE's National Executive Committee, representing Otago, she advances equal access to post-secondary education for people with impairments. She managed the project to rewrite Kia Ōrite – Achieving Equity, the New Zealand Code of Practice for inclusive tertiary environments, commissioned by the Tertiary Education Commission. Lethaby has presented on topics like alternative arrangements at conferences, emphasizing meeting expectations, equity, and excellence. She co-convened the ANZSSA 2019 conference at Otago. Key initiatives under her include the 2025 Disability Action Plan launch, noting one in ten students declare a disability, and celebrating DIS's 30th anniversary in 2022, honoring pioneers and progress from early advocacy to revolutionary supports. She promotes early engagement through events like Navigating University talks, annual awards for supporters, and challenges ableism to foster empathy and diversity.