Why I Give Professor Melanie Bryant
Why I Give – A chance to thrive
Ensuring access to education is the key driver behind Monash graduate Melanie Bryant’s decision to support the future generation.
Professor Melanie Bryant (Economics and Management 1996; PhD Organisation Studies 2003) often reflects on some sage advice she once heard. “A friend’s mum said that you should always give back. Sometimes you won’t have time, so you can give money. And sometimes you won’t have money, so you can give time. I always thought that was wise,” she says. As Professor of Management and Head of International Partnerships and Programs at the University of Tasmania, Bryant has arguably spent her entire career giving back, but she says donating to Monash University is a “no-brainer”.
Despite initially being interested in a career in the Royal Australian Navy, Bryant followed up her degree with Honours, and then a PhD. Soon enough, her military aspirations took a back seat as she became immersed in academia, since clocking up 25 years of working in universities. “I was drawn to the Navy because I was looking for an institution that would give me a career,” Bryant says. “I went in another direction, and it turned out to be just what I was looking for!”
Improving access
As a monthly donor, Bryant sees these contributions as a tangible way of ensuring the future of higher education, which she is especially passionate about. “Access to education is essential for Australia's future. Having grown up in rural and regional Victoria, I understand how access to university can be challenging, particularly the costs associated with attending, relocating and needing to support yourself for several years.
By being part of the Monash giving community, I am providing others with the chance to thrive.”
“I was fortunate to be able to attend Monash as an undergraduate and postgraduate student and take advantage of the opportunities that my education has provided. By being part of the Monash giving community, I am providing others with the chance to thrive.”
And she should know – higher education has been Bryant’s life, starting at Monash as an undergraduate at 18 and leaving as a senior lecturer as a 36-year-old. From there, she moved to Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, then to Melbourne’s Swinburne University, before moving to the University of Tasmania eight years ago.
This role has grown and evolved over time. Having first arrived to head up the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, Bryant now looks after the university’s transnational partnerships and programs, while also keeping a hand in research. She thrives on the multifaceted position, which calls on her extensive wide-ranging experience. “I’m always learning,” she says. “I think the day you’re not learning is the day you should stop.”
An affinity to Monash
Given Bryant’s decades-long commitment to various universities, why does she choose to send her hard-earned money to Monash in particular? “I’m always struck by people’s affinity with Monash, and I’ve always felt like that, too. I can’t really explain why we have that loyalty, but we do. And having had experiences across different Monash campuses, and as a student and staff member, I think it just really reflects the quality of the institution,” Bryant says.
It’s also clear that Bryant is getting just as much out of her donations as others are receiving. In some ways, her philanthropy is a perfect looping of her own path – from student to teacher, academic and now donor – and she likes knowing that she’s contributing to society. “I like to help where I can,” Bryant says. “That can sound condescending, but I’m in a position now where I can give back. And if you have the opportunity to do that, why wouldn’t you?”
