Penn announces new head of Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives

By Clare Connaughton 03/18/15 11:33pm

The University named Noelle Melartin as the new director of the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives on Tuesday.

Melartin replaces Julie Lyzinski Nettleton, who left the position in November to serve as director of the Office of Student Conduct.

“I am delighted that Noelle will continue to offer her expertise and support to Penn students,” Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs Hikaru Kozuma said in a press release. “She brings a strong, collaborative approach to this important work.”

Melartin previously served as associate director of AOD, where she has worked since 2010. During her time at AOD she has been a member of the Student Intervention Services on-call crisis response team and oversees the “Alcohol: It’s a Science” promotional series which aims to increase students’ understanding of how alcohol affects their bodies.

The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives seeks “to reduce harm related to alcohol and other drug use at the University of Pennsylvania,” according to its mission statement.

In addition to offering interventions and overseeing policies, AOD is responsible for educational programming like the Alcohol Module required for all incoming freshmen and the various posters found across campus discouraging risky substance use.

Melartin holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.

“I’m honored to continue my work at Penn and at AOD,” Melartin said in a press release. “I look forward to engaging the campus community in a broader capacity to reduce the risks of alcohol and other drugs while improving student health and wellness and furthering students’ academic and personal development.”

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.