Melinda Wilkins, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA, currently serves as Professor and Program Director of the graduate program in Health Informatics and undergraduate program in Health Information Management at Arkansas Tech University. She has taught at the collegiate level for over 30 years. Change management in the implementation of health information technology is of particular research interest.  

Dr. Wilkins holds a PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in Information Technology from Capella University. She holds a Master's of Education in the area of Agency Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Record Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  

Dr. Wilkins has served as a Director on the AHIMA Board of Directors, Chair of the Board for the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) as well as a consultant for Arkansas' health information exchange efforts. She is a past president of the Arkansas Health Information Management Association, recognized by being awarded the Distinguished Member and Living Legacy awards. She has attained Fellow status with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and was presented with the Triumph Award in Leadership and recently the Distinguished Member Award by this association.