In this inspiring episode, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson introduces Dr. Melanie Day, a retired dean from Colorado Christian University, and her husband, Alan Davis. Melanie shares her incredible journey from retiring after 18 years to pursuing her passion for music. Despite challenges like cancer, Melanie transitions with faith and resilience, integrating her strong belief in God’s plan for her life. Listen as she recollects her path from business to academia and the lessons learned along the way.
Welcome, everyone, to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, and it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after the dreams that Jesus has put inside each one of our hearts. because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it and we do not want people to live with any regret. And that’s why at The Calling we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to, after Jesus’ calling on their lives, to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible to have immediate impact on themselves and their families. And we love to do this through so many different avenues from custom tools and programs, conferences, workshops, but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests to share how they’re going after their God-given dreams and how you can do the same. Today is no exception. My friends, I’m so excited to share that in studio live, we have the one and only Dr. Melanie Day here with us and her incredible husband, Alan Davis. And we’re so honored to have both of you. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Great to be here.
CHRYSANDRA :
This is so special. And especially in this season, Melanie, you had quite the achievement just as of recently of a new chapter. Can you announce with us what that was? Yes.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Recently retired. Day number two today. Friday was my last day. Formerly the dean for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. So the online college at Colorado Christian University. And yeah. Friday, October 31st was my last day after 18 and a half years working.
CHRYSANDRA :
Melanie, that is, I mean, I think it’s just hard for all of us to be able to hear that, how you look so young, like, how are you retiring? And, um, but also just your influence and your role that you have had at Colorado Christian University. And we’re going to touch back on that in a second, but we also have your amazing husband, a global entrepreneur at Alan Davis, and you’re also, this is some of your tromping grounds here at Crawford Broadcasting as a former radio host.
ALAN DAVIS :
Oh, that’s right. I used to have a radio show for years on KRKS, and then after I left KRKS, I transitioned over here. I just really always enjoyed being on, you know, hearing what’s going on, being on the show with John Rush and, you know, just really psychologically invested with John. Just, you know, just to really admire his wisdom and just love to hang out with him. So anyway, but it’s wonderful to be here today with you, Chrysandra. Thank you for having me on the show.
CHRYSANDRA :
This is so special. And I love that you pointed that out, Alan, that it is like family. It’s being around. It’s almost like a dinner table, but we have some microphones in front of us. Just being able to just share life together. And you guys are such a power couple, really transforming so many ministries, so many businesses. And Melanie, we’re just so excited to celebrate this huge milestone in your life and how you’ve been able to impact people humanity truly in different continents and to be able to be in this stage. So we’re excited to dive into all of that and what it feels like. So again, Mellie, can you just share with our listeners, you shared the title, but what did that role just entail? Yeah, so I oversaw
DR. MELANIE DAY :
faculty and students who are dispersed all over the United States and some international. So in the School of Business and Technology, where I was the dean, we had about 1,800 students. We have many, many undergraduate programs, six graduate degrees, and our faculty are spread all over the U.S. as well. And so it’s
CHRYSANDRA :
A huge team.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Yeah, a huge team. So all my work was done online in one form or another with remote students and faculty. And the students study online. We have, we had, they have, that’s a whole new vocabulary because this is, like I said, day two of retirement online. But I’ve left an amazing organization, university. Colorado Christian is a wonderful university. I have loved working there, love the people. They have an amazing mission, love the Lord and integrate biblical knowledge. principles and scripture into every course assignment. Students are required to do that. And as the dean, it was my responsibility to oversee that, you know, make sure that the curriculum was obviously not only relevant in the disciplines, but also relevant in integrating scripture and biblical principles. So the students are already working full time that were in my college, in our school. And so they’re working, they have families, they’re kind of mid-career, and they are struggling, you know, but also still want to finish their degrees. And as they go back into the workplace, they can take the tools that they’ve learned and integrated with Scripture back into the workplace, even if it’s a secular workplace that doesn’t want to hear anything about their faith, anything about Jesus. They have… And they can live it because the scripture and the principles are integrated with the tools that they learn and the theories and the practical aspects of what they learn is all integrated. So they can be who they are in the workplace because everyone is a minister, right? not just pastors or people out in the mission field, but you and I, everyone, if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, if you’re a follower in Jesus Christ, you are a minister, you know, and God puts you in a sphere of influence that you have to, to impact people for him. And so that’s part of what we try to help our students understand, you know, Yes. It’s hard to, you know, sometimes you go to church on Sundays and then on Monday you go to work. And it’s really hard sometimes to integrate those two things. So that was one of my big charges as the dean is to make sure that that happened.
CHRYSANDRA :
When I think, Melanie, that’s such a great way to be able to explain it, because there is this gap of understanding. And even as a student trying to understand how does ministry and business intersect and how is it a magnet relationship? And just like you said, it’s a devil. It’s a it’s a coin and it’s all in one. And our ministry is our business. Our business is our ministry. And you were the perfect example of doing that. And Millie, just take us back to the beginning of your business days and. from Germany and just kind of reliving these experiences to then become the Dean of Business and Technology. Well, how long do we have?
ALAN DAVIS :
I know, I know.
CHRYSANDRA :
And then Ellen, I’m going to ask you, I have a couple of questions for you of what that looked like on your end scene, Melanie. But Melanie, take us back to what those beginning days were.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Through the years, yeah, I’ve gone back and forth from business to academics, business to academics. And yeah, I started in California, grew up there to a young adult. And then long story short, ended up being able to move to Germany, lived in Germany for over 13 years. And over there…
CHRYSANDRA :
What’s your favorite German slogan? Favorite German slogan?
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Oh, you could just say, good day, guten tag. Guten tag? Guten, G-U-T-E-N, guten tag, good day, you know. It’s just a good day.
CHRYSANDRA :
Very easy. Hey, that’s a good thing to learn today.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
And you know what? Germans, it’s really interesting, are curious when we say, oh, how are you doing? How are you doing? How are you? How are you? When you walk by somebody in the hall, not really wanting to know how they are. It’s just a saying. Germans would never say, oh, how are you? Unless they really wanted to know how you are. So they just say, good morning, good day. Good day, good day, good day to solve that issue. But yeah, oh, I lived there. My two children were born there. But all along the way, that’s when I went back to school. I went to, got my degrees on the army base locally. We worked on both kind of the the economy, as you call it, but we also had privileges in the Army base. So that really made it easier for me to go back to school and get my degree. As like one of my students, you know, today, I was already working, had children, but wanting to finish my bachelor’s, my master’s, and Ultimately, I started a business over there, and it was importing Orville Rindenbacher microwave popcorn. So I started… Again, long story. I don’t want to go into the detail, but it’s really fun. That’s so fascinating. I started that, and then you ended up turning it over to Balson, a major corporation over there. And then at that time is when I switched over to academia there at Schiller International University in Heidelberg. I became the chair of the graduate business programs. And at that time, I hadn’t any… any idea or desire to go for a doctorate at that time. But they said, well, in this position, because you’re running graduate programs, you need to go for your doctorate. So that’s how I started that. And that really kind of set me on that whole trajectory. And I tell you what, I didn’t go into planning any of this. I didn’t go into the plan of, you know, Oh, I’m going to do popcorn or, Oh, I’m going to work at show. Oh, I’m going to, but God has just step by step along the way said, this is the path walking it, you know? And so that’s kind of where I am right now. Moving forward to retirement over the last couple of years, as I said, I’m kind of stubborn and kind of hardheaded. And I just, we’re all, And, you know, and God said several different ways. Now it’s time to move to the next phase in your life, you know. And so he’s been echoing this through several, several different ways. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
And can you share a couple or one of the ways that he’s.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Oh, gosh. Showing you. Well, I don’t know if you want to hear.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
No, seriously. An illness that I had last year. I had cancer.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yep.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
and cancer is a wake-up call it was a huge deal 2024 was kind of a rough year for me and my family and um and the university but um they were there for me and my family everyone was it’s just amazing god brought me through and but it was one of those things that okay how many years do you have left on this earth yeah and you’ve you’ve dedicated many, many years to the university. But I think you’re done there. And you’ve got all of these other things. I have all of these other things that I want you to do. I heard God say that there. And there were a couple of other ways too. One of them is I used to be a singer. Well, I’m a singer-songwriter. I still am. I used to be. But back in the day, I used to have a band and I used to play out and I had some CDs and that kind of thing. And this has just been tugging at my heart over the years. And now is the time. So I just finished actually yesterday morning the final vocals and harmonies on a song that we’re getting ready to release right now called You Loved Me First about…
CHRYSANDRA :
wow yeah so anyway i need to hear a little bit of that melanie later in the show and we do need to take a short break but we are here live in studio onto all the dreamers radio show i’m your host dr chrysandra brunson and the one and only dr melanie day and incredible husband and entrepreneur alan davis we’ll be right back Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
ADVERTISER :
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CHRYSANDRA :
We are back. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson. And have the one and only Dr. Melanie Day. Yes, that’s where I got the inspiration to become a doctor. And her incredible husband, Alan Davis, global entrepreneur as well. You guys, we’re so honored to have you in studio. Mel, you were just sharing before we went to break of just transitioning to continuing to transition and not knowing or ever picking these next steps. But God kept on showing you. And one of those next steps in this recent season was retiring. But you were sharing that you had to walk through this season of cancer and death. How that was, you know, it showed that life was so short and wanting to embrace every second of it. And that it awoke and even just tapped on your heart even more so this longing for singing. We want to hear perhaps a little bit of that. Alan, real quick, we want to just hear from a husband’s point of view what it was like to have your bride walk through singing. those trials and, and to see her begin to transition into this next part of her God-given calling.
ALAN DAVIS :
Well, you know, I have, I have to say it was really special, you know, that I don’t know anybody that’s had cancer and then didn’t miss one day of work. I was like, I didn’t miss one day of work, you know, and I thought, I thought, man, my wife’s a lot tougher than I ever do, you know, but, uh, But, you know, I want to answer your question, but I want to digress just a little bit and talk about Melanie’s career to me was really amazing because, you know, when you read the Bible, it says, you know, why are we here? And we’re here to love one another. And I really believe the way a person, the way you can love yourself. You know, the people that are in your life is to is to really make a difference in their life. And Melanie literally created heaven on earth for the people that were her students, because her students, they all had every opportunity to learn everything that was necessary so they could progress in their career. They could make a better income for their family, give more to charity. They could just know the cutting-edge tools that are out there to optimize systems and to just glorify the Lord with their talent and everything. But that was the best thing about my – And what Melanie did at Colorado Christian was that, you know, she was able to not only work when she had cancer, she worked all the way through her cancer, but also to make that contribution to so many people. I mean, she had, you know, so many students, so many faculty, and many of them were there at her little party they had the other day. So it was really special. So that didn’t answer your question.
CHRYSANDRA :
I’ll just say real quick, Alan, that I was one of those students.
ALAN DAVIS :
That’s right.
CHRYSANDRA :
I mean, Alan, you and Mel, I didn’t know Mel beforehand, but Melanie, you were just pivotal in my faith journey. And for those that are not aware, you know, this was something where. You’re the Dean of Graduate Studies for Business and Technology. So let alone just even knowing someone’s name, I think is a big deal. But to be able to, you embraced every student’s plan. And I’m just so grateful that one of the plans that came across your desk was mine and my capstone. And you took personal interest to be able to not only see it and read it, but to also help implement it. And that was for Haiti and for the calling. And you guys, Melanie came all the way down to one of the hardest places in the whole world, Haiti, and started building huge pillars that we’re still standing on to be able to implement it and to help the nation of Haiti go after their God-given dreams. And Melanie, you’ve spoken to my life, the power of becoming a doctor and where to go to school and, um, Now I can say that I’m a doctor and it has to do with all those seeds that you put in my heart. But yeah, Alan, thank you for bringing that up. And I, as a student, that’s my one of millions of testimonies that I have rippled out to be affected by your incredible change, Mel. So thank you. And yeah, Alan, you were just going to say what it was like just going through this transition of cancer and then In retirement.
ALAN DAVIS :
That’s right. It wasn’t much of a transition, you know, because, I mean, you know, like for me, I’ve always been an entrepreneur, so I kind of set my own schedule.
ADVERTISER :
Yes.
ALAN DAVIS :
So now my schedule is changing because I’m giving all the honeydews to Melanie now. Yeah. And I don’t have to do any of those anymore, you know. I said, okay, you get the new plates for the car, okay. But, you know, I’m just joking about that. But really, you know, we’re just a very adaptive family, you know. Just whatever’s happening, you know, we know that God has a plan. Yeah. And that, you know, we’re grateful for the fact that he loves us. And, you know, that, you know, he just always has just presented us with the right opportunities at the right time. And we just feel really blessed, you know. Yeah. And when he didn’t give us the right opportunities, he gave us the opportunity to grow and learn by working through something that didn’t work out. Like we bought a wellness center. Uh-huh. Melanie and I and our other business partner bought a wellness center. And to say it didn’t work out was an understatement because COVID hit, the FDA descended upon us. It was just… It was one thing after another.
CHRYSANDRA :
A lot of times it doesn’t go as planned.
ALAN DAVIS :
Yeah, that’s right. And we just couldn’t believe it. We said, you know, Lord, you know, we prayed about owning this wellness center and it’s been nothing but a disaster. And half our clients left during COVID. We didn’t even know, you know, what we’re going to do. And but, you know, luckily, God, you know, had something to teach us there. Yeah. So so we you know, we’re grateful for that opportunity, too. Right. So.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, I love that you’re just addressing, Alan, that a lot of times just walking in Jesus’s calling and taking those huge steps of faith, of opening huge companies like a wellness center or, you know, whatever that act of obedience is, sometimes… A lot of times it does not unfold exactly how we think it should be going, but the Lord has something so much better. And you guys have been so obedient and active and just trusting him. And Mel, you walked through the hardest of times. just sayings that someone can hear and then to have to go through personally, uh, of cancer and the Lord started shifting your heart to see what’s, what’s important in this season. So singing and songwriting and starting your band up, um, tell us, so, well, first off, tell us in your journey of cancer where you’re at with that and, um,
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Yeah, so I am on the good side of that. All of the surgeries and the chemo and the radiations and all that kind of stuff, I’m on this side of that every six months. Go back for a follow-up, but so far it’s great, and I feel good. But I love just the saying that God is a just-in-time God. Mm. He’s a just in time God. And we have to walk in faith.
CHRYSANDRA :
Just in time God. Wow. Just in time God. It’s a powerful scene.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Even if we don’t, we, we, we, I hear his voice saying, go this way. And I’m like, but how in the world, God, if you want me to do this, you’re going to have to make this happen because I have no clue. Right. And he has done this over and over again in my life and in our life. And, It’s just unbelievable. I started writing a journal when I retired. So I’ve never been good at that. But I’m going to be doing that because I want to document these answers to prayer and these steps that I’m going into this new era in my life.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. And Mel and Alan, we’re already coming up towards the end of our show. I don’t know where time goes. So we’re definitely going to need you back sooner than later. So Mel, we want to be able to share and hear a little bit of your music.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Yes, I have this song that we’re just, it’s just a little raw, but we can finish with this.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, yes, yes.
DR. MELANIE DAY :
And I won’t let me.
CHRYSANDRA :
Guys, isn’t that amazing? Alan, I think both of us are just like, who’s this person by us right now?
DR. MELANIE DAY :
And I got a whole pile of them coming up. I’m so excited. I’m so excited.
CHRYSANDRA :
And Mel, we’re going to ask here in just a second how we can find your music, how we can book you for some upcoming events. First off, Alan and Mel, I want you guys to be able to just share with our listeners. There’s someone tuning in right now. And they’re afraid to go after what God’s called them to. They know what it’s supposed to be, but they’re not finding the next step of courage. What would you tell them? Alan, you go.
ALAN DAVIS :
Well, you know, the first thing is don’t think of it like a competition. God is, you know, I was in a class one time and the class said that everybody has 10 unique abilities, 10 things. God has given you 10 things that you can be excellent at and excited about that will glorify him. And And I think that is really true. You know, if one door is shut, you know, you’ve got nine more doors that are open. Just go for it. And don’t think of it as a competition. Don’t think, well, you know, I’m not better than the best guy. Right. I’m not better than someone else. Don’t worry about that at all. Just be the best you can and know that, you know, God has blessed you with those special talents. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
So good, Alan. That’s powerful. And Mel, what would you say?
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Yeah, we have such rational minds here and we lean on our intellect and we lean on our own skill here. And it’s so difficult sometimes to fall back and lean on God’s word and his spirit leading us. That was true for me, true for me with this retirement decision, the decision to tell my company that it’s time for me to retire. I wrote down literally, you know, if you’re familiar with the SWOT analysis, strengths, you know, weaknesses, opportunities, threats. I kind of did that for myself with retirement. But it was more like reasons for, reasons against, fears, confidence, you know. And I just literally laid all these things out and I gave it to God and I said… OK, I can see that the reasons for way long reasons against very tiny, really, you know, and it was that was that was like a tangible help, a real tool for me. Yeah. And but, you know, we we. The bottom line is God is in control. It’s false for us to think that we have control, that we’re in control. God is in control. And if you just put that in your priority and your forefront in your mind, that will be a real help in making those kinds of decisions and walking in him.
CHRYSANDRA :
That’s so powerful. I think that we’re all in those transitional seasons and decision making moments. So thank you so much, Mel. And how can everyone get in touch with both of you and especially come alongside you, Melanie, in this incredible new season and celebration of what’s to come?
DR. MELANIE DAY :
Well, you could, I’ve got to update it now that I’m in this new season, but you can go to my website. It’s MelanieDay.com and that’s Melanie, M-E-L-L-A-N-I-D as in David, A-Y. So MelanieDay.com, all one word. And I will be putting more things up there. There’s a few things from my past already on there, but you can find more information there.
CHRYSANDRA :
We love it. And then, Alan, are you on there as well?
ALAN DAVIS :
No, no.
CHRYSANDRA :
Okay, where can we find you, Alan?
ALAN DAVIS :
Oh, yeah, I’m on my cell phone. I talk on the phone. Melody uses email. And fax. Yeah, so that’s 303-378-7537.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow. You guys, that’s pretty special. Well, we could not thank you both enough. Thank you so much for touching my life, Melanie and Alan and the Colleen’s life in such a powerful way from being advisors, donors, implementers, um, activators, and ultimately Jesus is dreamers. And, um, Love you guys. And you guys challenge everyone. Please go contact them right now. What an opportunity you have with both of these dear souls. Till next time, dreamers. Keep dreaming big.
