The Association is governed by a board of unpaid volunteers, each elected for a three-year term. The board meets regularly as part of multiple committees as well as twice a year, spring and fall, to conduct the business of the Association. There is also an Executive Committee, made up of board members who hold certain key offices, and meet at least monthly to provide continuity of operations.
Board members serve on a variety of committees, some stipulated in the Bylaws and some of which are more of an ad hoc nature. These committees are usually chaired or co-chaired by a board member but typically include interested volunteers from the Association’s general membership. Standing committees include Membership, Chapters, Events, Awards, Credentialing, Global Affiliates, and Communications.
The approximately 20 members of the board are a diverse group that reflects the variety of the membership base. It includes both distance learning practitioners and vendors as well as some with an academic interest in distance learning pedagogy. The board, as a group, has experience with each of the Association’s constituencies and, further, has experience with a wide breadth of delivery methods ranging from online, to videoconferencing, to satellite and even printed media.
There are a couple of things all members of the board have in common. One is an enthusiasm for distance learning and, especially, for those working in DL. The other is that board members are hungry for feedback. When you encounter someone on the board, introduce yourself and let us know how we’re doing. Let us know how the Association is helpful to you and, even more important, what we might do to make USDLA your most valued professional membership.
2024 - 2025 USDLA Board Members
Pat Cassella
Executive Director
Past President, Chair Emeritus Platforms and Services Chair Sponsors and Partners Chair President, ETCVideo LLCChuck Sengstock
Chairman of the Board
Higher Education Certification ChairAssociate Dean of Online Learning
Landmark College
Putney, VT
Amanda Major
Treasurer
Faculty, Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning Assistant Program Director, iLab Instructional Designer (Faculty) Center for Distributed Learning Division of Digital Learning University of Central FloridaErica Bell
Chapter Chair
Executive Director of Regional Centers & Online ProgramUSDLA Chapter Chair
University of Tennessee at Martin
Hope Gibbs
Board Member
Founder and president, Inkandescent® Inc: The PR + Publishing Company for WomenEric Jones
Board Member
CEO, Oiada International Global Enterprise Solutions Manager, Global Cloud Xchange New York, NYDr. Robbie Melton
Board Member
Associate Vice President for the National SMART Technology Innovation Center at Tennessee State UniversityCheryl Oberlin
Board Member
Director, Distance Education College of Journalism and Communications University of FloridaAlexandra Salas, Ph.D.
Board Member
USDLA Public Policy Chair Strategist, Edu-preneur, Educator Cognition Ink, LLC New JerseyRick Seeley
Board Member
Director, Educational Technology and Media Services, University of Northern IowaHarriet Watkins
Presidential Appointee
Presidential AppointeeChief Academic Officer, Instructional Connections