The Association is governed by a board of unpaid volunteers, each elected for a three-year term. The board meets face-to-face at their own expense twice a year, spring and fall, to conduct the business of the Association. There is also an Executive Committee, made up board members who hold certain key offices, who meet at least monthly to provide continuity of operations and to coordinate with the Chief Executive Officer of USDLA, Dr. Reggie Smith III.
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 25 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.
2018-19 USDLA Board Members
Board Directory
Biography
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- Dr. Rhonda Blackburn
- USDLA Board Member
- Vice President & Chief Academic Officer
- BNED LoudCloud
Biography
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- Pat Cassella
- USDLA President
- Vice President
- Sales and Channel Development
- Discover Video LLC.
Biography
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- Ken Conn
- USDLA Chairman of the Board
- Director, Partnerships & Collaboration
- i2i Technologies
- Houston, TX
Biography
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- Linda Dickeson
- USDLA Chair of State Chapters
- Distance Learning Manager
- Lincoln Public Schools
- Lincoln, NE
Biography
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- Michelle Durán, Ph.D.
- USDLA Board Member
- Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Biography
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- Matt Wirsig
- USDLA Board Member
- Product Manager, Video Products
- Extron Electronics
- Anaheim, CA
Biography
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- Dr. Janine Lim
- USDLA Board Member
- Assoc Dean, Online Higher Education
- Andrews University
- Dept of Digital Learning and Instructional Technology
- Berrien Springs, MI
Biography
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- Janet Major
- USDLA President-Elect
- Associate Director Facilities
- Arizona Telemedicine Program
- Arizona Health Sciences Center
- Tucson, AZ
Biography
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- Randy McDonald, Ed.D.
- USDLA Board Member
- Director of Learning Design and Distance Education
- College of Engineering
- Texas A&M University
- College Station, TX
Biography
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- Patrick Pluscht
- USDLA Advisory Board Member
- Associate Vice Provost of Learning Enhancement
- University of North Texas
- Denton, TX
Biography
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- Dr. Rob Robinson
- USDLA Chair Emeritus
- Senior Director, Strategic Services
- Civitas Learning, Inc.
- Austin, TX
Biography
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- Chuck Sengstock
- USDLA Treasurer
- Director – Continuing Education and Professional Development
- Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
Biography
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- Elaine Shuck
- USDLA Chair Emerita
- Director, Communication & Development
- i2i Technologies
- Sturgis, SD
Biography
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- Dr. Reggie Smith III
- USDLA Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director
- Manager, Conference Services
- Children’s National Medical Center
- Washington, D.C.
Biography
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- Greg Zorbas
- USDLA Board Member
- Teacher
- Kenai Central High School
- Kenai Peninsula School District
- Kenai, AK
Biography
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- Robert Zotti
- USDLA Board Member
- Assistant Dean and Director of WebCampus
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
Biography
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- Dr. Arletha McSwain
- USDLA Board Member, Chair of Certification
- Dean, Global Online and Professional Studies
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Daytona Beach, FL.
