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.
2022 – 2023 USDLA Board Members
Executive Board Members
- Pat Cassella
- USDLA CEO and Executive Director
- Past President, Chair Emeritus
- Platforms and Services Chair
- Sponsors and Partners Chair
- President, ETCVideo LLC.
- Dr. Arletha McSwain
- USDLA Chair of the Board
Credentialing Committee Chair - Chief Online Learning Officer
- Central State University
- Wilberforce, Ohio.
- Dr. Chuck Sengstock
- USDLA President-Elect
Board Treasurer - Director – Continuing Education and Professional Development
- Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
- Dr. Rolando Garza
- USDLA Board Member
- Interim Director Distance Learning & Instructional Technology
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX
- Valary Oleinik
- USDLA Board Member
- Advisory Chair
- Conference and Events Chair
- Speaker and Gamification Coach
- Valary with a Why
- New York, NY
- John Copeland
- USDLA Board Member
Analytics Chair - Director, Education Sales
- Barco
- Houston, TX
- Kristin DeProspero
- USDLA Board Member
- CEO and President – Funding Solutionz, Inc
- Kennesaw, GA
- Dr. Georgianna Laws
- USDLA Board Member
- National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) Conference Chair
- Online Education Consultant, Texas Lutheran University
- Dr. Robbie Melton
- USDLA Board Member
- Professor – Graduate School
- Tennessee State University
- Nashville, TN
- Wendy Pate
- USDLA Board member
- Awards Chair
- Associate Director
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
- Errol Craig Sull
- USDLA Board Member
- University Instructor and Writer
- Drexel University Online
- Buffalo, NY
- Dr. Farah Bennani
- USDLA Board Member
- Global Partnerships Chair
- Dean
Northampton Community College
- Alexandra Salas, Ph.D.
- USDLA Board Member
- Vice President for Digital Learning & Innovation
Neumann University, Aston, PA
- F. Erik Brooks, Ph.D.
- USDLA Board Member
- Presidential Appointee
- Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Central State University
- Jean Hansen
Secretary of the Board
- USDLA Board Member
Secretary of the Board - Sr. Online Instructional Designer
- Drake University
- Des Moines, IA