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.
2019-20 USDLA Board Members
Board Directory
- Vartouhi Asherian Ed.D
- USDLA Board Member
- Instructional Designer College of Southern Nevada
- Las Vegas, NV
- Dr. Rhonda Blackburn
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Awards and Governance Committees
- Vice President & Chief Academic Officer
- BNED LoudCloud
- Pat Cassella
- USDLA Chairman of the Board – Chair of Conference Committee
- Vice President
- Sales and Channel Development
- Discover Video LLC.
- Kristin DeProspero
- USDLA Board Member
- Grant Program Manager
- Solutionz Conferencing, Inc.
- Kennesaw, GA
- Michelle Durán Singh, Ph.D.
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Nominating Committee
- Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville,TX
- Rolando Garza
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Chapters Committee
- Interim Director Distance Learning & Instructional Technology
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX
- Janet Major
- USDLA Board President – Chair of Membership and Grants Committees
- Associate Director Facilities
- Arizona Telemedicine Program
- Arizona Health Sciences Center
- Tuscon, AZ
- Dr. Arletha McSwain
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Credentialing Committee
- Dean, Global Online and Professional Studies
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Daytona Beach, FL.
- Dr. Robbie Melton.
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Public Policy Committee
- Professor
- Graduate School
- Tennessee State University
- Nashville, TN
- Valary Olenik
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Analytics Committee
- Speaker and Gamification Coach
- Valary with a Why
- New York, NY
- Wendy Pate
- USDLA Board member
- Associate Director
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
- Chuck Sengstock
- USDLA – Board Treasurer
- Director – Continuing Education and Professional Development
- Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
- Elaine Shuck
- USDLA Chair Emerita – Chair Communications Committee
- Senior Manager, Vertical Marketing
- Aruba a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
- Sturgis, SD
- Dr. Reggie Smith III
- USDLA Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director
- Manager, Conference Services
- Children’s National Medical Center
- Washington, D.C.
- Errol Craig Sull
- USDLA Board Member – Chair of Professional Development Committee
- University Instructor and Writer
- Drexel University Online
- Buffalo, NY
- Dr. Erika Weiss
- USDLA Board Member – Executive Committee and Secretary of the Board
- Founder and President
- Kenedd Consulting
- Quantumedd, Inc.
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Michael Mathews
- USDLA Board Member
- VP Technology and Innovation
- Oral Roberts University
- Tulsa, OK.
- Robert Zotti
- USDLA Board Member
- Assistant Dean and Director of WebCampus
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
