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.
2020 – 2021 USDLA Board Members
Executive Board Members
- Dr. Rhonda Blackburn
- USDLA President
Governance Chair
Conference Chair - Chief Learning Officer
- Ignite Nation
- Dr. Reggie Smith III
- Executive Director
- Manager, Conference Services
- Children’s National Medical Center
- Washington, D.C.
- Dr. Arletha McSwain
- USDLA President Elect –
Credentialing Committee Chair - Dean, Global Online and Professional Studies
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Daytona Beach, FL.
- Janet Major
- USDLA Chairwoman of the Board
Marketing Chair – Sponsorship Chair - Associate Director Facilities
- Arizona Telemedicine Program
- Arizona Health Sciences Center
- Tuscon, AZ
- Chuck Sengstock
- USDLA Board Member
Board Treasurer - Director – Continuing Education and Professional Development
- Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
- Dr. Erika Weiss
- USDLA Board Member
Secretary of the Board - Founder and President
- Kenedd Consulting
- Quantumedd, Inc.
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Dr. Rolando Garza
- USDLA Board Member
State Chapters Chair - Interim Director Distance Learning & Instructional Technology
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX
- Valary Olenik
- USDLA Board Member
Advisory Chair - Speaker and Gamification Coach
- Valary with a Why
- New York, NY
- Dr. Beverly Knox-Pipes
- USDLA Board Member
Membership Chair - CEO/Founder – BKP Solutions
- Adjunct Professor, Nova Southeastern University
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Dr. Renee F. Aitken
- USDLA Board Member
Awards Chair - Regional Accreditor, Higher Learning Commission
- Columbus, OH
- Dr. Judith Bayliss
- USDLA Board Member
- Chief Education Advisor & Center Director
Defense Acquisition University - Washington D.C.
- Pat Cassella
- USDLA Board Member
- Vice President
- Sales and Channel Development
- Discover Video, LLC.
Board Members
- Dr. Trina Coleman
- USDLA Board Member
- CEO & President – Coleman Comprehensive Solutions, LLC
- Hampton, VA
- 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
- Presidential Appointee
- College of Online Education Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty
- Life University
- Atlanta, GA
- Dr. Jodi Marshall
- USDLA Board Member
- Senior Vice President School Services – K12, Inc.
- Tampa Bay, FL
- Michael Mathews
- USDLA Board Member
Global Partnerships Chair - VP Technology and Innovation
- Oral Roberts University
- Tulsa, OK.
- Dr. Robbie Melton
- USDLA Board Member
Public Policy Committee Chair - Professor
- Graduate School
- Tennessee State University
- Nashville, TN
- Dr. Kenneth Nanni
- USDLA Board Member
- Executive Director – Florida Society for Health Care Risk Management and Patient Safety
- Tampa, FL
- Wendy Pate
- USDLA Board member
- Associate Director
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
- Errol Craig Sull
- USDLA Board Member
Professional Development Committee Chair - University Instructor and Writer
- Drexel University Online
- Buffalo, NY
