Board of Visitors

Established to further the mission of the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, the Board of Visitors combines the knowledge and expertise of alumni and friends dedicated to the advancement of excellence in educational programming and outreach.

Board Objectives

1. Provide feedback on program and curriculum development, considering current business, industry and educational trends and the needs of students in the workplace and community environments.
2. Identify new and expanding community outreach opportunities for online learning, nontraditional/adult students and non-credit programs.
3. Identify volunteers, prospective donors and fundraising goals; seek ways to strengthen partnerships with alumni, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies and other external constituents; and assist in raising funds to contribute to the advancement of the division.
4. Serve on various advisory committees established by the Board at the request of the associate provost to provide advice on specific programs, needs and issues.

Committees

• Alumni & Friends Engagement
  • The Alumni Engagement Committee strengthens the OTIDE alumni network by fostering connections, supporting engagement initiatives, and promoting philanthropy among UA Online, NCLT, and UA Early College graduates.
• Development & Corporate Relations
  • The Development and Corporate Relations Committee leverages networks to identify potential donors, support OTIDE’s fundraising efforts, and lead key development initiatives.
• Executive Committee
  • The Executive Committee supports the Associate Provost in leading the Board of Visitors, providing guidance, advocacy, and strategic oversight.
• Membership
  • The Membership Committee identifies and recommends qualified candidates for the OTIDE Board of Visitors, leveraging their networks to support the board’s growth and effectiveness.
• Military Advisory Board
  • The OTIDE Military Advisory Board enhances the educational experience of military service members, veterans, and their families by providing accessible, high-quality online education and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment.
• Scholarship Selection
  • The Scholarship Selection Committee reviews applications based on established criteria, and recommends recipients to the Associate Provost, guaranteeing an impartial and considerate allocation of scholarships.

Members of the Board of Visitors

Jennifer Aries

President

25th Hour Communications
Mashpee, Massachusetts

Alexis Barton

Communications Lead

The Southern Company
Birmingham, Alabama

Daniel Blackburn, Emeritus

Member

Blackburn and Conner, P.C.
Loxley, Alabama

David Bradshaw, President

President and CEO

InteractiveGIS, Inc.
Christiansburg, Virginia

Margaret Ila Christian

Associate Manager

Lockheed Martin Corporation
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Michele Coley

Agency Owner

Allstate Coley Agency
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

David Courington

Owner

David G. Courington Consulting
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dr. Ronald Dains

Associate Professor

Air Command & Staff College
Millbrook, Alabama

Wayne Dykes, Emeritus

CEO

SpotGenie Partners, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Erica Edwards-Lankford

Senior Vice President – Total Rewards Business Strategy

PNC Financial Services
Pelham, Alabama

Dr. Stefan Eisen, Jr., Emeritus

Colonel (Retired) USAF

Montgomery, AL

Bill Elrod

Retired

The University of Alabama
Hoover, Alabama

Lisa Evans

Head of Information Technology

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Rudy Fernandez, Emeritus

Co-Owner and Creative Director

Creative Outhouse
Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Kim Germany

CEO & Founder

AchieveNow Network, LLC.
Nashville, Tennessee

Sandra Goldman, Emeritus

Retired

Birmingham, Alabama

Bobbie Goldstein, Emeritus

Retired

Merrill Lynch/Bank of America
Birmingham, Alabama

Jheovanny Gomez

Owner

Jalapenos Mexican Grill
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Scott Grissett

Director of Client Success

Circulogene
Pensacola, Florida

Joel Hammond, Emeritus

President

Skye Rouge Group, Inc.
Columbus, Georgia

Lori Harris

Owner/Vice President of Sales

Professional Choice, Inc.
Hoover, Alabama

Captain John Hodges, Emeritus

Owner

Blue Skies Travel
Alexander City, Alabama

Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway

CEO, Executive Problem Solver

Skye Connect Incorporated
Birmingham, Alabama

Elizabeth Howard, Emeritus

Reading Specialist/Retired Teacher

Pelham, Alabama

Dr. Michael Howard

Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics

University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Ronald Howard, Emeritus

Retired Systems Analyst

Bellsouth Telecommunications
Pelham, Alabama

Dr. Ke’Andrea Jones

Retired

Alabaster City Schools
Pelham, Alabama

Kreg Kennedy

District Field Representative

U.S. House of Representatives
Tuscumbia, Alabama

Reid Lovell

Retired

Franklin, Tennessee

Dr. Keith Miller

Owner

B. Keith Miller, DDS
Brewton, Alabama

Gabriela Miller

Retired

Brewton City Schools
Brewton, Alabama

Dr. John Minney

Retired, Lt. Colonel

Alabama Air National Guard
Montgomery, Alabama

Dr. Torii Johnson Ramsey

CEO and President

ASPIRE Workplace Solutions Corporation
Bessemer, Alabama

Dr. Richard Rush

Executive Director of Strategic Communication

City of Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Mack Russell

Retired

District Judge
Greenville, Alabama

Rhonda Sapp

Sr. Vice President

Regions Bank
Bonifay, Florida

Barbara Smith

Retired

Muscogee City School District
Midland, Georgia

Rick Smith

Vice President

The Benefits Cooperative
Columbus, Georgia

Kevin Taylor

Senior Partner and Director of Agency Development

Strategic Planning Group and Penn Mutual
Atlanta, Georgia

Fitzgerald Washington

Secretary of Labor

Alabama Department of Labor
Montgomery, Alabama

Dr. Chewy Watt

Retired, Colonel

U.S. Air Force
Prattville, Alabama

Dr. Kevin Whitaker

Retired

The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Laura Whitaker

Retired

The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

David Wilson

Retired

The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dr. Liza Wilson

Retired

The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama