Passionate About Distance Learning, Hungry for Input
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.
2024 - 2025 USDLA Board Members
2024 - 2025 Advisory Board
Paul Bardack
Advisory Board
Retired. Former Executive Director and USDLA Past President
Maryland Small Business Development Center
Rebecca J. Blankenship, Ph.D.
Advisory Board
Associate Professor/Director of TESOL Programs
Florida A&M University
Victoria Brown
Advisory Board
President of Florida Distance Learning Association
Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Arifa Garman
Advisory Board
Instructional Designer
University of Maryland President Garman eLearning
Phillip Herr-Klepacki
Advisory Board
Director for Distance Education
University of Florida College of the Arts
Debra Luken
Advisory Board
Instructional Designer
University of Central Florida Center for Distributed Learning
Allyson Mitchell
Advisory Board
Director of Partnerships & Engagement
The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
Cheryl Oberlin
Advisory Board
Director, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Division of Distance Education
Jason Ruckert, Ph.D.
Advisory Board
Vice Chancellor, Worldwide Online Education Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
