º£½ÇÊÓƵ

Julie M. Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, applies assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation principles to advance strategic student learning initiatives and SACSCOC accreditation efforts. She enthusiastically leads the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared for What Comes Next Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). This campus-wide, accreditation-related initiative enhances students’ career readiness competencies through reflection, integrative learning, and skill development, preparing them to confidently transition to the workforce or graduate education.

 

With substantial experience in SACSCOC accreditation, she has organized, written, and reviewed institutional compliance narratives, including the decennial reaffirmation and fifth-year interim reports. Her expertise in site-visit planning, compliance reporting, and QEP leadership has been instrumental in achieving successful accreditation outcomes. She has been invited to serve as a QEP Lead Evaluator in early 2025.

 

Dr. Estis combines interdisciplinary collaboration, effective communication, and data-informed decision-making to foster a culture of continuous improvement that enhances outcomes for students, faculty, and the university community.

Dr. Kathy Friedrich joined the USA family as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness in January of 2024. Dr. Friedrich has held similar positions at Tennessee Technological University, Trinity University in San Antonio, the Art Institute of Houston, and the College of the Mainland in Texas. Dr. Friedrich received her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University with a specialization in Research, Measurement and Statistics. She also holds a masters degree in Educational Psychology and bachelors in Mathematics and Psychology. An army brat who grew up traveling the world, Dr. Friedrich is partial to the gulf coast, an area her family has called home for generations. When not working, Dr. Friedrich spends her time crocheting, reading and gardening.

Michelle A. Hale, PhD serves as the Associate Director of Academic Enhancement at the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, where she leads initiatives to support student success and faculty development. Dr. Hale is an experienced educator, researcher, and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience. Her career bridges academia and industry, showcasing expertise in instructional leadership, online education, and marketing communications.

 

Dr. Hale is responsible for championing implementation of Canvas Portfolium to support the LevelUP QEP, developing course assets in Canvas, and managing marketing communications for the Office of Academic Enhancement and the LevelUP QEP.  She assists with the creation and delivery of professional development for faculty and staff, coordinates ongoing assessment of QEP outcomes by gathering data, and ensures compliance with assessment protocols.

 

 

Michaela Rader is the Data and Reporting Specialist in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at the º£½ÇÊÓƵ. Michaela joined the USA community in 2017 as a student, earning a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a master’s degree in Sociology, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Instructional Design and Development.

 

Prior to joining Institutional Effectiveness, Michaela worked in Undergraduate Admissions, where she developed a strong appreciation for data-informed decision-making, student engagement, and institutional strategy. In addition to her work in Institutional Effectiveness, she also serves as the Director of Feature Twirlers with the Jaguar Marching Band and as an adjunct instructor of Sociology.

Alison Gay Wood is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University with a BA in History.  She began her career as a Museum Educator and Social Studies Teacher in Virginia before transitioning to university administrative support at Yale University.  After moving to Mobile in 2017, Alison worked in South's Department of History and the Academic Advising & Transfer Services office before joining the Institutional Effectiveness team.  Alison loves exploring the nature trails and beaches along the Gulf Coast and is an avid women's soccer fan who has attended three World Cups.