Staff/Contact
| Contact Us | |
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| Julie M. Estis, PhD, CCC-SLP Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness jestis@southalabama.edu (251) 461-1590 |
Julie M. Estis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP serves as the Associate Vice President in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and holds a faculty appointment as Associate Professor in Speech-Language Pathology with a joint appointment in Medical Education. Dr. Estis is an experienced higher education leader known for collaborative problem-solving and purposeful leadership. Her expertise spans academic enhancement, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, strategic planning, assessment, and faculty development. Grounded in a faculty background and service-oriented mindset, she is dedicated to mobilizing teams, inspiring action, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement through meaningful engagement and data-informed decision-making. In her leadership role in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Dr. Estis oversees university strategic planning, assessment, accreditation, state authorizations, university surveys, the academic calendar, the faculty handbook, and other institution-wide initiatives. She also serves as the university’s liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), guiding ongoing self-evaluation, action planning, and reporting to ensure continuous compliance. Dr. Estis has extensive experience leading Quality Enhancement Plans (QEPs), including USA’s current LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared for What Comes Next QEP, which advances students’ career readiness through reflection, integrative learning, and skill development. She also led USA’s earlier TeamUSA QEP, which focused on using Team-Based Learning to improve learning outcomes. She is an internationally recognized Team-Based Learning Collaborative Certified Trainer-Consultant and past president of the Team-Based Learning Collaborative. |
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Katherine Friedrich, PhD |
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.
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Michelle A. Hale, PhD |
Michelle A. Hale, PhD serves as the Associate Director of Academic Enhancement at
the University of South Alabama, 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.
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Laura Addington |
Laura Addington serves as the Assessment Coordinator for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. She brings over 15 years of experience in learning strategy and workforce development, with a specialization in program evaluation, performance analytics, and instructional systems design. Prior to joining the University of South Alabama, Laura served as a Management & Program Analyst and Technical Training Portfolio Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In these roles, she led national initiatives to streamline training standards, oversaw KPI monitoring, and directed large-scale course development projects. Her background in higher education includes serving as the Self-Paced Online Course Program Manager at the University of Central Oklahoma. Laura holds a Master of Education in Training & Adult Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has lived throughout the country and moved to Mobile in 2024. Laura loves exploring nature and is an avid hiker and bikepacker. She also enjoys cooking, gardening, and reading. |
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Jessica Rae Logan |
Jessica Logan is originally from Alabama and earned her bachelor’s degree in Theology
from Spring Hill College and her master’s degree in Social Innovation from the Joan
B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. Her work has focused
on designing, managing, and scaling complex programs that support educational access,
economic mobility, and community wellbeing. In her current role, she oversees course
evaluation processes and supports campus partners with survey design, building and
reporting in Qualtrics, and distribution strategy to ensure high-quality data and
meaningful insights. Outside of work, she enjoys road trips with her bulldog Bruce,
discovering small towns, and making random pitch decks for her road trip ideas.
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Alison Gay Wood |
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.
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Michaela Rader |
Michaela Rader is the Data and Reporting Specialist in the Office of Institutional
Effectiveness at the University of South Alabama. 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.
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