Our staff of six is dedicated to helping students succeed in online courses and enabling distance faculty to focus on teaching rather than technology. In addition to responsive helplines and personal assistance, our staff constantly seeks ways to improve our online programs and to develop innovative ways to promote quality in online teaching and research. The extended efforts of our staff, through the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration and an annual international conference devoted to distance learning administration, have brought widespread recognition to UWG's distance programs.

Melanie N.Clay Ph.D., Associate Dean of Extended Degree Progams ( Melanie's Vitae )

Melanie is responsible for leading the support staff, marketing and evaluating the distance learning program, and developing training for faculty and students involved in distance courses. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration , and the administrator of the Distance Learning Certificate Program . She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, a Specialist in Educational Leadership, a Master's in Public Administration from the State University of West Georgia, and a Bachelor's in Journalism from the Ohio State University. She lives in Carrollton with her husband Matthew, her teenage daughter, and their two young sons. Email Melanie.

Janet P. Gubbins, Director of Distance and Distributed Ed. ( Janet's Vitae )

A former student facilitator, Janet joined the full-time staff in January 1998. She serves as the GeorgiaVIEW Vista (WebCT) Administrator for University of West Georgia. Her responsibilities include assisting faculty with course development, overseeing services for distance students, and distance learning data management. She holds a Master's in Public Administration from the State University of West Georgia. She and her husband Craig have a young son and an infant daughter. Email Janet.

Stacey Rowland, eCore Student Success Manager ( Stacey's Vitae )

Stacey Rowland joined the Distance & Distributed Education staff in July 1999. She serves as the eCore Student Success Manager for eCore Administrative Services, a USG collaborative program. She also serves as the Production Editor of the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. She lives in Carrollton with her husband Rob and children Caleb, Cameron, and Clayton. Email Stacey.

Alicia Williams, Student Support Specialist ( Alicia's Resume )

Alicia is a recent graduate of the University of West Georgia with a B.B.A in Management. She joined the Distance & Distributed Education's staff in August 2007. She serves at the student support coordinator, provides telephone and face-to-face student support for online students, and technical support for professors, courses, and distance students who use web-based learning technologies. She also serves as the Conference Manager for our annual conference on Distance Learning Administration and the Managing Editor of The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. Email Alicia.

Craig Brown, eCore Marketing and Enrollment Manager

Craig joined the Distance & Distributed Education's staff in October 2008. He holds a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law and a Master's of Business Administration from Mercer University. He received his Bachelor's in English from Fort Valley State University. He serves as the eCore Marketing and Enrollment Manager. Craig also enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. Email Craig.

Dawn Senfeld, eCore Academic Advisor

Dawn joined the Distance & Distributed Education's staff in May 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of West Georgia. She serves as an Academic Advisor for UWG eCore students, providing student support for eCore courses. She also serves as the Conference Event Manager for our annual conference on Distance Learning Administration. Email Dawn.