Curriculum Vita

Melanie N. (Hill) Clay
106 Habersham Place
Carrollton, GA 30117
(770)836-8638

Email: melaniec@westga.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Educational Studies/Educational Leadership in Higher Education

The University of Nebraska at Lincoln, August 2006
Dissertation: Training Practices and Preferences of Faculty Preparing to Teach Online in the University System of Georgia: A Mixed Methods Study

Ed.S. in Educational Leadership                                                                                      
University of West Georgia, December 1999
Thesis: Factors Affecting Faculty Attitudes Towards Distance Teaching: An Institutional Study

Master of Public Administration                                                                                      
West Georgia College, August 1996
Exit Paper: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Distance Learning at West Georgia College

B.S. in Journalism, The Ohio State University, June 1985

Certificates

Certificate in Leadership Development, 9-month course, 1997

Certificate in Distance Education, 9-month online course, 1998

Professional Employment

Associate Dean, Extended Degree Programs (January 2007 – Present) and

Director, Distance and Distributed Education (March 1998 – Present)

University of West Georgia, January 2007 - Present

• Provide leadership for the development and application of instructional technologies and distance learning systems and services.
• Provide leadership regarding the development of new online and off-campus programs, including collaboration with college deans, division chairs and faculty.
• Assure distance and off-campus program compliance with all SACS, BOR and institutional goals and policies.
• Provide ongoing management, planning and evaluation of budget, personnel, strategic planning, policy development, faculty development programs, marketing and effectiveness for distance education and off-campus programs.
• Monitor and evaluate student persistence in online and off-campus courses across all programs, working with course developers, faculty, and student services personnel to ensure student success.
• Coordinate with faculty, instructional leaders, students and administrators in the identification of instructional needs, and provide the vision and leadership necessary to identify and select technology systems and software to meet identified instructional goals.
• Plan and administer division budget in alignment with university strategic objectives. (Proposed, developed and implemented university’s eTuition)
• Develop master plan for distance learning technology infrastructure and integration.
• Represent UWG’s extended degree programs through membership and participation in professional organizations, conferences, and other meetings.
• Develop programs and creative endeavors which promote scholarship and research by UWG staff and faculty in the field of Distance Education and Distance Learning Administration .

Distance Education Coordinator

University of West Georgia, March 1996 – March 1998

• Coordinated two-way synchronous audio/video distance learning program.
• Developed and delivered faculty training for those engaged in distance teaching.
• Facilitated and led development team for university entry into online education.
• Serves as Institutional Distance Education Administrator as the official distance learning liaison to the Board of Regents, assuring distance program compliance with all BOR and institutional goals and policies.

Creative Services Specialist, Ernst & Young, Atlanta, Georgia, March 1991 – November 1994

Teaching Experience

Fall 2008
Course Developer and Instructor, Introduction to American Government, Political Science Department, University of West Georgia (51% online)

2006 - Present
Course Developer and Instructor, Advanced Technologies in Distance Education, 3 - month online program (five courses)

2004 - Present
Course Developer and Instructor, Distance Education Certified Trainer Program, 5 - month online program (seven courses)

2002 – Present
Course Developer and Instructor, How to Be a Great Online Instructor, 5 - week online training program (two courses)

1998
Online Adjunct Instructor, Computer Utilization for Public Administrators, Political Science Department, University of West Georgia

1997 – Present
Course Developer and Instructor, Distance Education Certificate Program, 6 - month online course  (twenty-one courses)

Related Professional Experience

1998 – Present
Editor-In Chief, Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration (since 1998). Founded and serve as editor of online journal which focuses specifically on issues faced by administrators and managers of distance and distributed education programs. Journal receives over 10,000 web hits per month. Available at: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/jmain11.html

2000 – Present
Conference Director and Founder, Distance Learning Administration Conference (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Develop, plan and direct annual 3-day conference which attracts presenters and participants from all over the world. Available at http://www.westg.edu/~distance/dla2006.html

2006
Reviewer and Reader, Educause 2006 Conference, Teaching and Learning Track

Research Interests

Organizational Issues in Distance Education

Faculty Satisfaction with Distance and Distributed Teaching

Student Retention and Success in Online Learning

Global Issues in Distance Education

Professional Memberships and Service

2007- Present

Strategic Enrollment Council, University of West Georgia

2006 - Present
Regent's Advisory Committee on Distance Education 2006
UWG Web Redesign Task Force

2006
UWG Center for Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee

2005
Professional Standards Commission – Georgia Department of Education Task Force for Online Educator Preparation Standards

2005 - 2008
Technology Coordinating Council, University of West Georgia

2002
IT Strategic Plan Steering Committee, University of West Georgia

2000 – 2002
Georgia Distance Learning Association, Elected Board Member

1998
GSAMS Users Form State Development Committee

1998 – Present
Georgia Distance Learning Association, Charter Member

1997 – 1999
GSAMS Technical Advisory Committee

1997 – Present
Advanced Academy of Georgia, Faculty-Staff Advisory Committee

1996
Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society, Secretary for West Georgia chapter

1996 – 1997
Georgia Association for Instructional Technology

1996 – Present
Faculty-Staff Advisory, Learning Resources Committee, University of West Georgia

1996 – Present
UWG Distance Learning Steering Committee, Chair, University of West Georgia

Awards

Employee of the Year, State University of West Georgia, Academic Affairs Division, 1998

Lee Wash Award recipient, May 1996, MPA program, presented to best overall graduate student in public administration program

Recent Publications and Presentations

Clay, M., Gubbins, J. 2008. Implementation of eTuition: Lessons Learned. Distance Learning Administration 2008 Conference Proceedings

Clay, M., Gubbins, J. 2008. Implementation of eTuition: Lessons Learned. Distance Learning Administration 2008 (Presentation)

Clay, M., Rowland, S. and Packard, A. 2008. Improving Undergraduate Online Retention Through Gated Advisement and Redundant Communication. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice (May 2008 Special Edition)

Clay, M., Gubbins, J. and Packard, A. 2007. Best Intentions and Retention: The Role of Support Staff. Distance Learning Administration Conference 2007 (Presentation)

Clay, M. and Gubbins, J., 2006. The Wonders of Just-in-Time Training. Distance Learning Administration Conference 2006 (Presentation)

Clay, M. and Clay M. 2006. The Art of Mentoring Distance Faculty: Novel Approaches to an Ancient Concept. Texas Distance Learning Association 2006, (Presentation)

Clay, M and Gubbins, J. 2004. Extreme Training Makeover. DLA 2004. (Presentation)

Clay, M., Gubbins, J., and Talley, C. 2004. How Faculty Really Learn to Teach Online: Implications for Trainers. WebCT 2004 Conference. (Presentation)

Clay, M., Gubbins, J., and Talley, C. 2002. Accreditation Issues in Distance Education. Distance Learning Administration Conference 2002. (Presentation)

Clay, M., and Gubbins, J., 2000. Establishing Class Size Policies for Online Courses. Distance Learning Administration Conference 2000. (Presentation)

Clay, M. and Gubbins, J., 2000. Untangling the Organizational Web of Distance Education. Georgia Distance Learning Association Conference. (Presentation)

Hill, M., 1999. Growth Management in Distance Education: How to Expand Your Distance Offerings. Technology and Teacher Education Annual 1999.

Clay, M., 1999. Development of Training and Support Programs for Distance Education Faculty. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Vol. 2, No. 3.

Hill, M., 1998. Staffing a Distance Learning Team: Whom Do You Really Need? Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. Vol. 1, No. 1. Available: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/jmainsp98.html

Hill, M., 1998. The Missing Link: Building a Support System for Distance Learning Students. GSAMS Conference.

Johnson, J., Clay, M. and Lankford, W. 1998. Teaching Computers Via Distance Learning. Business Education Forum, Vol. 52, No. 3, 39.

Hill, M., 1997. Teacher Education Through Distance Learning: Cost Effectiveness and Quality Analysis. Technology and Teacher Education Annual 1997.

Hill, M., 1997. Preparing Students for Distance Learning Courses. GSAMS Conference. (Presented paper)

Hill, M., 1997. Distance Learning and the Future of Education in Georgia. Carrollton Optimist Club. (Invited Presentation)

Hill, M., 1996. Seven Ways to Get Faculty to Use Distance Learning and Love It. Education Technology Conference. (Presentation)

Hill, M., 1996. Distance Learning Through GSAMS: Strategies and Issues. Georgia Sociological Association Hans Mauksch Teaching Workshop. (Invited Presentation)