Parent Programs

Meet The Staff

Name: Sara A. Hartley
Hometown: Versailles, Kentucky

Current Position: Assistant to the Vice President for Communication and Director, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Communication, annual funds, strategic planning and leading First Year Experience and Parent Programs.

Community Involvement: The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), National Orientation Director's Association (NODA), Leadership U and Professional Development, St. Jude Collegiate Executive Board and Chi Sigma Alpha Honors Society.

Education: Western Kentucky University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. The University of South Carolina-Columbia, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Currently completing coursework towards a doctoral degree in Communication Studies and Higher Education Administration at The University of Alabama.

Name: Litsa E. Orban

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Current Position: Assistant Director, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Parent orientation, parent communication, leadership programs, civic engagement, and freshman student and transfer student initiatives.

Community Involvement: The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA).

Education: The Florida State University, Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in Leadership Studies. The University of South Carolina, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs.

Name: Jennifer L. DeFrance

Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Current Position: Assistant Director, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Parent orientation, parent communication, leadership programs, civic engagement, and freshman student and transfer student initiatives.

Community Involvement: The Leadership Board for the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the Junior League of Tuscaloosa.

Education: The University of Alabama, Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication and Film/Communication and Master of Arts in Quality Management.

Name: Mary A. Porter

Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Current Position: Coordinator, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Freshman Forum, Ignite UA and First Year Experience initiatives.

Education: Middle Tennessee State University, Bachleor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. The University of Alabama, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Administration.

Name: Phillips Thomas

Hometown: Anniston, Alabama

Current Position: Coordinator, Student Affairs Programs

Responsibilities: Promoting first-year and transfer student events on campus including the “Out 2 Lunch” program which encourages students to ask their teachers to lunch, coffee etc.

Community Involvement: Black Law Students Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Habitat for Humanity.

Education: The University of Alabama, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. The University of Alabama, J.D. Law Degree.

Name: Jesse A. King

Hometown: Northport, Alabama

Current Position: Program Assistant, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Event planning, office programs, budgeting and customer service needs.
Community Involvement: The Junior League of Tuscaloosa

Education: The University of Alabama, Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies.

Name: Meredith R. Campbell

Hometown: Prattville, Alabama

Current Position: Graduate Assistant, Student Affairs Communication

Responsibilities: External and Internal communication pieces including e-newsletters, web highlight stories, the Capstone magazine and social media research and maintenance.

Community Involvement: The University of Alabama Program in Sport Communication and Grad Resources.

Education: Western Kentucky University, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Currently completing coursework towards a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from The University of Alabama.

Name: Logan A. Franks

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Current Position: Graduate Student, First Year Experience and Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Managing Parent Ambassadors, parent orientation and parent programming.

Education: The University of Texas-Arlington, Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Management with a minor in Advertising. Currently completing coursework towards a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration with a specialization in Student Affairs from The University of Alabama.

Name: William J. Jackson

Hometown: Montogmery, Alabama

Current Position: Student Coordinator, First Year Experience

Responsibilities: Assisting with First Year Experience events and programs.

Education: Currently completing coursework towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing with a minor in Fine Arts from The University of Alabama.

Name: Courtney H. Wilson

Hometown: Foley, Alabama

Current Position: Student Coordinator, Communication

Responsibilities: Answering phones, web site maintenance, social media branding, and writing and editing for various publications.

Community Involvement: Parent Ambassadors, Her Campus: Alabama magazine, Women's Initiative and Capstone Advertising Federation.

Education: Currently completing coursework towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Advertising from The University of Alabama.

Name: Sam Van Cleve

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Current Position: Student Coordinator, Communication/Office Administration

Responsibilities: Office administration, answering phones, web site maintenance, social media branding, and writing and editing for various publications.

Community Involvement: Student Executive Council for the school of communications and Lamda Pi Eta honors fraternity for Communications.

Education: Currently completing coursework towards a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from The University of Alabama.

Name: Ethan Henley

Hometown: Wing, Alabama

Current Position: Student Coordinator, Parent Programs

Responsibilities: Coordinating Parent Ambassadors and organizing parent events.

Community Involvement: Secretary of the Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity and Lambda Sigma Phi fraternity.

Education: Currently completing coursework towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with plans to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from The University of Alabama.

Meet The Volunteers

Name: Adrienne Gates

Hometown: Robertsdale, Alabama

Major: Advertising

Minor: Communication Studies

Name: Ben Rickles

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Major: Public Relation

Minor: Psychology

Name: Christine Covell

Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

Major: Public Relations and Political Science