Staff Directory

Since joining The University of Alabama in 2015 from Sanger, CA, in the heart of the Central Valley, Lynette has brought over 20 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. Holding a BA in Liberal Studies and an MS in Educational Administration, she is credentialed in Educational Administration in both California and Alabama.

As the Director of UA Early College, Lynette is dedicated to supporting students, parents, faculty, and community partners in achieving their educational goals. Her expertise in educational leadership, management, curriculum development, and online learning allows her to create a dynamic and supportive environment for all stakeholders. Lynette is passionate about helping individuals reach their full potential and is committed to ensuring positive and successful outcomes for everyone involved.

Fun fact: Lynette loves to travel around the US.  Over the years, she has logged over 90,000 miles across 28 states in an RV.

Chad Haynie is originally from Stockbridge, Georgia, and transferred to The University of Alabama in 2007. Chad earned his BA in Communication and Information Sciences from UA and has worked in collegiate athletics communications, corporate and higher education marketing, and student recruitment. He helps support prospective UA Early College students through the application and enrollment process to jumpstart their college journey. Chad oversees the marketing and recruitment teams that help promote and recruit future UAEC students and provide communication to current students. He enjoys helping students and families navigate the dual credit and dual enrollment journey and the opportunities it provides students once they get to college, as well as promoting the unique experiences offered by UA Early College.

Fun fact: Chad is an award-winning broadcaster and served as the play-by-play voice for Alabama Softball on the Crimson Tide Sports Network for five seasons calling four SEC Championships and the program’s only National Championship in 2012.

Morgan Kenny is from Florence, Alabama. She has lived in Tuscaloosa since starting her undergraduate work in 2012. Morgan holds a BS in Secondary Ed Social Science and a MA in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in Social Science. She worked in K-12 education for more than 7 years before coming to UA Early College. Morgan helps to support students and faculty as they interact with one another. She oversees the Student Success Team which consists of the Student Success Coaches, peer coaches, and Summer Programs Coordinator as they provide academic advice and accountability to students! Students and parents may interact with her when they need special assistance after contacting Student Success Team members. Her favorite part of her job is getting to help students reach new levels of academic achievement as they move to the next level of their academic journeys.

Fun fact: Morgan has taught 3 A.P. courses (Psychology, United States History, and American Government) and has spoken at the A.P. Annual Conference!

Lee Carter is from Butler, Alabama. She’s been with UA Early College since it began in 2009. In her position, She admits students, awards scholarships, coordinates classes and helps students enroll in those classes. Students contact her when they need help enrolling in a class. Parents contact her if they have questions about their student's account information. She most enjoys allaying the fears of students and parents regarding higher education, and she’s also proud to represent UA with the highest degree of integrity.

Fun fact: Lee, her two children and her daughter-in-law are all graduates of UA.

Logan Cosby is originally from Cherokee, AL, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree with The University of Alabama. As an academic advisor for UA Early College, he guides students through registration and helps them choose classes that align with their future major and/or academic goals. He assists students and parents by showing them the process of registration, along with showcasing the variety of course options. Logan enjoys helping students navigate their way through classes and hopefully help them find a major that best suits them.

Fun Fact: Logan has visited 40 different states and Canada. However, he has never been in an airplane! It has all been in a car. Between advising and travel, he also attends as many Alabama Basketball & Football games as possible

Ma'Kiyah Hall is originally from Reform, Alabama, and now lives in Northport, Alabama. In her role as a UA Early College Student Success Coach, she gives support to students and provides a safe space for fostering academic success. Current UA Early College students can call or email Ma'Kiyah when they need help with time management, utilizing effective communication skills, and learning more about their own study style. Parents can contact her for advice when they’re appropriately guiding their learner on the correct path. Ma'Kiyah enjoys seeing her students grow academically and choosing their own career paths.

Fun Fact: Ma'Kiyah loves spending time with her family and her lab/mix, named Oreo Renee’. She also enjoys photography!

Wendy Hoggle's hometown is Cleveland, Ohio. As the Summer Programs Coordinator, she oversees, plans, coordinates and promotes the Summer On Campus and LEAP programs. Students reach out to her if they are interested in or are participating in either summer program. Parents may contact her for any information regarding the programs or their students’ participation in SOC or LEAP. She finds it most rewarding to see the students grow academically.

Fun fact: Wendy is a loving mother to 4 girls that she is very proud of.

Maggie Howard is originally from Pell City, AL. In her role as Admissions Representative for UA Early College, she serves high school students, parents and counselors in Central Alabama as well as the Central United States. Maggie can assist students with their UA Early College application, course offerings, or explain the benefits of participating. Parents and Counselors can reach out to her when they have questions about deadlines, scholarships, or dual credit. As a former UA Early College student herself, she enjoys meeting students at recruiting events and helping them get involved with UA Early College! Maggie is excited to help students achieve their educational goals.

Fun Fact: Maggie loves spending time with her dog, Winnie! She also paints dog portraits with watercolor!

Lindsey Hoyle is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and has worked with UA Early College since 2015. Her primary role at UA Early College is the coordination of multiple events each year that showcase the UA Early College program and benefits available to high school students everywhere. Outside of event coordination, Lindsey also assists with managing recruiting materials and assisting with student recruitment efforts. Additionally, she assists with responding to parent and student inquiries and is actively involved in the LEAP program. Students and parents may call her if they have any questions regarding an upcoming UAEC event or if they need UAEC materials to share with family and friends. She enjoys all the interactions she has with students, parents and educators as well as working with the rest of the UAEC staff. Her favorite part of working for UA Early College is being part of a program that is supports high school students in achieving their higher-educational goals.

Fun fact: Lindsey has a family tradition of watching “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” and she hopes for a chance to audition in the future.

Kaylee Knight is a native of Monroeville, AL. She is thrilled to serve as Admissions Representative for South Alabama and the Eastern United States. She looks forward to working with students and their families to share the many benefits of UA Early College. She can help you with the application process and assist in meeting necessary deadlines. Kaylee can also provide information on scholarships, dual credit and course options. She is dedicated to providing guidance, support and encouragement to help in any way possible!

Fun fact: Kaylee competed in the 100^th Anniversary of Miss Alabama!

Pam Mixon is from Hamilton, Alabama. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s in Secondary Education, as well as a master’s in Educational Administration and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. As the UAEC 200 Administrator, she oversees student achievement for UAEC 200 participants. She works closely with high school students starting UA Early College and the UAEC 200 faculty to ensure students have the resources they need to be successful. Students and parents contact her when they have questions or concerns about their UAEC 200 course. Fun fact: Pam has five grandchildren and can be found at most sporting events cheering on the Tide.

Emily Mott is a dedicated academic advisor originally from Mount Olive, New Jersey, and is a proud University of Alabama alumna. Passionate about student success, she guides and assists students through course selection, aligning choices with individual goals and anticipated majors. With a friendly approach, Emily walks students through the process and provides important information about their courses. Students and parents alike rely on her expertise for clarifications on course options. Emily enjoys supporting students and is excited to be a part of their UAEC journey.

Fun Fact: Emily loves to travel and when she's not traveling…she's usually spending time with her dog on hiking trails.

Erica Murray-Mack was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her role as Administrative Assistant II involves communicating with students and parents when they call the UA Early College office. Erica can provide general program information, answer questions or direct you to the person that can. She also helps students when they are missing application documents. Erica likes guiding students through the UA Early College admission process, and engaging with them as they develop from high schoolers to college students.

Fun fact: Erica enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and trying new foods. she also enjoys crafting and creating new "random" projects around the house.

Jerrod Newell grew up in Red Bay, Alabama, but has lived in Tuscaloosa for more than 25 years. So, he now calls T-town his home. As a UA Early College Student Success Coach, Jerrod helps to support students and creates a safe space for building academic success. Current UA Early College students can reach out to him by email, text or calling when they need help with time management, utilizing effective communication skills, or learning more about their own study style. Parents can contact Jerrod for advice on how to appropriately guide their learner on the correct path. Jerrod enjoys building positive relationships with students and helping them navigate college life while in UA Early College.

Fun Fact: Jerrod enjoys spending time with family, especially his two nephews, and working in the music ministry at his church. Jerrod also loves travel. He’s traveled to over 25 states in the U.S. and two provinces in Canada.

John Adam Page is from Phenix City, Alabama. His job involves working on marketing campaigns and prospective student communication, including maintaining the UA Early College website. Students and parents may communicate with him if they send the office a question by email. They may also see him at recruiting events or on-campus functions. He enjoys helping students get a head start on their college experience and working with the UA Early College staff and faculty. 

Fun fact: He loves outdoor activities, water sports and travel

Alison Schwartz grew up on Long Island, New York. As a UA Early College Program Assistant her primary responsibility is reconciling purchases and maintaining departmental expenditure reports. She’s a primary point of contact for students and parents with general questions about UA Early College. Alison is excited to be part of a program that allows high school students to get a jump start on college and helps guide them along their path toward their professional goals. 

Fun fact:  Alison loves traveling and has been to five countries and twenty-nine states so far. When she’s not traveling, she’s outside hiking or kayaking with her husband and dog or reading in her plant room (it has over 50 plants and it’s glorious.)

Hannah Sellers is a Tuscaloosa, AL native and UA alumna. She’s also a committed academic advisor for UA Early College. Hannah’s role is to guide and assist students and parents through the course selection process, work with students to balance their high school responsibilities along with college level work and to explore possible majors. Students can contact Hannah for an advising appointment each semester they want to take courses. She wants to help students feel confident and at ease during their time with UA Early College. Hannah is passionate about students discovering academic studies they enjoy and helping them get a step ahead for college.

Fun fact: Hannah was a UAEC student and graduated from UA in 2020. She loves spending time with her four sisters and dog Coco!

Leslee Tucker enjoys visiting her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. As UA Early College Admissions Representative for North Alabama and the Western U.S, Leslee is always excited to meet with prospective students and parents one-on-one, or as a group, to tell them about UA Early College. Students reach out to her when they need assistance in completing their UA Early College application, discussing course options or just learning more about the benefits of participating. Parents reach out to Leslee when they have questions regarding scholarships, application deadlines or Dual Credit. She enjoys giving students the support and guidance they need to successfully transition into college and achieve their academic goals. Fun fact: Leslee loves dancing and is always up for a good pun. Listen to her carefully, she will sometimes slip into a random accent!

Arwen was born in Tuscaloosa, AL but has lived in Birmingham, AL for most of her life. She returned to Tuscaloosa in 2012 to pursue her BA and MA in English Literature. Before joining UA Early College, Arwen was an Assistant Professor of English at a private college in the state. Arwen now serves as an instructor for the UAEC 200 course. She developed a passion for helping high school students tackle the transition to college while teaching college preparedness courses, advising a small group, supporting honors student's Capstone projects, working on a retention committee to ensure longevity and consistency in student enrollment at her prior college. Arwen considers The University of Alabama her home. As a legacy, she's grown up within the UA community and is thrilled to be here in this role. Arwen currently lives in Hoover, AL and she loves spending time with her family, gardening, and playing video games. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has a little boy, as well as two chihuahuas named Bruce and Nick – after Nick Saban, because he is small but mighty. Roll Tide!

Connar grew up in Hamilton, Alabama and earned his BS in Chemistry and MBA from The University of Alabama. Prior to joining the Early College, Connar taught high school chemistry and earned a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He currently serves as an instructor for UAEC 200 courses, where he helps high school students and recent graduates prepare to take on college-level courses. Connar loved serving as a high school teacher and is excited to continue to support and aid students in his new role. Connar lives in Hoover, AL and loves to travel internationally. When he is not teaching, you can find Connar refereeing high school basketball games in the Birmingham Area.

Dr. Kathleen Morris calls Tuscaloosa, Alabama home. For the past 14 years, she’s been an instructor in The University of Alabama Department of Computer Science. She is a coordinator and instructor for CS 102 courses online and on campus. She has a PhD in Educational Leadership, Policy and Technology Studies with a concentration in Instructional Technology. She is married with a daughter at UA and a son in high school (he’s in UA Early College, too!). Her free time involves serving on the advisory board for the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy, advising a UA sorority, being outside, pet rescue and cheering on the Crimson Tide at any opportunity.

Dr. Ratliff earned his PhD at The University of Alabama in 2007 and has been with UA Early College from its beginning in 2009. He is a historian of the American South and specializes in the legal and social history of the late 1800s and early 1900s. His research focuses on racial violence in that period, using same race lynching incidents as a lens to view popular conceptions of race and society during that period. He’s garnered numerous honors during his career, including being named an Outstanding Content Developer and receiving the Ruth M. Kibbey Award for Outstanding Service to the Department of History. In 2021, Ratliff completed the QM Teaching Online Certificate, the national standard in excellence in online instruction. He also serves as webmaster and digital content expert for the University's Department of History. Dr. Ratliff lives in Coaling, AL, with his wife and son. In his free time, he serves as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, enjoys the outdoors and raises Boer goats as part of his son’s 4-H project.

Deborah Schwartz is from Dothan, Alabama. She’s worked at The University of Alabama for over 11 years and has spent the past six years teaching English for UA Early College. She is an alumna of Troy University and earned a master's degree in English Education. Deborah is currently a doctoral student in The University of Alabama College of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction program. She is a member of the National Council for Teachers of English and the Sloan Consortium, an organization committed to quality online education. She is married and has two children and two grandchildren and enjoys gardening, water activities and Alabama football.

Allison is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Alabama. She has been teaching PY 101 for Early College since 2016. She also teaches upper-level courses within the Psychology Department at the University. Allison married in 2020, and they have one super special and precious Pomeranian, Snyper. When not teaching Psychology, she spends her time with her husband, her dog, her 200 plants, and at the gym.

Amanda is from Oxford, Alabama. She received her degrees from Jacksonville State University before coming to teach at the University of Alabama in 2015. She has been an English instructor with UAEC since 2017. She enjoys helping students find the writers within themselves and seeing the progression her students make each semester. Amanda enjoys traveling and dancing while she cleans house. She also has two children, Amiliya and Kennedy, who make sure her life is never boring. Roll Tide!

Dr. Claire Thompson is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She's been teaching at The University of Alabama for over seven years. She recently became an Anthropology instructor for UA Early College. She has a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, a master's from Florida State University and a PhD from The University of Alabama. Her husband is also an employee at The University of Alabama, and they have two children. Dr. Thompson's academic interests include the following: Southeastern archaeology, pottery analysis, prehistory of Moundville and the instruction of secondary and higher education.

Andrea Wilson is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She attended The University of Alabama for her undergraduate degree. She chose to live on-campus to get connected with the campus and her peers. Andrea currently serves as an instructor for the UAEC 200 College Readiness Course. During that course, students interact with her when they need help with anything related to their coursework. Andrea enjoys knowing that she is a student’s first instructor at The University of Alabama, and she wants them to have a positive and successful introduction to coursework at UA. She LOVES to travel!  But when not traveling, Andrea enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two daughters!

Kim Wright is from Montgomery, Alabama. She has worked at The University of Alabama for over 18 years. She teaches Computer Science classes for UA Early College. Kim has bachelor's and master’s degrees in Math Education. Before beginning her work as an instructor at the University, she was a high school math teacher and worked as an Assistant Research Engineer in the Computer Science department at UA. Kim’s son is a freshman at UA and her daughter is a senior in high school. She has one dog and one cat. She is also a member of Northwood Church of Christ.

Sierra Wyatt has lived in Tuscaloosa, AL, her whole life. She has previously been a classroom teacher and advisor for UA Early College, but now serves UA Early College students as an instructor for UAEC 200. Sierra helps students and recent graduates prepare to take on college-level courses. While in the UAEC 200 course, students interact with her when they need help with anything related to their coursework. Building relationships with students and families is important to Sierra and (as a former UA Early College student) she enjoys supporting today’s students as they achieve their academic goals. When Sierra’s not teaching high school students to succeed in college courses, she loves being a mother to her little girl and a “fur-mom” to her two standard poodles.

Rita Yessick is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She’s worked as a UA Early College English instructor for a year and a half. She’s worked at The University of Alabama since 1999. She has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. Rita is married to Michael. They have two sons, Kevin and Tyler. When not teaching, she bakes and decorates cakes. She also spent many years as a florist.