Staff Directory

Jackie Hudgins was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Tuscaloosa at the age of nine. She now calls Northport, Alabama, home. As Director of UA Early College, Jackie serves alongside the recruitment and marketing, academic advising and student achievement teams to deliver an unrivaled experience across every part of the program. She strengthens and expands collaborative K-12 partnerships both in and out of state, ensuring UA Early College provides high quality programming beginning with LEAP students and continuing through graduating seniors. That work depends on strong connections across The University of Alabama campus so every student has a premier experience.

Jackie helps set students up to win through UAEC 200. As students begin college level coursework, she makes sure they understand what is expected of them and the support UA Early College provides along the way. Parents can reach out to her when they want assurance that partnering with UA Early College is the right choice for their student. What Jackie enjoys most are the relationships with students, families, educators, school counselors and colleagues, all working together to help students succeed. She believes we are Better Together.

Fun Fact: Jackie plays acoustic guitar and is a road cyclist who has ridden with Bo Jackson, Lance Armstrong, Ken Griffey Jr., Brett Favre, Desmond Howard and Scottie Pippen.

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 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 Early College 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.

Wendy Hoggle is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but has spent most of her life in Tuscaloosa, where she graduated from The University of Alabama. In her role, Wendy leads the Academic Advising team, ensuring Early College students receive exceptional academic guidance. She also serves as a key point of contact for students and parents requiring additional support beyond their initial advising interactions.

Wendy’s favorite aspect of her work is witnessing students achieve their educational dreams. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with students and their families, providing encouragement and support throughout their academic journeys.

Fun Fact: A proud mother of four daughters — all of whom have participated in or are currently enrolled in UA Early College — Wendy also cherishes her role as a grandmother to two grandsons, who bring great joy to her life. She is an avid sports enthusiast and currently coaches a club volleyball team in Tuscaloosa, sharing her love of the game and fostering teamwork and leadership among young athletes.

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!

Alex Borchardt is originally from Monticello, a small town in southeast Arkansas surrounded by seemingly never-ending pine trees. She moved to Tuscaloosa in 2019 to pursue her master's degree in composition and rhetoric and has been proud to call it home ever since. As Marketing Database Coordinator for UA Early College, Alex writes and develops content for UAEC communications and maintains campaigns that drive student interest in the program. She also manages the office's Slate database, tracking interactions with students and families and building the queries staff use for communications. Students and parents can reach out to Alex when contact or mailing information in the system is incorrect and needs to be updated. She most enjoys crafting content that gets students excited about their journey with UAEC and their higher education goals.

Fun Fact: Alex is a trained jazz vocalist and is married to a professional trumpet player. When she's not performing with local jazz and blues bands, she loves being crafty and making jewelry for markets across the southern region.

Haley Carr is from Vernon, Alabama but has called Tuscaloosa home for several years. Haley serves as an academic advisor for Early College and is responsible for helping high school students begin the transition into their college course work. Each student is different, and Haley can assist students with courses that align with their individual academic goals. Students and parents can reach out to Haley when they need help deciding which courses to take, have concerns or need further clarification. Haley enjoys interacting with people and building relationships with others. She’s excited to see her work impact students on their journey. Haley’s work with Early College speaks directly to her heart because she was a dual enrollment student in high school.

Fun Fact: Haley enjoys going to church, spending time with my friends and family, cooking, shopping and playing with her bunny, Hershey.

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.

Julie Clements is originally from the small town of Freehold, New Jersey. She serves as the Early College Admissions Representative for West Alabama and the Central United States Region and encourages high school students to further support their future educational careers. Students can call her when they need help with admissions questions or getting more information about Summer On Campus. Parents can contact her when they need help understanding how participating in dual enrollment can support their child's academic success. What she enjoys most about her role is how many students she gets to meet and form relationships with throughout the area that she serves.

Fun Fact: Julie's son and daughter, Riley and Wells, are exactly 11 months apart! Riley was born June 7, 2022, and Wells was born May 7, 2023. This was quite a surprise, but they wouldn't have it any other way!

Logan Cosby is originally from Cherokee, Alabama, 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.

Caroline Costello is originally from Pell City, Alabama, and now calls Huntsville, Alabama, home. She is a proud alumna of The University of Alabama, where she earned a BS in Human Environmental Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Studies in 2022. In her role as Admissions Representative for UA Early College, she serves high school students, parents and counselors in North Alabama, Tennessee and the Western United States region. Caroline enjoys helping students and their families navigate the UA Early College admissions process by providing guidance, answering questions and connecting them with the resources they need. She is most excited about traveling to different schools and meeting the future students of the Capstone!

Fun Fact: After graduating from UA, Caroline spent four years living in Fort Worth, Texas, where she adopted her cat, Princess. Princess now lives with her in Huntsville and definitely keeps her on her toes!

Michael Crawley is originally from Hueytown, Alabama, and now lives in Hoover, Alabama. He earned his BA from Samford University, an MA in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and an MA in Secondary Education/History from the University of Montevallo. As a UA Early College Student Success Coach, Michael's goal is to offer the highest level of support and encouragement to students. Current UA Early College students can reach out to him by email, text or calling when they need help building confidence, completing class assignments or developing effective communication skills. Parents can contact Michael when they need help supporting their learner to achieve at the highest level. He looks forward to drawing on his years of teaching experience to provide the support and encouragement students need as they take college classes in high school.

Fun Fact: Michael was a social studies teacher for 19 years and has taught every history class from 6th through 12th grade at some point in his career. If you look closely, you can spot him in the baseball movie "The Rookie" starring Dennis Quaid! When he's not coaching students, Michael enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife, Jennifer, daughter, Sarah, and their dog, Milo.

Leigh Heifner is originally from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and moved to Tuscaloosa over twenty years ago after graduating from The University of Alabama. In her role as an Academic Advisor, she assists students as soon as they begin their academic journey with Early College. She is there for her students to help them with course selection based on their anticipated major and begin working towards their academic goals. She thoroughly enjoys building relationships with her students and their parents and supporting them throughout their Early College journey.

Fun Fact: Leigh loves spending time with her family and traveling anywhere that’s warm!

Maggie Howard is originally from Pell City, Alabama. In her role as Admissions Representative for UA Early College, she serves high school students, parents and counselors in East Alabama as well as the Eastern United States region. 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 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!

Madison May is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She earned her BS in Business Administration from The University of Alabama and is currently pursuing her master's degree at UA. As an Academic Advisor for UA Early College, Madison works with students to select courses that align with their academic goals, anticipated college major and future plans, and she helps them navigate registration and other aspects of their Early College experience. Students and parents can reach out to her with questions about course options, degree requirements, dual credit and dual enrollment, and registration. Her goal is to make the college experience feel less overwhelming and help students make informed decisions as they begin earning college credit. Madison enjoys building relationships with students and their families and watching students gain confidence as they take on college coursework for the first time.

Fun Fact: Madison is a former UA Early College student herself, so she gets to support students through the same program that gave her a head start at The University of Alabama!

Cristen McClelland grew up in the small town of Lincoln, Alabama, and spent her high school years in Birmingham, Alabama, both of which she considers home. She has lived in Tuscaloosa for more than a decade now. Cristen graduated from The University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and is currently a UA graduate student working toward an MA in Higher Education Administration. As an Academic Advisor for UA Early College, she guides students through the transition from high school to college coursework as they begin their collegiate journey. Cristen assists students and parents with course selection, the registration process and exploring potential majors, and she is always glad to provide clarification or help when questions arise. She loves meeting students, making connections and building relationships, and she especially enjoys traveling to schools to advise UAEC students in person.

Fun Fact: Cristen enjoys traveling, shopping and trying new restaurants. Most of all, she loves spending time with friends and family, especially her husband, Brady, and their dog, Mazie!

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 originally from Mount Olive, New Jersey, and is a proud alumna of The University of Alabama. Passionate about student success, she enjoys helping students through the dual enrollment journey. With a friendly approach, Emily walks students through the process and provides important information about UA Early College. 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.

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.

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.)

Demilia Snyder comes to us from Eutaw, Alabama, and now lives just outside of Tuscaloosa in Northport, Alabama. In her role as Early College Student Success Coach, she motivates students to work hard and stay goal oriented. Early College students can contact her by email, text or calling. Demilia is available when a student wants assistance with time management, building effective communication skills, or learning more about their own study style. She can also guide parents that want to appropriately guide their learner on the correct path. Demilia enjoys being a positive asset to students’ academic growth and achievement.

Fun Fact: Demilia appreciates spending time with her husband and four children.

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.