Meet Your Support Team - College Credit in High School

Staff

Victoria Whitfield Lewis, PhD

Director

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UA Early College
learn more about Victoria Whitfield Lewis, PhD

Dr. Victoria Whitfield Lewis is a Tuscaloosa native. In her role as director, she oversees all of UA Early College. She has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Secondary Education- English/Language Arts, as well as a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent many years working as an administrator and a high school English teacher. Students and parents contact her when special circumstances arise that are outside the scope of another staff members' expertise. She enjoys hearing about the positive experiences of UA Early College from students and parents. Fun fact: Dr. Whitfield Lewis is a proud three-time alum of The University of Alabama.

Pam Mixon

Assistant Director

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UA Early College
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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 assistant director, she oversees student achievement and co-oversees the Summer On Campus program (SOC). In addition, she works closely with high school counselors and UA faculty to ensure students have the resources they need to be successful. Students and parents contact her when they have questions about courses or the SOC program. Fun fact: Pam has five grandchildren and can be found at most sporting events cheering on the Tide.

Janine McGee

Assistant Director

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UA Early College
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Janine McGee is a Tuscaloosa native and serves UA Early College as assistant director. While overseeing the department’s recruitment and marketing efforts, she works with the recruiting specialists and marketing team to outline recruiting and communication for students and families across the state of Alabama and nationwide. Students and parents may contact her when they have a recruitment related question or when they don’t know who to ask their question to. Janine enjoys working with this top-notch team and finding new ways for UA Early College to connect with high school students.

Fun Fact: Janine has done service work in Brazil, Chile and the Dominican Republic, but Brazil may always be her favorite!

Demitrius Barksdale

Academic Advisor - North Alabama and out-of-state

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UA Early College
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Demitrius Barksdale has lived in Central Alabama for over 10 years, but he is originally from the small town of Brewton, Alabama. He has a background in clinical counseling and serves our students as an academic advisor. Demitrius enjoys working with students and families to navigate their academic options. As students decide which courses to take and plan their academic futures, Demitrius is there to help. He is an extrovert and enjoys meeting new people, public speaking, working out with his brother, and exploring his creativity in the kitchen, as a self-acclaimed chef! Fun fact: After graduating high school, Demitrius wanted to attend Johnson & Wales to become an executive chef.

Lee Carter

Enrollment Coordinator

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UA Early College
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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.

Sergio Ceja

Recruiting Specialist - Central Alabama and Central U.S.

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UA Early College
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Sergio Ceja’s hometown is Lexington, Nebraska. As a UA Early College Recruiting Specialist, Sergio travels across the Central Alabama territory, sharing with students and their families what makes UA Early College so special. Students, parents and counselors contact him to learn about the perks of taking college courses as a high school student or to schedule high school visits. He loves to assist students in making their dreams become reality by helping them transition from high school to college. Fun fact: Sergio is fluent in both English and Spanish. He would also like to learn Danish, Italian and Japanese someday.

Karley Fernandez Conley

Program Coordinator - Summer Programs

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Karley Fernandez Conley is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As the Program Coordinator of Summer Programs, 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 enjoys watching students grow academically, socially and emotionally as they prepare for their college careers. Fun fact: She has a love for lyricism and has written 500+ songs, but has never attempted to publish them.

Leslee Griggers

Academic Advisor - South Alabama

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UA Early College
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Leslee Griggers enjoys visiting her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. As an academic advisor for UA Early College, she helps students choose courses based on their anticipated major. She is also the dual credit contact for high school counselors and students in her territory. Each time students want to register for courses with UA Early College they will schedule an advising appointment with her. 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!

Wendy Hoggle

Academic Advisor - Central Alabama

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UA Early College
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Wendy Hoggle's hometown is Cleveland, Ohio. As an academic advisor, her role is to assist students with course selection based on their anticipated major. She also serves as the dual credit contact for high school counselors and students. Students that want to take a course with UA Early College schedule an advising appointment with her in each semester (parent involvement is welcome). She finds it most rewarding to see the students grow academically. Fun fact: In her spare time, Wendy is a bona fide cake boss.

Ashley Lajeunesse

Recruiting Specialist - North Alabama and Western U.S.

Contact Ashley Lajeunesse
205-534-1654
UA Early College
learn more about Ashley Lajeunesse

Ashley Lajeunesse is originally from the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida. As a UA Early College Recruiting Specialist, she serves the North Alabama territory and the western U.S. Counselors, students and their families contact her to discover the ways UA Early College benefits students and helps them achieve their educational goals. As a first-generation college student, Ms. Lajeunesse enjoys helping students remove barriers to higher education and achieve their educational dreams through UA Early College.

Fun Fact: Ashley previously worked for the Walt Disney Company and enjoys attending concerts and comedy shows.

Patti Meggs

Program Assistant

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UA Early College
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Patti Meggs is a native of Pinson, Alabama. Her primary responsibility is maintaining the internal student database and updating student records for UA Early College. She is a primary point of contact for students and parents with general questions about the program and for any questions regarding the application/admission process. Anytime she gets to meet UAEC students and hear their stories of success, it brings her joy. Fun fact: Not only is she an Early College employee, she is also an Early College parent.

John Adam Page

Database Marketing Coordinator

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UA Early College
learn more about John Adam Page

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.

Lindsey Porter

Program Assistant

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UA Early College
learn more about Lindsey Porter

Lindsey Porter is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her primary roles at UA Early College are managing financial and budget information, ordering supplies and managing recruiting materials. 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 general questions about UA Early College or if they need UAEC materials to share with family and friends. She enjoys all the interactions she has with students and parents 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 supports students in achieving their higher-educational goals.

Fun fact: Lindsey is in the process of starting a small family farm.

Taylor Smith

Recruiting Specialist - South Alabama and Eastern U.S.

Contact Taylor Smith
205-534-1692
UA Early College
learn more about Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith grew up in a military family and was mostly raised on the East Coast, in Havelock, North Carolina. Before moving to Tuscaloosa, she lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama. In her role as Recruiting Specialist, Taylor visits with students, parents and counselors to share the opportunities of UA Early College. You may contact her to find out about the benefits of participating in UA Early College, the application process or to ask about upcoming events. Taylor enjoys helping students achieve their educational goals and encouraging confidence while transitioning to college life. Fun Fact: Taylor loves playing softball on the weekends and she was born on the same island of Oahu, as Tua Tagovailoa, in Honolulu, Hawaii!

Emory Wicks

Student Success Coordinator

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UA Early College
learn more about Emory Wicks

Emory Wicks hails from Montgomery, Alabama. As the Student Success Coordinator, she helps our Early College students transition from high school academics into college-level learning. Her role is to promote student achievement by providing resources and tactics on how to excel in college courses. Students reach out to her for assistance in classes or help with time management and study skills. She can show students how to create goals and plans that will keep them on track in their academic work. Getting to know students and providing the encouragement and support they need is what she most looks forward to each day. Fun fact: Emory has an insatiable sweet tooth and loves to sing karaoke.

Faculty

Stefanie Buckner

UAEC 200

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Stefanie Buckner has served as a UAEC 200 College Readiness Course instructor at UA Early College for six years. She has also taught college courses at Florida State University and California Baptist University. Before working at UA, she was a high school English teacher for seven years, and she has a passion for preparing students for both college-level work and the online learning environment. She has lived in six different states (West Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama) and has four children—all under the age of six! In her (rare) spare time, she enjoys running and writing poetry.

Tracy Hinton

UAEC 200

UA Early College
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Dr. Tracy Hinton is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and serves as an instructor for the UAEC 200 College Readiness Course. Her experience includes 21 years as a middle/high school Career Technologies and English teacher and a School Library Media Specialist, as well as three years as an adjunct instructor at The University of Alabama. She has a PhD in Instructional Leadership with a concentration in Instructional Technology from The University of Alabama. She has four children and is an active member in her church. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, crocheting, cooking and watching Alabama football and the Million Dollar Band.

Kathleen M. Morris, PhD

Computer Science

UA Early College
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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.

John Ratliff, PhD

History

UA Early College
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Dr. John Ratliff is from Pace, Florida. He’s worked at The University of Alabama as a History instructor for six years. He also will answer to the following titles: Generalissimo, Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Mr. Incredible. He has a bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctoral degree. Aside from teaching UA Early College students, he also develops and maintains the online course curriculum in survey courses for the history department and serves as the webmaster for the history department. He’s married with one son.

Deborah Schwartz

English

UA Early College
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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.

Claire Thompson, PhD

Anthropology

UA Early College
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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.

Kim Wright

Computer Science

UA Early College
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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.

Amanda Snyder

English

Allison Scrivner, PhD

Psychology

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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.

Rita Yessick

English

UA Early College
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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.