Higher Education Professional Experience
University of Oregon, Academic Extension
1998–present (Eugene, Oregon)
Progressively increasing responsibilities leading to promotion to senior management.
Executive Director, September 2014–present
- Overall accountability for approximately 70 staff
- Establish initiatives and priorities to guide unit activities and resources
- Navigate unprecedented convergence of institutional policy and procedure changes
- Engage with senior leadership and peers to develop strategic priorities across units
- Identify and implement unit-level changes to comply with emerging policies and practices
- Advocate for expansion of programs that utilize nontraditional delivery modalities to reach new audiences
Interim Co-Executive Director, July 2013–September 2014
- Lead development and implementation of strategic program investments
- Lead purposeful organizational development to better align program staff and operational resources with current institutional mission and changes in governance model
- Responsible for $10 million in organization-wide budgets
- Contribute to campus-wide leadership for adaptation and integration of educational technology resources
- Contribute to interpretation and implementation of policies and practices for new institutional faculty collective bargaining agreement
Associate Director, 2011–present
- Design, develop, and manage more than 50 programs per year
- Facilitate collaborations with academic units across campus
- Responsible for more than $2.5 million in multiple self-supporting budgets
- Supervise 25 operations and program staff
- Administrative and academic staff recruitment and supervision
- Primary responsibility for Academic Extension in Portland metro area since 2008
- Primary responsibility for Summer Session coordination since fall 2010
- Oversight of UO Bend Center collaboration since summer 2012
Assistant Director, 2005–2011
New program development and oversight of existing programs, including strategic planning across all programs, supervising operations staff, chairing staff meetings, and coordinating new staff orientation.
Programs Director, 2004–2005
Program Coordinator duties with increased budgetary and strategic planning responsibilities.
Program Coordinator, 1998–2004
Responsible for key elements of program coordination, including selecting and hiring instructors, reviewing curriculum, supervising marketing, evaluating program activities, monitoring cost-recovery budgets, and coordinating with registration staff. Programs include a mix of academic (credit) and professional development (noncredit) offerings.
- Festival & Event Management Certificate Program
- Community Education (nonmatriculating access to credit courses)
- Distance Education Program
- Arts Programs
- General professional development
Educational Background
MS Arts & Administration, University of Oregon, 1998 (Eugene, Oregon)
BA Theatre & Communications, Central Methodist College, 1985 (Fayette, Missouri)
Special Achievements
- Selected to participate in Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE), Harvard, June 2014.
- Primary leadership of Academic Extension’s program review, including self-study and external reviewer meetings, 2013–14.
Higher Education Membership Activities
University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)
- Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy (SOLS) participant, 2014–present
- Institutional Representative, 2014–present
Education Advisory Board, Continuing and Online Education Forum (EAB,COE)
- Forum Representative, 2014–present
Association of University Summer Sessions (AUSS)
- Institutional Representative, 2011–2016
Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE)
- Board Member At-Large, 2007–2009
- Conference Program Co-Chair, national conference (Nashville, TN), 2008
- Call for Proposals Chair, national conference (Roanoke, VA), 2007
- Treasurer of ACHE West region, 2007–2009
- Awards Committee Member, 2004–2006
- Chair of Region 11, 2003–2005
- Planning Committee Member, Tri-Regional Conference (Portland, OR), 2007
- Planning Committee Member, Tri-Regional Conference (Salt Lake City, UT), 2005
- Program Chair and Site Host, Tri-Regional Conference (Eugene, OR), 2004
UO Committees
Portland Academic Strategy Workgroup (Fall 2015–Fall 2016)
Chaired by Vice Provost Jane Gordon, to provide recommendations to the president and provost regarding UO program and activities in Portland, anchored to White Stag Block facilities.
- Graduate subcommittee, Spring 2016–Fall 2016
Chaired by Dean of Graduate School, Scott Pratt.
Online and Hybrid Task Force (Winter 2016–Fall 2016)
Chaired by Senior Vice Provost, Doug Blandy, to provide recommendations to the president and provost regarding online and hybrid courses and programs at UO.
- Budget subcommittee, chair
- Graduate subcommittee, member
- Nonmatriculating students subcommittee, member
Search Committee member, Senior Vice Provost (Spring 2015)
Search committee to find replacement for Barbara Altmann, resulted in hiring Susan Anderson.
Educational Technology Steering Committee (2013–present)
Mix of faculty and administrators charged with examining trends in higher education’s use of educational technology, evaluating current practice of peer institutions, developing improved resources and systems at UO, and assessing ways to incorporate appropriate technology into pedagogical practice to enhance student engagement and teacher effectiveness.
University-wide Strategic Planning Task Force:
Team 4: Enhance physical and IT infrastructure to ensure academic excellence (AY 2014–15)
One of four work groups contributing to plans for implementing and achieving the goals of the Competitive Excellence initiative. This work follows completed phases of Benchmarking, Academic Priority Setting, Mission Writing, and the creation of the Clusters of Excellence hiring process. The overarching vision is to advance the UO’s mission of supporting student access and academic excellence, and boosting the university’s overall prominence and competitiveness.
Intellectual Property Committee
One of three members representing the university in this work group, along with three members of United Academics, to discuss the full range of issues necessary to produce recommendations for the Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 51. (2014–present)
Technology Enhanced Education Steering Committee
Mix of faculty and administrators charged with examining trends in higher education’s use of educational technology, evaluating current practice of peer institutions, developing improved resources and systems at UO, and assessing ways to incorporate appropriate technology into pedagogical practice to enhance student engagement and teacher effectiveness. (2013–present)
Operational Support Subcommittee—Chair
Charged with assessing and evaluating current operational resources across campus to inform the Technology Enhanced Education Steering Committee. (2013)
Task force on Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Cross-campus assessment of alternatives for enterprise-wide learning management systems with extended timeline for reviewing options, integrating faculty and IT requirements. (2013–2014)
Blackboard Committee
A work group of faculty and administrative representatives that meet monthly to examine challenges, and then develop solutions, related to upgrade of Blackboard services including integrating with Banner/Registrar’s Office and Computing Center, serving nontraditional students, etc. (2003–2008)
UO/OSU Collaboration
Assist UO associate vice-provost in meetings with Oregon State University faculty and administrators to develop collaborative projects in the area of distance/online education. (2005)
Faculty Instruction, Technology, and Training (FITT)
Represent online education and Continuing Education in group drawn from various units on UO campus; meets monthly to exchange information and advocate for the services and equipment needs of faculty. (1999–2005)
Media Services Advisory Group
This ad hoc group was formed to evaluate the extent to which the Library's instructional technology services are meeting campus needs and make recommendations regarding the transition to the New Media Center as part of the Library resource system. (Spring 2001)
Common Course Marketplace Advisory Committee
Committee of 21 faculty and staff from community colleges and universities charged with developing and recommending criteria and standards for courses to be considered common course marketplace status. Part of FIPSE-funded ONE project, administered by Oregon University System. (1999–2001)
Academic Standards Subcommittee
Part of the Second Generation Distance Learning Committee, to review issues related to academic standards and to develop policy guidelines. Part of the Learning Anytime Anyplace Project initiative, administered by Oregon University System and a special project steering committee. (1999–2000)
Presentations and Panels
"When Innovation and Reality Collide”
Panelist, University Professional and Continuing Education (UPCEA) annual conference, San Diego CA. (April 2016)
"Serving Credit-Seeking Non-Matriculated Students"
Chair of panel presentation with Judah Rosenwald and Lois DeBruno, at the ACHE Tri-Regional conference, Sacramento, CA. (March 2006)
"Shrinking the Black Hole: A Case Study of One Program's Evaluation Process"
Copresented with Heather Fisher, ACHE Tri-Regional conference, Sacramento, CA. (March 2006)
"Professional Designations: Certified, Certification, and the UO Festival & Event Management Certificate of Completion"
Guest speaker, Greater Oregon Society of Government Meeting Professionals. (February 2004)
"Professional Development Certificate Programs: Careful Planning or Shooting From the Hip?"
Presentation at ACHE Tri-Regional conference, Sacramento, CA. (May 2002)
"What's Happening with Online Courses at UO?"
Guest speaker, Instructional Technology Summer Short Course, UO Teaching Effectiveness Program. (July and August 2001)
"The Experiences of Pacific Northwest Alumni"
Panel coordinator, Association of Arts Administration Educators conference, University of Oregon. (June 2000)
"Where is Distance Education Going at UO?"
Event organizer and panel facilitator for campus-wide session, University of Oregon. (June 2000)
"Issues of Responsibility for Non-Profit Board Members"
Brown bag session presenter at Arts & Administration Student Forum, University of Oregon. (March 2000)
"Public Art: A slide presentation of U.S. installations and walking tour of Springfield, Oregon"
Presenter at Elderhostel sessions, University of Oregon. (June 1999)
White Papers and Publications
Let Me Graduate...
A demonstration project, for FIPSE ONE, identifying courses for priority development through online delivery that fulfill requirements in numerous programs at multiple campuses. (2001)
Academic Residency Policies
A report, for FIPSE ONE, gathering policies and issues regarding course residency status, as applied to distance learning and potential interinstitutional course/degree sharing. (2001)
Chautauqua Spirit: Exploring Historical Programs and Contemporary Connections
A chapter in Remembering Others: Making Invisible Histories of Art Education Visible. National Art Education Association: Reston, VA (2000).
Other Related Professional Experience
Oregon Council for the Humanities
Fall 1997 (Portland, Oregon)
Graduate Practicum—analyzed attendance patterns of the Chautauqua speakers program.
University of Oregon, Graduate School
Spring and Fall 1997 (Eugene, Oregon)
Graduate Teaching Assistant—AAD 252 Art and Gender.
History on the Hoof
Summer 1997 (Burlington, New Jersey)
Graduate Internship—researched history of local Chautauqua programs for a proposal to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Assisted with props construction and materials set-up for living history performers.
Paulo Products
1989–1995 (St. Louis, Missouri)
Began as customer service representative. Technical training and promotions lead to writer of production orders and coordination with quality inspectors. Final two years as technical writer for user-interface design and training, on a team that developed proprietary software for production operations.
Volunteer Activities
USA Dance Eugene/Springfield 2006–present (Eugene, Oregon)
General volunteer and music DJ for local chapter of a national organization, with the mission of promoting ballroom dance through monthly social dances and group dance lessons.
Lord Leebrick Theatre Company 1999–2008 (Eugene, Oregon)
This nonprofit theatre has repeatedly been awarded "Best live theatre" by the Eugene Weekly reader's poll. A year-round season, consisting of a mix of classics and new works, is presented in an intimate 99-seat theatre.
- Advisory Council, 2003–2008
- Board President, 2000–2003
- Board Member, 1999–2000
Online and Social Media
- AIM: skglad05
- Skype: sandra_gladney
- Twitter: @sandragladney
Bio Statement
Sandra Gladney is the executive director of Academic Extension at the University of Oregon. She leads a team-oriented unit that serves a broad range of outreach and engagement programs and provides specialized operational infrastructure support across all University of Oregon schools and colleges. This includes organizational strategic planning and investments; supervision of programs and operations staff; participation in multiple university committees; and oversight of remote offices in Portland and Bend. Sandra completed her BA in Theatre and Communications at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, and her MS in Arts Management at the University of Oregon.
Sandra began her higher education career as a program coordinator, in 1998, with UO Continuing Education (now Academic Extension). She has served the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) at both regional and national board levels, and serves as institutional representative to the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), and the Education Advisory Board forum for Continuing and Online Education. Her prior volunteer work includes three years as board president at a nonprofit theatre in Eugene. Sandra's current hobbies include gardening, hiking, and ballroom dancing of all kinds.