Eighteen University of Alabama faculty and staff who hold leadership roles within their respective departments were selected for the Leadership U class for 2026-2027.
Offered by the Office for Academic Affairs, Leadership U is open to those who display the potential to develop into future leaders and who have an interest in higher education leadership knowledge, skills and values.
To prepare for greater responsibilities, fellows attend bi-monthly meetings during the academic year. In addition, they attend special events with University leaders and several professional development opportunities throughout the year.
The 2026-2027 class includes:
Christine Banks
Presidential Communications Strategist
Division of Strategic Communications
Katherine Chiou
Associate Professor and Anthropology Department Chair
Barefield College of Arts and Sciences
Nellie Christian
Director, ACCESS Virtual Learning
OTIDE
Drew Claassen
Director, Athletic Strategic Digital Marketing
University of Alabama Athletics Marketing
Tom Davis
Psychology Department Chair and Professor
Barefield College of Arts and Sciences
Connar Franklin
Instructor and Faculty Senate Vice President
Early College/OTIDE
Kelly Guyotte
Professor and Director of Faculty Development
College of Education
Ryan Moran
Associate Professor and Director of Athletic Training Research Lab
College of Human Environmental Sciences
Rusty Pettus
Director of College Academic Student Services II
Lee J. Stylinger Jr. College of Engineering
Niccole Poole
Research Business Engagement Director
Division for Research
Meghan Royster
Assistant Director of HR Business Partners
Human Resources
Kalyan Srinivasan
Department Head of Mechanical Engineering
Lee J. Stylinger Jr. College of Engineering
Quinn Swanquist
Ernst and Young Professor of Accounting
Culverhouse College of Business
Andre Taylor
Data Governance Administrator
Division of Finance and Operations
Janet Walker
Senior Instructor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs within the
Department of Advertising and Public Relations
College of Communication and Information Sciences
Jeremiah White
Director of Advancement Information Technology
Division of Advancement
Susan White
Associate Dean of Research and Doddridge Saxon Chair in Clinical Psychology
Barefield College of Arts and Sciences
Casey Youngbluth
Presidential Events Planner
President’s Office, Special Services/Events