Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. has announced the selection of five Chancellor’s Fellows for the Spring 2005 semester.
Selected were: Dr. Robin Bynum and Dr. Lance Tatum of the Troy Campus, Dr. Sandra M. Harris of the Montgomery Campus, Dr. Sallie J. Johnson of distance learning and Bob Willis of the Dothan Campus.

The Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Fellowship Program enables interested full-time faculty and staff to develop increased knowledge and understanding of the programs and operations of Troy University. Participants, selected because of their leadership potential and past service to the University, will work under the direction of Dr. John A. Kline, director of the TROY Institute for Leadership Development. Each fellow is mentored by Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. or one of the University’s senior vice chancellors.

The program, which spans the spring academic semester, enables participants to receive on-the-job training and education, observe first-hand how the institution solves problems and meets challenges, gain new ideas and perspectives on broad institutional concerns and become more astute and better informed about the operations of the university as a whole.

Fellows will have the opportunity to visit other campuses, benefit from briefings and meetings with senior campus officials and take part in several field trips and visits with military leaders, chief executive officers and state government officials, Kline said.
The group will also work together on a project that will benefit the University. Past fellow’s projects have included a comprehensive proposal for a Troy Teaching Academy, a study related to the “One Great University” initiative and a study of the enrollment process at TROY.

Dr. Robin Bynum has been an educator for more than 27 years. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science degrees in Early Childhood Education from Tuskegee Institute; certification in school administration at the master’s level from TROY-Dothan, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota. She has been a classroom teacher, a principal, and a district level administrator in the public schools of Alabama. In 1993, she joined the staff of the Southeast Alabama Regional In-service Center as the Program Development Specialist, serving as a regional, state, and national consultant. She is currently associate professor and the chair of curriculum and teaching for the college of education; associate director of the Southeast Alabama Regional In-service Center; and associate director of the Wiregrass Writing Project, Troy University, Troy Campus. Her research interest includes the impact of administrators on faculty development and institutional effectiveness, and strategies for working with underachieving students.

Dr. Sallie Johnson has three degrees (in Music, Education and Psychology, and Human Resource Development) and in 2001 received a Ph.D. in Computing Technology and Education. She also holds Distance Learning, Online Program Planning, and Network Administrator Certifications. Dr. Johnson has over 15 years teaching, administrative, and distance learning experience with several universities. She joined Troy University in 1999 as associate director of distance learning at the Dothan Campus. In 2001, she became dean of distance learning on the Troy Campus. Dr. Johnson is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, promotion, development, quality standards, and administration of all Distance Learning programs at Troy University serving thousands of Troy University students worldwide.

Dr. Sandra M. Harris earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology from California State University, a Master’s of Education in School Psychometry and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Auburn University. She served with distinction for 20 years in the United States Air Force. Her military honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Outstanding Airman Award. Sandra began as adjunct faculty on the Montgomery campus in 1994. She is a past recipient of the Troy University African American Fellowship Award. In 2004, Dr. Harris was promoted to associate professor assumed duties as chair of the Psychology Department. Sandra is married to Frank Mileto. They have four children and 2 grandchildren.

Dr. Lance Tatum, a 1988 and 1989 graduate of Troy University received his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 1993 in Sports Administration. He became assistant professor at TROY in 1998, department chair in 2001, and associate professor in 2004. Tatum serves as the University’s faculty athletics representative to the NCAA and provides advisory and oversight for the Chancellor on athletic issues. In 2004, he received the “Outstanding Faculty Athletics Representative Award” from the All-American Football Foundation, Inc. Dr. Tatum chairs the University’s Athletic Advisory Committee and the Transitional Graduate Council and serves on the Executive Committee of both the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Education.

Bob Willis, a Dothan native, received his B.A. from Huntingdon College in 1979. His graduate degrees in Personnel Management, Counseling and Human Development are from Troy University. After serving as assistant administrator and counselor for Southeast Alabama Youth Services and Director of Houston County Juvenile Court, Bob joined the Dothan Campus in 1991 as project counselor in the Student Support Services program and has directed Admissions, Enrollment Services, and Student and Community Services. In May 2004, Willis was named dean of student services and in December 2004, was appointed interim campus vice chancellor for the Dothan campus.