An Interview With Reggie Smith III, President of the United States Distance Learning Association

Public policy is what will make distance learning truly mainstream, increasing access to education and training opportunities.

Reggie Smith III, president of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), believes that these transformative changes are just around the bend, and he is working to make them a reality. The USDLA is a non-profit association that advocates for the development and application of distance learning across the board, from children's schooling to employee training.

I have known Smith since our days as e-learning consultants at EDS, and caught up with him to ask about his new role. —Lisa Gualtieri

Lisa Gualtieri: What does the USDLA, do and how has it evolved from its roots?

Reggie Smith: Our mission is to serve the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking, and opportunity. We help people stay connected and ahead of trends in learning—distance learning, e-learning, mobile learning, computer-based training, web-based training, instructor-led training, online training, online learning, blended learning, classroom training, webinars, and much more.

USDLA has evolved over time as the industry has changed. Its roots are the same, but we've expanded in new areas to connect members and deliver value in the blended learning economy.

LG: What do you do as president?

RS: Wow... what a long list. Our sponsors and members are operating in and influencing 46 percent of the $913 billion U.S. education and training market. I generally work day-to-day with members and sponsors to connect with each other in support of our overall USDLA mission. From the board of director's side, I can establish one or more standing or ad-hoc committees and appoint its chairperson, and I act as chairman for all executive committee meetings and serve as a voting member.

I also work hands-on with each committee while adjusting and executing our strategic and operational plans in support of our members.

Distance learning can provide access to advanced placement (AP) courses and international baccalaureate (IB) programs for school children, connect higher education students globally to the best content around, and transform the lives and careers of working adults.

It's a busy job, but I really enjoy meeting members while empowering them to develop and advocate distance learning globally.

LG: What were the main accomplishments of USDLA in 2009?

RS: We were busy in 2009! We sponsored National Distance Learning Week, with thousands of participants; launched a new website that has seen more than 27 million hits; launched our social networking sites via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and an internal members-only site with introNetworks; and held our national conference and awards program, which included a webcast. We also began to work in a more collaborative manner with our chapters and affiliates to facilitate a better value and support system across state, national, and global levels.

In 2010, we plan to raise the bar even more. We plan to hold our National Conference (May 2-5, 2010) both in-person and virtually; provide a webcast of our 2010 International Awards program; release the new sixth edition of Instructional Media Selection Guide for Distance Learning: Implications for Blended Learning and Virtual Worlds [PDF], by Holden, Westfall, and Gamor; hold a national public policy forum in Washington, D.C. in September; celebrate National Distance Learning Week in November; hold our next International Forum for Women in E-Learning in December; and work even closer with the Obama administration to support distance learning in our schools, universities, community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to name a few.

LG: With unlimited time, staff, and budget, what would you like your main accomplishments to be in 2010?

RS: It would be to provide a college-level education for everyone, globally. Or maybe run a few distance learning commercials via the Winter and Summer Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the World Series, and other top viewership-rated programs to inform the world that distance learning has the power to transform their lives while connecting and sharing collective knowledge for all humankind unlike anything seen before.

LG: How does the USDLA influence and collaborate with other organizations around the world?

RS: First, we connect and support each other as we identify new ways to support various missions and initiatives. Second, via our Global Affiliate Chapters, we identify how to help other organizations fulfill the needs of their constituents and encourage their participation in USDLA meetings, conferences, and activities.

USDLA's Global Affiliate Chapters represent global affiliates of the United States national association, and they are an international resource for the promotion, development, and application of distance learning for educating and training. Third, we support organizations in the distance learning community by providing advocacy (public policy support), information (websites, emails, publications), networking (social networks, National Distance Learning Week, conferences) and opportunity (state, national, and global affiliations).

Finally, we appoint leaders from around the field to our advisory board to help advise our chapters, partners, and board of directors, which helps us stay on a continuous path of improvement and outreach.