Staff/Contact

Contact Us
Mary Angela Coleman, PhD
Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness
macoleman@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-7475
Dr. Mary Angela Coleman, Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, has been with the University of South Alabama since November 2013. A native of Wilmington, DE, she has held positions as a non-profit administrator, instructor of English, professor of educational research, and higher education administrator (click here for CV). She holds a B.A. in English from James Madison University, an M.A. in Creative Writing from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Evaluation from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests include the development and validation of assessments and identifying factors and best practices contributing to a healthy culture of assessment and continuous improvement in the university.

Katherine Friedrich, PhD
Director of Institutional Effectiveness
krfriedrich@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-6340

Dr. Kathy Friedrich joined the USA family as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness in January of 2024. Dr. Friedrich has held similar positions at Tennessee Technological University, Trinity University in San Antonio, the Art Institute of Houston, and the College of the Mainland in Texas. Dr. Friedrich received her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University with a specialization in Research, Measurement and Statistics. She also holds a masters degree in Educational Psychology and bachelors in Mathematics and Psychology. An army brat who grew up traveling the world, Dr. Friedrich is partial to the gulf coast, an area her family has called home for generations. When not working, Dr. Friedrich spends her time crocheting, reading and gardening.

Dana Abrams
Assessment Specialist
dabrams@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-7470

Dana Abrams is originally from Calvert, Alabama and joined the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in the Fall of 2022. Dana received her bachelors in Political Science with a minor in English and Masters of Public Administration at the University of South Alabama. Her research thesis work focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across universities. She has formally served as an intern for the Office of Development and a graduate research assistant for the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. She is currently an instructor for the PSC 130 course/Start South program.

Alison Wood
Institutional Effectiveness Specialist
alisonwood@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-6407

Alison Wood is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University with a BA in History.  She began her career as a Museum Educator and Social Studies Teacher in Virginia before transitioning to university administrative support at Yale University.  After moving to Mobile in 2017, Alison worked in South's Department of History and the Academic Advising & Transfer Services office before joining the Institutional Effectiveness team.  Alison loves exploring the nature trails and beaches along the Gulf Coast and is an avid women's soccer fan who has attended three World Cups.