In a move that will streamline delivery and management of the United States Sports Academy’s online sport education degree programs, the institution named a pair of longtime faculty members as deans of its new departments of undergraduate and graduate studies.
Dr. Brandon Spradley was promoted to the role of Dean of Graduate Studies, while Dr. Vandy Pacetti-Donelson was promoted to the role of Dean of Undergraduate Studies, effective at the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year on 1 September.
Spradley previously served the Academy as its chair of sports management and associate professor. Spradley previously served as the Director of Continuing Education working on international programs and special projects. He has been involved in the successful development and implementation of sport education programs across the world. He is a member of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and is a Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA) through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). His expertise is in leadership, sports administration, and concussion education. Dr. Spradley has been involved in developing and facilitating concussion awareness programs in the state of Alabama and is dedicated to educating coaches, administrators, athletes, and parents about sports-related concussions.
An Academy graduate, Spradley holds a Doctor of Education degree in sports management from the institution. He was also a track and field sprinter at The University of Alabama, where he completed his master’s and bachelor’s degrees. He was a four-time NCAA regional qualifier and a two-time NCAA national qualifier in track and field running on nationally ranked relay teams. Dr. Spradley currently serves in various leadership capacities for successful non-profit and service-oriented organizations. He is a dedicated educator with a blend of expertise in teaching, leading, and serving.
Dr. Vandy Pacetti-Donelson previously served the Academy as its director of library and instructional design as well as an instructor of humanities and research.
Pacetti-Donelson earned her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Instructional Technology and Distance Education.
Previously, Pacetti-Donelson served 20 years as a Librarian and Educator in K-12 education in central Florida before serving as Online Librarian at Ultimate Medical Academy in Tampa, Florida. She is a nationally recognized presenter and advocate for libraries.
Pacetti-Donelson was a member of the billiards team at the University of Mississippi, where she completed master’s and bachelor’s degrees. She has also served as a USA Archery Certified Instructor for the Heart of Florida Girl Scouts of America.
