Meet Our Board of Directors

Dr. Sekeria Bossie, President

Dr. Sekeria Volece Bossie serves as Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Studies at Alabama State University and is the founder and Executive Director of Behavior Education Consultation and Training Services (BECT) LLC. She serves as President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama. Her career spans over two decades in clinical mental health, social work, and higher education. Through BECT, she provides behavioral health services, autism intervention, anger management, family support, and professional training, contracting with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. At Alabama State University, she teaches courses in counseling theories, assessment, group process, and fieldwork supervision, and serves as Clinical Coordinator for the Rehabilitation Studies program. Dr. Bossie is a published author and researcher, having co-authored Home Care for the Elderly Using Interprofessional Teams with Springer Publishing and contributed chapters to multiple academic texts on topics including disability law, substance use treatment, and military sexual trauma. She has conducted federally funded research through the NIH examining mental health service provision for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Bossie holds a PhD in Professional Counseling from Amridge University, an Educational Specialist degree and a Master of Science in Community Agency Counseling from Jacksonville State University, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Jacksonville State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, National Certified Counselor, Advanced Certified Autism Specialist, and Certified Therapist for Adolescents with Problematic Sexual Behavior. She has served as President of the Alabama Association of Marriage and Family Counseling and is active in numerous professional and community organizations. She has over 20 years of experience in counseling, rehabilitation, and behavioral health.

Nichole Fussell, Past-President

Nichole Fussell serves as the Director for the Center of Disability Services at Faulkner University. She serves as President on the Alabama LDA. Her job history has consisted of working at Baptist Hospital in the behavioral health site as a behavioral health therapist. There she gained a working knowledge of diagnosis, documentation, and related accommodations. She has a knowledge of the DSM-V and based treatment and accommodations on the patient working diagnosis. She also worked for Comfort Care Hospice as a medical social worker gaining a better understanding of family and environmental units within crisis. She also provided resources and therapy needs within the hospice capacity. Nichole worked for Gift of Life as a care coordinator for women on Medicaid insurance that were pregnant. She provided resources and education to women and families in need. Mrs. Fussell holds a Bachelor of social work from Lipscomb University, a Master of social work from The University of Alabama, and is a Licensed Master Social Worker for the state of Alabama. She also holds a graduate certification in Postsecondary Disability Services from the University of Connecticut. She has 8 years of experience in social work.

Tamara Massey-Garrett, Past-President

Tamara Massey-Garrett is the Disability Services Manager of the Center for Disability Services at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) and has a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Services. She has 20 years of experience in disability services with an emphasis in providing accommodation and assistive technology services to college students with disabilities. Her past experiences include four years working in the field of vocational evaluation and rehabilitation counseling for veterans and high school students participating in TRIO programs at AUM. She’s collaborated with Auburn University on grants funded by the National Science Foundation for the AUM Alabama Alliance for Students with Disabilities – STEM program and currently for the AUM Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) program. In addition, she’s manages and coordinates a summer College Prep program with Easter Seals Central Alabama and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. She serves as state president of the Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama (LDA AL) and as past president of the Alabama Association on Higher Education and Disability (AL AHEAD). Ms. Massey-Garrett also regularly makes conference presentations for AL AHEAD, LDA AL, Pacific Rim Conference on Disability and Diversity, Auburn University Transition and Postsecondary Disability Training Institute.

Brittany Cook, Webmaster & Social Media

Brittany Cook is the Center for Disability Service’s Disability Specialist at Auburn University Montgomery. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Auburn University Montgomery. While working as a Disability Specialist, she has had the opportunity to participate in a variety of conferences and programs concerning inclusivity and awareness of individuals with disabilities as well as programs that help individuals with disabilities achieve their educational and career goals.

Harriette Dorosin, Treasurer

Julie Cox

Julie Cox, LICSW, CGRS has a Master Degree in Social Work and has provided social work services for 25 years in medical facilities, private practice and hospice/palliative care. She is a military spouse and the parent of an autistic son with severe dysgraphia . Julie is the Founder of A Parent’s Perspective which provides therapeutic services geared toward parents, children/adolescents and adults with physical/emotional needs. She has a great passion for families/individuals advocating for the their children/self, understands the complexity of navigating for needs and the impact of raising a special needs child can have on the family.

Suzanne Fornaro

Suzanne Fornaro served as president of the Alabama state and Mobile County affiliates of LDA of Alabama and continues to serve on the state Board of Directors. For the Learning Disabilities Association of America at the national level, she is Co-Chair, Communications Committee; Co-Editor, THE LD SOURCE; and was President of LDA from 2004-2006. Currently serving as a presidential appointee to the national Board of Directors and as a member of the Public Policy and Development Committees, she has served on the Board, Executive Committee, and chaired a variety of committees for LDA since 1990. She is the parent of an adult child with learning disabilities. Suzanne brings her expertise and education in Communications and Public Relations to LDA. She is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Universal Accreditation Board and retired as Director of Public Relations with a national engineering firm. She has 30+ years of experience in communications and public relations and expertise in public relations planning, external and internal communications, community and media relations. She has served on the board of directors for Public Relations Council of Alabama-PRCA (President), Southern Public Relations Federation-SPRF (VP and Secretary), and Mobile Public Relations Council (President). She has received 14 awards from public relations organizations for creation and execution of projects ranging from brochure development to strategic communications planning. Suzanne was named to the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame in 2015 and was previously recognized with the Practitioner of the Year Award, Professional Achievement Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award from PRCA and SPRF. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism (Advertising and Public Relations) from the University of Georgia, and an M.S. in Communications (Mental Health Information) from Syracuse University.

Letta Gorman

Ms. Gorman retired from Auburn University as the Senior Economic Development Specialist and Grantwriter for the Economic Development Institute and is currently a juvenile justice consultant and practicing attorney. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Huntingdon College and her graduate studies at Auburn University Montgomery and Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, where she obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree. She held a secondary teaching certification in Math, Science, and Spanish when she taught junior high school Math and retired from teaching math at Gulf Coast Community College as an adjunct instructor. She is a licensed attorney in the State of Alabama, the Florida Federal Northern District, the U.S. Tax Court, and the Veteran’s Administration and has 25 years of legal experience in civil, corporate, property, probate, family, and criminal defense law and currently serves as the Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the juvenile justice system Consultant for the United States Department of Justice program in the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) LETS Division. She has been successful in contract and grant development, negotiation, acquisition of funding including from state and federal agencies, private foundations, industries, and local governments with a lifetime acquisition of over $250 million; has facilitated strategic planning and grant development for faculty, community organizations and communities; has served as a peer grant reviewer at the state and federal levels; has expertise and a working and trained knowledge in federal regulations and funding regulations; has worked at Auburn University with faculty and staff in pre and post- award activities related to research, technology transfer, instruction, and outreach; has worked with state and local government and industries in developing and implementing community development programs, including the recruitment of industry and the establishment of small business incubators; has litigated as a private attorney and public defender; has published technical guides and delivered training on report writing and grantwriting and disability and access compliance issues to public and private agencies and organizations; has co-authored publications on networking, grantwriting, volunteerism, and compliance issues; and has managed and administered staffs of over fifty employees.

At Auburn University, Ms. Gorman was integrally involved in economic development throughout the State of Alabama in contracts and grants development, negotiation, acquisition, and management and acquired over $250 million in research and service grants.

At Auburn University Montgomery, Ms. Gorman established the Center for Rehabilitation Resources (CRR) and served as the Compliance Officer for ADA and Section 504. During her tenure, the CRR brought in contracts and grants from the State Departments of Education, Finance, Public Health, Rehabilitation, Mental Health, and Industrial Relations in addition to the development and delivery of services to over 500 students with special needs (the majority of whom were SLD and/or ADD). The Center also garnered over $12 million in research and development funds.

Upon her return to Auburn’s main campus in 1992, Ms. Gorman joined the team of the Economic Development Institute. Her responsibilities were to lead team activities in contracts and grants development, negotiation, acquisition, and management to assist communities in their economic development efforts. She has been successful in acquiring funding from the State Departments of Labor, Education, Transportation, ADECA, Human Resources, Rehabilitation, and Industrial Relations; the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Appalachian Regional Commission; private industries and foundations; and local government agencies. This has been possible because of her networking with faculty through multidisciplinary teams, practicing professionals in the community, extension service agents, and funding agency program staff; her legal knowledge of regulations and compliance issues from her experience and training; and her ability to lead a team with continuous quality improvement.

Dr. Jendia Grissett

Dr. Jendia Grissett has served as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) from 2016 to the present. Prior to her appointment as Associate VPAA, Dr. Grissett served the University in the capacity of Dean and Chair the College of Education, as well as Institutional Effectiveness from 2007 – 2012. From 2012 – 2016, Dr. Grissett served as an Educational Administrator with the Alabama State Department of Education charged with Educator Assessment and Educator Preparation. Prior to her tenure with Faulkner, Dr. Grissett had 15 years experience as a clinical social worker and school social work practitioner. Dr. Grissett served as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) past chair of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, and former consulting editor for Children & Schools. Dr. Grissett serves Faulkner and the higher education community as a SACSCOC and CAEP reviewer. Dr. Grissett earned the Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Troy University, the Master of Social Work from The University of Alabama, the Master of Science in Education from Capella University, and Doctor of Education from Alabama State University.

Dr. Kelly Jewell-Glasscock

Dr. Kelly Jewell-Glasscock has worked in the field of higher education for over 12 years. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington in Behavioral Disorders. In her current position, she is a Curriculum Developer for the United States Air Force at Air University. She is focusing on helping diversify instruction for the spectrum of learners within the Air Force. Previously she was a program coordinator and assistant professor in Special Education at Troy University. She was also a national trainer and support lead for teacher candidates completing the edTPA. In her personal life, Dr. Jewell-Glasscock is a mom, foster mom, animal lover, retired women’s baseball player, and family advocate for children with disabilities.

Dr. Guy Renfro

Dr. Renfro received a B.A. magna cum laude from David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tennessee, a M.S. in Psychology from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University. He also completed an internship at M. Bliss Mental Health Center/Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Before coming to Faulkner in 2016, Dr. Renfro practiced as a clinical psychologist in Montgomery, Alabama for over 30 years.

Danita Stapleton, Ed.D.

Danita Henry Stapleton, EdD, LPC-S, CRC, NCC, BC-THP is an assistant professor and the Department Chair for the Department of Rehabilitation Studies at Alabama State University. She is also the program coordinator for the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) program. She holds a doctorate in Education Leadership, Policy and Law from Alabama State University and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Florida State University. Dr. Stapleton is a certified rehabilitation counselor, national certified counselor, license professor counselor-supervisor, and a board certified telemental health provider.