Presidential Candidates

Holley Tankersley, Ph.D.

Holley Tankersley, a political scientist with research and teaching expertise in public policy and political institutions, has 15 years of academic administrative experience across two institutions. As dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education at the University of Tampa, she has shepherded two dynamic, student-centered colleges whose strategic missions are rooted in empowering learners to make a difference via community-engaged teaching, scholarship and service.

Prior to her service as dean, Tankersley served as Associate Provost of Strategic Initiatives and Faculty Development at Coastal Carolina University. She was responsible for the development and execution of strategic initiatives for academic innovation and excellence to enhance the University’s mission; the creation and nourishment of programs that connect the University with local, state and regional communities and partners; and the development and advocacy of policies and programs to ensure that faculty were successful in their teaching, scholarly and leadership endeavors.

At Coastal Carolina University, she also served as associate dean of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts and chair of the Department of Politics & Geography. 

A native of Alabama, Tankersley graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Birmingham-Southern College. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and her doctorate in political science from the University of Georgia. 

Alejandra Sosa Pieroni, Ed.D.

Alejandra C. Sosa Pieroni is a higher education leader with 20 years of experience advancing institutional growth, strengthening student success and guiding, organizational transformation. She most recently served as executive vice president for Enrollment, Marketing and Student Success at Georgia Southern University, where she led a comprehensive enterprise of 350 professionals serving students across five campuses.

At Georgia Southern, Pieroni led a collaborative, institution-wide transformation that aligned strategy with institutional resources, strengthened organizational performance, elevated the university’s visibility and reputation and delivered measurable gains in student success. Under her leadership, the university achieved a 16 percent increase in total enrollment, record incoming classes, record retention outcomes, record fundraising and significant gains in degree production.

She advanced a coordinated, data-informed approach to enrollment, marketing and student success—supporting students from recruitment through graduation. Previously, Pieroni served as vice president and enrollment management consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, where she partnered with presidents and senior leaders at more than 100 institutions nationwide to strengthen enrollment, improve student outcomes and align strategy with mission. Earlier, she held leadership roles at Walsh University, Mercer University, Florida Southern College and Tiffin University.

Pieroni is known for a stewardship-driven leadership style grounded in collaboration, integrity and service, and for advancing institutional priorities through a strategic, data-informed and student-centered approach developed in partnership with campus and community stakeholders. She holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Georgia and a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration from Tiffin University.

Blake Hudson, J.D.

Blake Hudson is dean of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Hudson grew up in Grove Hill, Alabama. He obtained bachelor’s degrees in biology and history, with minors in prelaw and political science, from the University of Montevallo. He also played for the Montevallo Falcons men’s basketball team.

He received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence in community service while at Montevallo and also served as senior class president. He graduated with high honors from Duke University School of Law and received a Master of Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Prior to joining Cumberland, Hudson held faculty roles at Stetson University College of Law, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Law Center and LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment, the University of Houston Law Center, and the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Before moving to higher education in 2009, he practiced at the law firm of Baker Botts in Houston, Texas.

Hudson’s teaching and scholarship relate to the areas of property, environmental and natural resources law. His research focuses on the intersection of land use law, policy and planning with natural resource management, with particular emphasis on forest management and the impact of land development on natural resources. He has published over 30 articles in legal and peer reviewed academic journals, 10 book chapters and three books.

He is married to Eliza Rhoads Hudson, a 2003 Samford University alum, and they have two sons, Campbell and Ridley.

Michelle Johnston, Ph.D.

Michelle R. Johnston currently serves as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University. Her top priorities have been enhancing student success, ensuring excellence in all academic and student development programs and expanding strategic partnerships and donor engagement.

During her more than 30-year career in higher education, she has led three institutions as president as well as serving as a faculty member and in various administrative roles. Between 2007 and 2014, she served as a senior leader at the University of Montevallo.

Johnston was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Marine Corps University Board, where she served two terms as the chair. She has been a leader at state and national levels on campus assault response and prevention, including invitations by the Obama and Trump administrations for meetings to discuss Title IX at the White House and with the U.S. Secretary of Education.

She is a Leadership Georgia alum and currently serves on the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center Board, the Sumter Strong Steering Committee, the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Board and the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) Board.

Johnston holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in piano performance from Louisiana State University, a doctorate in educational leadership from Mississippi State University, and a post-doctorate in marketing and management from the University of Florida.