Jerad Watson has been selected as the new Executive Director of Learning & Development, effective July 1, 2026.

Since joining the Learning & Development team in 2022 as Manager, Jerad has led UAB staff's day-to-day operations training and professional development. During his tenure as manager, Jerad has made significant contributions in expanding L&D's reach and impact across campus. Last year, the unit saw a 94 percent increase in courses completed over the year before — the most highly attended of which was Jerad's AI tools program, which has already reached nearly 2,000 employees and has a 95 percent satisfaction rate. Jerad has also played a central leadership role in the planning and analysis of the UAB Campus Engagement Survey, resulting in record-breaking participation and actionable insights for UAB leadership.

Prior to joining Learning & Development, Jerad served as Senior Instructional Technologist with the Division of eLearning in the Provost Office at UAB. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing education from Auburn University and a master’s degree in instructional design and development from UAB.

Regarding his new role as Executive Director of Learning and Development, Jerad expressed appreciation and gratitude for this next stage of the department: "Great organizations grow when their people grow," Jerad said. "As we begin this next chapter, I am honored to lead a team that creates meaningful opportunities for every employee to learn, lead, and thrive."