The University of Alabama Closed for Winter Holidays

The University of Alabama, the OLLI Office, the Office of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, and the Insurance Testing Office will be closed Monday, December 22, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the Winter holidays. Business operations will resume Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Email messages and voicemail will be returned at that time. Thank you!

Instructor: Sandra Ray

Biography: Sandra Hall Ray is a real estate broker/owner and native of Tuscaloosa County where she attended local schools and graduated with a BS degree in education from The University of Alabama. She is married to Martin Ray, a Tuscaloosa attorney, and they have a blended family a four children. Ms. Ray is President and Broker of Hall-Ray Realty, Inc., and serves on the corporate board of Tuscaloosa's Compass Bank. Her civic activities have included present or past service on the boards ofSouthland National Insurance Company, Shelton State Community College Foundation (past president), United Cerebral Palsy, CrimeStoppers, the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society (past president), Threatre Tuscaloosa (past president), the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Leadership Tuscaloosa, and Adopt-A-School. Active in the arts, she received the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa's Druid Arts Special Award in 1999, and the same year, she was recognized by Theatre Tuscaloosa with the Jake Leigeber Patron Award. Mrs. Ray was one of the first two women to become directors of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce and went on to serve as a vice president. She was the third female to be inducted into the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa and has served on its board. Mrs. Ray is a member of the 1985-86 class ofLeadership Tuscaloosa and the 1995-96 class of Leadership Alabama. She was named the Small Business Person for 1991 by the Chamber of Commerce. In her profession, Mrs. Ray is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Sales Club and a member and former Director of the Tuscaloosa Association of Realtors. Active in the education arena for ovre thirty years, Mrs. Ray hasserved in various positions in local PTAs and was a former elected member and President of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education and a past and present Director of the Alabama Association of School Boards.Tuscaloosa's Phi Delta Kappa honored her in 1988 as the Lay Citizen Educator. She hold or has held membership in Kappa Delta Epsilon, education sorority, The University of Alabama Alumni Association, and the Women's Auxiliary of Tuscaloosa County Bar Association. Mrs. Ray has recently been re-appointed to the Board of Overseers of Samford University. She is a founding member of the newly formed UA College ofEducation Advisory Board and served as its President. The President ofUA asked her to be a member of the UA President's Community Advisory Council and the UA Teacher Education Council. In 1999, the Governor appointed her to the Governor's Committee on Instructional Improvementand Academic Excellence; the Governor additionally appointed her to the Alabama State and Local Workforce Development Boards along with the Youth Workforce Council. An involved participant in the ten counties that comprise her school board district, Mrs. Ray has spoken to many civic organizations and leadership training groups on education issues. She believes in accessibility whether it involves education issues orprofessional issues pertaining to real estate. After serving four terms and fourteen years on the Alabama State Board of Education, Mrs. Ray chose not to seek re-election. Her term ends in January, 2009.

Classes By This Instructor

TUS198 Lagniappe-Various Topics

Enjoy a wide range of topics-from history and travel to the arts, hobbies and local stories. Each week, a different speaker shares their expertise and passion.
January 21, 2026 to March 11, 2026, Bryant Conference Center