Tera Ali
- Position: Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice and MHA Admissions Committee Chair
- Department: Health Sciences and Administration
- Office Location: Building 38, Room 120
- tali@uwf.edu
- Campus: 850.474.2278
Biography
Dr. Ali is a Faculty Member within the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health’s Health Science and Administration Department. Within the HSA department, she instructs undergraduate and graduate‑level online courses, including Health Ethics and Professionalism, Principles of Healthcare Finance, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, and Decision Making in Healthcare.
Dr. Ali holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a specialization in Management, where her research focused on employee engagement strategies within healthcare organizations. She also earned a Master of Healthcare Administration and Management with a specialization in Finance from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with concentrations in Pre‑Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Services Management from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. Ali is SHRM‑CP certified and a Certified Business Consultant, reflecting her expertise in human resources, organizational behavior, strategic planning, and evidence‑based business advisory practices.
Dr. Ali has worked in higher education since 2017 and has extensive experience in online instruction, curriculum development, and student support. She has served in a variety of faculty and administrative roles, including Adjunct Instructor, Visiting Instructor, Assistant Professor, Subject Matter Expert, Instructional Designer, Academic Advisor, Admissions and Enrollment Counselor, Field Placement Coordinator, and Program Coordinator. She also holds the Higher Ed Teaching Online Certificate from Quality Matters, underscoring her commitment to high‑quality online course design and delivery.
Dr. Ali also served in the United States Air Force Reserve, completing multiple periods of active‑duty orders in her role as a Health Services Administrator. She was assigned to an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, where she held responsibilities as Resource Management Officer in Charge, Readiness Officer, and Education & Training Officer. During her service, she graduated from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, serving as Chief Academic Officer, and completed the Health Services Administration Course at JBSA–Fort Sam Houston, where she served as Flight Leader. She currently maintains her military affiliation in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
Beyond academia and military service, Dr. Ali brings extensive entrepreneurial experience as the founder of a licensed early learning center. She scaled the organization by developing full‑cycle HR systems, formalizing Standard Operating Procedures, overseeing budgeting, payroll, tuition systems, and financial modeling, and managing employee relations.
Her leadership further included designing development pathways for emerging supervisors and educators, guiding performance coaching and corrective action, and shaping inclusive communication strategies to support organizational change. She also led marketing and brand‑building initiatives and cultivated strategic partnerships with state and local agencies to expand access, ensure regulatory alignment, and advance community‑based workforce development.
Among her professional accomplishments, Dr. Ali is a graduate of Leadership Pensacola, was recognized as a Rising Star by InWeekly Magazine in 2022, and is featured in the 76th edition of Marquis Who’s Who in America.
