June 2022
To connect you with what’s happening at the Capstone, we’ve gathered some recent news that may be of interest to you as alumni and as members of the Board of Advisors.
We plan to publish periodically, not only to keep you informed of what’s happening on campus, but also of what’s happening in the world of the BOA membership.
Jump to Section
On Campus
BRIDGE Program Sees Early Success in Student Experience, Retention.
BRIDGE is a Division of Student Life program that supports UA undergraduate men of color. The program has shown signs of success through retention rates since its launch in fall 2019.
UA Recognized for First-Generation Student Support.
The Capstone Center for Student Success was recently selected to participate in the 2022-2023 First-gen Forward cohort by the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
University of Alabama, Stillman Sign Graduate Pathways Agreement.
UA President Stuart R. Bell and Stillman College President Cynthia Warrick signed a memorandum of understanding to allow Stillman students, under certain conditions, to potentially take graduate-level courses at UA during their senior year, participate in early advising and immersion programs, and eventually enroll in graduate school.
UA Center to Address Substance Use Disorders and Health Equity.
UA will be home to a new research center dedicated to the prevention, treatment and management of substance use disorders.
New UA Program Prepares Pre-Medical Students for Rural Health Care.
The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences recently welcomed the first class of a new summer program for college students in pre-medical studies who are interested in rural primary care.
UA Online Rolls Out New Tuition Grant to Help Military Students.
To help make higher education more accessible for active-duty military members, The University of Alabama Online is launching a new grant that will help cover tuition costs.New UA Program Prepares Pre-Medical Students for Rural Health Care.
UA Dedicates Judy Bonner Child Development Center.
The University of Alabama dedicated the Judy Bonner Child Development Center in honor of the University’s first female president June 10.
UA Names Butler Dean of Communication and Information Sciences.
Dr. Brian S. Butler has been named the next dean of The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences and will begin his tenure July 1.
Henderson Named Dean of UA College of Engineering.
Beginning Aug. 1, Dr. Clifford L. Henderson will serve as the next dean of The University of Alabama College of Engineering.
Jones Named Dean of UA Students.
Dr. Stacy L. Jones has been named the new dean of students at The University of Alabama after serving as interim dean since August 2020.
Han Named Interim Dean of Honors College.
Dr. Luoheng Han will serve as interim dean of the UA Honors College effective July 1.
Of Note
Smith Family Gift Pushes The Rising Tide Over $1 Billion.
Thanks to a $20 million financial gift commitment in memory of Mark Smith, cofounder of the global telecommunications company ADTRAN, The University of Alabama’s Rising Tide Capital Campaign surpassed $1 billion in charitable commitments toward its $1.5 billion goal. Pending approval from the UA System Board of Trustees, the Performing Arts Academic Center will be named the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts.
University of Alabama Among Top 10 Military Friendly Schools.
For educating and supporting students that are current or former members of the armed services, The University of Alabama was ranked among the top 10 Military Friendly® Schools for 2022–2023.
Remembering Autherine Lucy Foster
The University of Alabama mourns the loss of Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster, who passed on March 2 at age 92. Foster was UA’s first African American student, and on Feb. 25, 2022, UA dedicated Autherine Lucy Hall in her honor.
UA to Develop CDC-Funded Campaign Addressing Vaccine Confidence.
UA’s Capstone College of Nursing was one of 10 schools of nursing chosen by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to develop a campaign to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and dispel health misinformation.
UA to Manage Remediation of Health Hazards in Black Belt Homes.
UA SafeState and the Alabama Life Research Institute are managing a $2 million Healthy Homes Production Grant, jointly awarded to the Alabama Department of Public Health from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove environmental and safety hazards in underserved communities.
UA Presents Fred David Gray with Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.
The University of Alabama presented civil rights pioneer and attorney Fred David Gray with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree during the School of Law commencement ceremony May 8.
Student Leader Builds Influential Group in UA’s World-Class Facilities.
In the Fall 2019 Semester, Sterling Dozier, a senior majoring in finance and economics, founded the Black Business Student Association with the help of Dr. James King Jr., associate dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Culverhouse College of Business.
UA Students Earn Hollings Scholarship.
University of Alabama students Anika Cho of Beaverton, Oregon and Kittson Hamill of Huntsville are recipients of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.
Record Number of UA Students Earn Gilman Scholarships.
A record number of UA students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship with 21 selected to participate in study abroad programs during the most recent application cycle.
A ‘Roll Tide’ From Space.
A graduate of The University of Alabama is aboard the International Space Station about 250 miles above the Earth after successfully piloting a SpaceX craft in April.
UA Student Receives Goldwater Scholarship for 2022–2023.
Jules Bates, a Randall Research Scholar and UA Honors College student from Pace, Florida, studying chemical engineering, is the 60th UA student to receive the Goldwater Scholarship.
Engineering Graduate Student Awarded Prestigious Fellowship.
A doctoral student at The University of Alabama was chosen for a national fellowship for computational researchers, becoming the first UA student to receive the highly selective award.
From the Division
UA Students Receive U.S. Fulbright Program Awards for 2022–2023.
The Fulbright Program has selected 18 University of Alabama students for various awards for the 2022–2023 academic year.
Congratulations to the 2022 Realizing the Dream Essay and Art Contest winners!
To quote author Neil Postman, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” During the 2022 Realizing the Dream Essay and Art Contest Reception on March 24, those “living messages” were on display for the Tuscaloosa community in the form of winning students’ essays and artwork in the Cadence Bank Gallery at Shelton State Community College.
Council Hosts 16th Excellence in Community Engagement Awards.
The Council on Community-Based Partnerships hosted its 16th Excellence in Community Engagement Awards April 21. These annual awards recognize outstanding engaged scholarship work, which combines the familiar traditions of teaching, research and service in equitable partnerships with communities external to the campus, with the goal of creating sustained, positive change in both the community and the academy.
The Crossroads Civic Engagement Center and UA Vote Everywhere hosted a Get Out the Vote Collaborative meeting on March 2.
The Collaborative brings together students, faculty, and staff to enhance voter information and engagement.
PTLA Celebrates 2022 Program Graduates.
On April 7, parents and teachers gathered at the Bryant Conference Center for this year’s Parent Teacher Leadership Academy (PTLA) graduation. After meeting virtually for the entire 2020–2021 academic year, 2021–2022 offered an opportunity to meet in person as well as online.
Global Café Celebrates End of Year Friendships; Hawk to Retire.
Global Café recognized its Language Partners and congratulated Dr. Beverly Hawk, director of Global and Community Engagement for the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, on her retirement in an end-of-the-year celebration on Tuesday, April 26, in the Student Community Engagement Center at Capital Hall.
New Faculty Community Engagement Tour Returns, Encourages Partnerships.
After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division of Community Affairs resumed its New Faculty Community Engagement Tour, connecting University faculty, staff, graduate students and community members across various counties in the Black Belt region, Wednesday through Friday, May 11–13.
UA HomeFirst Program Recognized by International Town and Gown Association.
At the recent annual conference of the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA), held at Clemson University, The University of Alabama’s HomeFirst program received a 2022 ITGA Presidential Excellence Award. Dr. Nicole B. Prewitt, director of Programs and Partnerships for Community Engagement at UA’s Center for Community-Based Partnerships (CCBP), accepted the award.
Alabama Fulbright Association Selects Dr. Beverly Hawk for Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hawk is the recipient of the Alabama Fulbright Association Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the first person to receive the award, which recognizes her many contributions and years of service to the Fulbright mission of mutual understanding through international educational exchange.
Join us in welcoming Liz Lary as the conferences and events manager for the Division of Community Affairs. Lary joined our staff on March 1. Previously, Lary served as the administrative coordinator of clinical services at the University Medical Center since 2018. Prior to that, she served as the events coordinator for the School of Social Work. She has also directed and served on the boards of nonprofits and worked in the business community.
Congratulations to Andrea Ziegler, director for Community Education, for being named the Most Outstanding Ed.D. Student in Higher Education at The University of Alabama by the College of Education during Honors Day on April 8.
Congratulations to Dr. Jim McLean, associate vice president for Community Affairs and executive director of the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, for receiving the Outstanding Special Achievement in Community Engagement Award at the 16th Excellence in Community Engagement Awards in recognition of his commitment to higher education leadership, research and contributions to community-engaged scholarship. Additionally, he was inducted into the UA College of Education Hall of Fame on Feb. 26.
Stay tuned for details on the upcoming fall BOA meeting.
Congratulations to BOA member, Dr. Sarah Tate Dunlap, on successfully defending her dissertation! She works in UA’s Institute for Social Science Research, and her research interests include cognitive development and gender issues. She is a three-time UA graduate, having also earned a BS in psychology and a master’s degree in cognitive psychology.
Class Notes
Congratulations to BOA member, Dr. Sarah Tate Dunlap, on successfully defending her dissertation! She works in UA’s Institute for Social Science Research, and her research interests include cognitive development and gender issues. She is a three-time UA graduate, having also earned a BS in psychology and a master’s degree in cognitive psychology.
Congratulations to BOA member Mary Margaret Carroll, who was once again named one of Yellowhammer Multimedia’s most powerful and influential political leaders in Alabama!
Artist and Inaugural BOA Member Emma Fick was Among Sponsors for Family Day at the 2022 New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University. Emma also designed the official poster for this inaugural event.
After Founding Bitcoin, the World’s Leading Publication About Digital Currency, BOA Member and BTC Inc CEO David Bailey Launched BTC Media, a Corporate Group That Includes Bitcoinmagazine.com. White Rock Management announced it will publish Bitcoin Magazine Ukraine in partnership with bitcoin media company BTC Inc.
BOA member Gabriel Warren recognized by Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji (Minnesota) Area.
BOA member Terri Brewer has been selected to serve on the 2022–2023 United Way of West Alabama Campaign Cabinet.
BOA President Katie Boyd Britt and BOA member Mary Margaret Carroll recently spoke to the 2022 delegates at the 80th session of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Alabama Girls State program.
As BOA members are also UA graduates, we know how invaluable your experience as UA alumni has been. If you have not already done so, please consider participating in your local alumni chapter.
Have news to share with us?
If you have not already done so, we encourage you to follow us on: Twitter at: @UACommAffairs and on Facebook at: @UACommunityAffairs, @UA.CCBP, @UACrossroads, @UAPTLA, @SavingLivesPhysicallyAndSpiritually
Additionally, did you know the Board of Advisors has its own Facebook group page? This is a place for you to connect with your fellow board members, as well as share news of potential interest to members of the group. Search “ua community affairs board of advisors” and ask to join the group. We’ll approve you right away!