UA research shows low birth weight in blacks tied to racial identity, mom’s age
Fox 6 – July 18
A University of Alabama researcher is looking at why African American babies die at a faster rate than Caucasian infants. According to a UA birth weight study, black infants weighing smaller than others is the leading factor to their infant mortality rate. UA professor Dr. Wanda Burton says in Alabama, the low birth weight rate for black babies is nearly double the national average. Burton examined the role of racial identity on birth weight in a sample of 72 African American women living in West Alabama. Racial identity, Burton says, can be positive, but negative too, if harmful stereotypes about your race and encounters with racism stress out and influence the health of expecting moms.
UA doctoral student awarded social work research fellowship
The Crimson White – July 18
University of Alabama student Emma Sophia Kay is the recipient of a fellowship award that totals $17,900. This comes with her selection as a National Association of Social Work/Council on Social Work Education Health Care Education and Leadership Scholar, also known as HEALS. Kay is one of five students nationwide to receive the award.
Birmingham Alabama Tornado Shelter Dealer Opens
WMC – July 18
For years now, many experts have declared that being underground is the safest place to be during a tornado. A growing number of families are looking specifically for underground tornado shelter protection, as published failures of shelters continue to grow, including a published failure of an above-ground concrete shelter from the Moore, Oklahoma tornado outbreak, that was published by a group from multiple universities’ including the University of Alabama, University of Oklahoma, University of Florida, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Oregon State, Oklahoma State and Colorado State University.
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Ally Thomasson: Digital Dynamics
Citrus County Chronicle Online (Florida) – July 18
Alexandra “Ally” Thomasson, a 2017 Lecanto High School graduate, is one of three recipients of this year’s Festival of the Arts Committee scholarships, awarded exclusively to Citrus County high school seniors pursuing a post-secondary education in the visual arts field. With a double major in biology and art, Ally will be attending the University of Alabama in a program called the University Fellows Program as part of the Honors College.
Francis Marion nursing receives $1.8 million federal grant
SCNow.com – July 19
Francis Marion University’s School of Health Sciences is the recipient of a $1.8 million grant from the federal government’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), aimed at promoting nursing workforce diversity. FMU is the only entity of any kind in South Carolina to receive a grant through the workforce diversity program. Other universities nationwide that were part of the grant include The University of Alabama, Arizona University, the University of Massachusetts, Duke, the University of North Carolina and Marquette.
Author, Talladega native’s debut memoir selected for Essence Bookstore
Anniston Star – July 18
In addition to Essence Bookstore, Red Lip Sessions has also been catalogued at the University of Alabama Women’s and Gender Resource Library. Red Lip Sessions is available at the Amazon Bookstore and is scheduled for a fall 2017 release on iTunes.