UA President Stuart R. Bell’s Fall Campus Assembly address encouraged the campus community to come together and embrace the individuality of its members while also uniting to push for a brighter future for all faculty, staff and students.
“There are distinctive personalities, individual talents and abilities, goals and dreams and personal victories all interlinked as part of this University community,” said Bell. “And, it’s important that we continue to collaborate, learn from one another and work together.”
Bell touted the numerous programs and events that support students, including the Week of Welcome, Believe UA mentoring program and Capstone Center for Student Success, among others. Bell also acknowledged that there is still work to be done.
“We will never stop refining and improving because we want our students to feel like they belong at Alabama – and we want them to become the nurse, accountant, engineer or teacher they aspire to be,” said Bell.
Bell highlighted the numerous accomplishments and achievements of UA faculty, calling them the foundation of the educational experience. He noted the 30 faculty who have received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top-performing scientists, and 46 faculty in the National Academy of Inventors.
UA’s impact on the state of Alabama was also spotlighted. The University’s total statewide impact is $2.77 billion, providing more than 13,000 jobs annually.
Several individuals and groups were honored for their dedication during the assembly. Awards included:
Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Awards
- Julianne Coleman, College of Education
- Allen Linken, College of Arts and Sciences
- Steven Ramey, College of Arts and Sciences
- Edward Schnee, Culverhouse College of Business
Outstanding Commitment to Advising Awards
- Meredith Bagley, College of Communication and Information Sciences
- Randi Hamm, Culverhouse College of Business
Sam S. May Commitment to Service Awards
- UA Early College
- Gymnastics Administrative Staff
- Student Account Services
- Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
- Office of Emergency Management
Vergil Parks McKinley Sr. Employee Awards
- Bernadette Chavira-Trull, UA Supe Store
- Julie Ember, College of Engineering
- Daniel Wood, Advancement Services