Faculty and Staff Lead Freshmen Book Discussions
Over 1,500 freshmen arrived on UAB’s campus on August 14th, and for over 80 of them, their first impressions of UAB will come from their participation in a book discussion group led by a School of Business faculty or staff member.
Kristin Johnston Chapleau, of the Career Services Office, Melody Lake, Director of Advising, Laura Weems Tull, Marketing and Economics Advising, and Stephen Yoder, Assistant Professor in the Marketing, Industrial Distribution and Economics Department and School of Business Honors Program Director, each led groups of approximately 20 freshmen in discussions of “Thinking in Pictures My Life With Autism,” by Temple Grandin.
Grandin’s book was made into an award-winning movie starring Claire Danes, and describes Grandin’s difficult but triumphant journey toward earning a Ph.D. and becoming a recognized expert in the humane treatment of livestock.
Professor Yoder said, “Discussing ‘Thinking in Pictures’ allows students to consider success in life from a different perspective and to see the importance for respect for others.”
Grandin herself spoke to the freshmen at the Alys Stephens Center prior to the book discussions.
2011 was the seventh year that all UAB freshmen shared a common book-reading experience in their first few days on campus.
