UAB’s longtime commitment to community engagement once again received national recognition last week. I am pleased to announce that, for the third consecutive year, UAB has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This is the highest federal recognition a university can receive for civic engagement and service learning, and is a testament to the vital role we are all playing in building a better Birmingham.

Along the same lines, UAB remains the only university in the state—and among a handful of universities nationally—ranked by the Carnegie Foundation in both the highest tier for “research activity” and the “community engagement” classification. This distinction reflects how quickly and effectively we are translating research discoveries to the benefit of our community.

The historical partnership between UAB and Birmingham has only grown stronger in recent months, as we have worked closely with the Birmingham Business Alliance on Blueprint Birmingham and on our refined Strategic Plan. As I wrote in a post last fall, we are dreaming bigger than ever and planning accordingly, collaborating on synchronous goals and a shared vision for a more prosperous city and state.

And, of course, we have recently come together with our community and state as part of relief efforts following the devastating storms of April 27. The progress of recovery will be measured in months or even years, not just days or weeks, and we can all make an important, long-term impact through the kinds of service and contributions described at www.uab.edu/tornadorelief.

I want to thank all our students, faculty and staff for your continued role in our nationally recognized service to community, and for helping forge a brighter future for UAB, Birmingham, and the state of Alabama.