The UAB Staff Council was pleased to host the 2023 UAB Fall Staff Picnic, alongside President Ray Watts. Around 950 staff enjoyed lunch alongside their colleagues and heard from Staff Council Chair Shannon Turner as well as President Ray Watts.

Turner and Watts provided highlights of the past year's accomplishments and shared updates on their vision for the future. Both mentioned that the many university accomplishments and current projects would not happen without the support of staff.

The lunch included hot dogs, hamburgers, a veggie burger, chips, drinks, and cookies. Staff enjoyed the lunch and music alongside colleagues underneath a large tent that provided shade on the warm day.

Employees were also encouraged to bring a toiletry item — toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, soap bars, and toothpaste — for Blazer Kitchen, UAB’s on-campus pantry, to help make a difference. In total, UAB staff donated 3,508 period products and 830 hygiene products for a total donation of over 4,338 items.

Staff also enjoyed a resource fair for staff-centric resources available on campus, including the UAB Alumni, Live HealthSmart Alabama, UAB Employee Assistance and Counseling Center, UAB Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Blazer Kitchen, and UAB IT, to name a few.

“I am so thankful for President Ray Watts in supporting our vision for shared governance at UAB,” said Shannon Turner, the chair of the Staff Council. “We are so grateful to all staff and know that UAB would not be what it is without our dedicated staff.”

To see all Staff Council Picnic 2023 photos, click here.