Displaying items by tag: department of biology student news

Drs. Stephen and Lisa Odaibo Drs. Stephen and Lisa Odaibo have dedicated their lives to medicine and helping others. They are also passionate about education—perhaps that’s why they have a combined six college degrees between the two of them.

Stephen earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, then went on to earn a master’s in computer science and an M.D. from Duke University. Lisa received her bachelor’s in sociology from Harvard University, then earned her M.D. from the University of North Carolina.

Lisa did her pediatrics residency at Georgetown University, while Stephen completed his internal medicine preliminary year residency at Duke University and ophthalmology residency at Howard University. He then went on to a Medical Retina Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Through their experiences in higher education, both Odaibos developed an appreciation for the value of mathematics, computer science, and the natural sciences.

“I was committed to using mathematics in medicine to change people’s lives—to improve lives around the world,” said Stephen, CEO, founder, and chief data engineer for RETINA-AI Health, Inc. “[In addition], computer science was important because I knew very early that you need a computer to scale solutions globally.”

“I believe that medicine, specifically pediatrics, has a wonderful mix of learning about kids [and] learning about science,” said Lisa, a practicing pediatrician.

For Stephen, UAB was the ideal institution to nurture and develop the knowledge he would need to be successful in medical school. In addition, he uncovered valuable skills he would later leverage when founding RETINA-AI Health, Inc., an innovative company that has built an autonomous AI system for diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care.

“[UAB] has been life-changing, without a doubt,” said Stephen. “The things I learned at UAB are absolutely foundational. Ninety-five percent of my professional time is spent in the software world… writing code, training machine learning models, and talking about things like derivatives. For me, it’s just a matter of fact that UAB—where I learned math and calculus and I got great mentoring—was truly foundational.”

Although Lisa did not attend UAB, she has been able to visit the campus alongside Stephen several times in recent years. During these visits, she developed her own insights about the university.

“What really strikes me is the quality of the mentorship,” said Lisa. “I know the names of the people who mentored Stephen. It’s not just a professional relationship—there’s also a personal interest in the student’s being successful. You don’t see that everywhere.”

Now, the Odaibos are ready to invest in the next generation and create opportunities for more students to receive that same guidance and mentorship. Last year, they created the Stephen and Lisa Odaibo Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics to support students who major in mathematics at UAB. It was an investment they wanted to make sooner rather than later.

“We’re entering a new phase of life,” said Lisa. “It’s not just about our growth. It’s also about thinking about the next generation… What better time than now?”

For Stephen, it is an investment in the future—an investment that might lead to the next amazing discovery in mathematics.

“I hope that this money will land in the hands of someone who will go out and do great things and help a lot of people and change the world,” said Stephen. “[I hope] they see the example that I’ve been fortunate to be able set, coming from UAB. I’ve had opportunities that are unique in my career.”

Given that Stephen is a practicing ophthalmologist, a successful entrepreneur, and serves on multiple boards—including the Data Science Network—it is safe to say that he is setting a great example for future scholarship recipients.

And Lisa has some advice for students who might one day receive the scholarship and graduate from UAB.

“Pause and think about what your unique gifts and talents are and what your unique contribution should be to the world,” said Lisa.

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Mathematics thank both Stephen and Lisa Odaibo for their generous gift.

While serving in the United States Army for 21 years, James C. Hurt got the chance to see and experience the world.

Throughout his travels, he always found opportunities to continue learning, often enrolling in courses at local community colleges and universities. According to Hurt, his love for education came directly from his mother, Ollie Mae Hurt.

“My mother stressed education quite a bit,” said Hurt. “Wherever I was stationed, I continued to go to school.”

Hurt and his eight brothers and sisters grew up in Union Springs, Alabama, which is in Bullock County. He notes that Bullock County is a part of the “Black Belt” region, a collection of rural counties and cities mostly located in the western part of Alabama. While attending Bullock High School, Hurt often received encouragement from his mother to pursue college—specifically, she wanted him to earn a bachelor’s degree.

“My mother was an amazing person. She would always say that when your body puts you down, you [still] have your mind,” said Hurt. “She stressed that education was the most important thing you could do with your life…. she stressed it, she stressed it, she stressed it.”

So, when Hurt graduated from high school and joined the Army, he kept his mother’s words top of mind. He started his career with basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina; then moved to Fort Riley in Junction City, Kansas; then made his way across the world to Camp Hovey in Seoul, South Korea. His military journey continued with multiple stops across the U.S., including Colorado, California, Alaska, and Michigan. Each new location presented him with new educational opportunities. He enrolled in classes at Kansas State University, Los Angeles Community College (South Korea), UC Santa Barbara, and many others. Then, as his retirement date closed-in, he was given the chance to pick his final assignment.

“After 15 years in the U.S. Army, [they try] to send you to your preferred assignment before retirement,” said Hurt. “I requested to come back to Alabama.”

The Army honored his request and sent him to Birmingham and with his new home came another opportunity to enroll in a local university. This time was different, though. This time, he wanted to complete his bachelor’s degree and prepare for a career after the armed forces. So, he met with an advisor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and identified a course load that would allow him to earn a degree and fulfill his mother’s dreams.

“I found UAB to be an amazing opportunity for the adult student like myself. [It’s] the best institution of higher education I’d ever seen, and I’ve seen quite a few,” said Hurt. “I was in the U.S. Army full-time, and I was a full-time student at UAB… They found a way to keep me in school and on schedule.”

Hurt majored in criminal justice and minored in political science, and, by June 1998, he earned enough credits to graduate with his bachelor’s degree. It was a powerful moment for Hurt and his family.

Soon after graduating, Hurt’s mother encouraged him to move back to Bullock County and become the local sheriff, he says with a smile. He decided to take a different path and, instead, pursued a career in financial advising with Morgan Stanley.

“When I went in for the interview [with Morgan Stanley], they said ‘Hey, we looked at your resume and the fact that you graduated from UAB, that’s why we brought you in,’” said Hurt. “It’s been wonderful for me.”

Sadly, his mother passed away in 2001—just three years after he graduated from UAB. Her inspiring words and love for education remained with Hurt, so he chose to honor her by establishing the Ollie Mae Hurt Intellect-Pay (I-Pay) Endowed Scholarship.

“When she passed, we were trying to figure out a way to honor [her commitment to education] and create a scholarship,” said Hurt. “The whole idea [with the scholarship] is to give those kids in the Black Belt communities another option—just another option.”

The scholarship is for undergraduate freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences with preference given to students from the Black Belt region. Through the scholarship, Hurt wants students to nurture their intellect and develop global perspectives at UAB—in addition, he hopes they will find opportunities to give back to their hometowns and the Black Belt region.

As he looks to the future, he is optimistic the Ollie Mae Hurt I-Pay Endowed Scholarship will expand its reach and make a generational impact.

“We would like to be able to grow it. This is something that can live forever,” said Hurt.

Learn more and give to the Ollie Mae Hurt I-Pay Endowed Scholarship.

Elizabeth Hendrix earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration in 2016. She went on to a successful career with the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and she was recently selected for the prestigious Commissioner’s Award for Values in May 2022. The College of Arts and Sciences interviewed Hendrix to learn more about her time at UAB, her current career, and her award.

ARTS AND SCIENCES: Why did you choose your UAB major(s)?

HENDRIX: After earning my PhD in Instructional Leadership at the University of Alabama in 2007, I became an assistant professor in Missouri. After four years of outstanding evaluations in every area on my yearly evaluations and a work schedule that did not leave me with work/life balance at all, I decided that I had to do something else that paid more and gave me a much better quality of life. I was accepted into law school, but soon I discovered that my law school peers who were passing the bar exam were struggling to find good jobs with good pay too.

As I shadowed my second cousin, Cynthia Lee Almond, in Tuscaloosa City Council meetings to decide whether I wanted to run for elected office in Alabama and to determine how I might use my law degree, I met Walt Maddox, the Mayor of Tuscaloosa. I discussed the career issues facing students who complete their PhDs and/or JDs with him and Cynthia. Walt recommended the MPA program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He said that degree and skillset really helped him. He also noted that it was nationally ranked and accredited too (unlike some other MPA programs in the state). After that, I started studying jobs available for people with administration degrees, and there seemed to be more of those jobs available and with higher pay too. Afterwards, I chose to apply for the UAB MPA program and stop my law classes. I am so happy that I did! I made the right decision then. I am truly grateful for that advice I received from Walt and Cynthia and for my UAB MPA. That decision, based on their advice, led me to a much better career and life.

ARTS AND SCIENCES: What does being a UAB alumna mean to you?

HENDRIX: My MPA degree increased the quality of my life dramatically. One of the UAB taglines (when I was in school there) was, “Knowledge that will change your world.” My experiences at UAB and with my MPA changed my entire world and helped me create a far better future than I could have even imagined. As a small child, teen, or even young adult, if you asked me what my dream was, I never would have responded with working for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. However, it really is my dream job and career. I love it! It is the best job that I have ever had. Being a UAB alumna makes me feel honored and humbled simultaneously to be a part of a remarkable group that truly is making a difference and who are change catalysts creating a better world (whether it is through improving health care services, creating better policies, or leading where others would only follow).

ARTS AND SCIENCES: How has the knowledge and skills you attained at UAB/CAS helped you in your career?

HENDRIX: Before the MPA program, I had never heard of the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) program. My UAB thesis chair, Dr. Akhlaque Haque, encouraged me to apply for it. Without his encouragement, I never would have become a PMF. The knowledge and skills that I attained at UAB/CAS helped me make the cut from over 6,000 Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) applicants to approximately one of 200 who became a PMF alumna in the Class of 2016. My MPA and my work experience serving as the program manager of UAB Health Services Administration’s Doctoral Programs helped me start my dream job, improve my work/life balance, and almost double my salary in less than four years. It gave me the skills I needed to succeed in my new career. After my first year in the PMF program, I earned a promotion. Then just two years later, I earned a competitive promotion as well. Without the MPA classes at UAB, I would not have been able to get my federal job as a PMF nor succeed in it. My life would be far worse without a good work/life balance and financial struggles. UAB/CAS helped me find my dream job, better financial stability, and even my bliss.

ARTS AND SCIENCES: Is there a professional accomplishment you would like to highlight/share?

HENDRIX: In May 2022, I earned the prestigious Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s Commissioner’s Award for Values. This award is only offered once a year, and many lifelong federal employees never earn an award like it. Winners must be nominated for it by their peers and/or senior leaders, and there is a cash prize for it. Thus, it is highly competitive. This special act award is intended to recognize employees who consistently exceed expectations and have made a significant contribution towards achieving/supporting the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (FS) strategic goals or values, ultimately improving the functions, operations, and services.

I won the Commissioner’s Award for outstanding support of the FS values for creating a more equitable and safer FS.

ARTS AND SCIENCES: Is there any advice that you would like to offer to students as they plan for life after graduating from UAB?

HENDRIX: My advice as students plan for life after UAB graduation is to get out of their comfort zones. This may include leaving their hometowns or developing entirely new skillsets. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, to listen to the UAB professors and advisors, and to be honest about needs and weaknesses. This is how one can truly obtain the necessary help to shoot for the stars and launch their journey towards their dreams. Also, study job descriptions carefully to ensure that you develop the necessary skills and experiences to set yourself up successfully in your career. Practice saying “yes” to as many opportunities as possible while you are a student. Find a problem to fix in the community, culture, processes, operations, or policies. Take advantage of the UAB Career Center too. They can help you find a job or internship as well as help coach you through that process. They helped me practice mock interviews and polish my resume. Each day as you work on developing yourself, remain hopeful and grateful. When you are really struggling, find one thing each day that you are grateful for, one thing that you are hopeful for, and strive to find joy in your storms. You can conquer any challenge, and you can find a career that is fulfilling for you and your family. Stay tenacious in your pursuit of your dreams!

Photo courtesy of Kacey KeithKacey Keith often encounters conflict when addressing structural and cultural harm through her work as a consultant with Honeycomb Justice Consulting. Given her personal, academic, and professional experiences growing up in the South, she has an appreciation for people who are willing and prepared to face disputes head-on.

“I don’t think I would understand [how] to approach conflict in a straight-forward way if it wasn’t for being from Alabama,” said Keith. “Conflict lives in unison with peace—so, how do we handle conflict with peaceful solutions?”

During her early years in Birmingham, Keith developed a deep connection to the city’s civil and human rights history. At the same time, she wanted to learn more about cultures outside of her hometown. This interest prompted her to consider colleges that offered dynamic international studies programs, eventually leading her to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

She enrolled at UAB in 2012 and sought out an array of classes to complement her international studies major. That curiosity steered her to a peace studies course which exposed her to peace on a global scale. The experience inspired her to continue seeking out peace studies courses at UAB, and, eventually, she enrolled in a class with Douglas Fry, Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Anthropology. Fry’s teaching had a profound impact on Keith, influencing her future academic and career pathways.

“I was hooked,” said Keith. “It was very much in alignment with my world view… So, I applied to the Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights graduate program [at UAB].”

The Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights (APHR) program is a two-year master’s program focusing on peace as behavioral process at multiple levels including at the level of individuals, families, groups, communities, cultures, and nations.

Soon after starting the program, Keith met another influential faculty member in the Department of Anthropology: Peter Verbeek, Ph.D. Keith took several of Verbeek’s classes, and, throughout those experiences, she learned that peace ethology is a measurable science with actionable steps.

“I loved the courses,” said Keith. “They were very influential—specifically in understanding what it takes to make a culture shift for the understanding of peace.”

Verbeek’s mentorship and scholarly work proved to be valuable to Keith as she concluded her graduate studies and transitioned into her career. Soon after completing the APHR program, Keith started working for the City of Birmingham and was immediately given an opportunity to apply her knowledge of peace and human rights.

“I was an intern with [Mayor Randall Woodfin’s] social justice transition team,” said Keith. “I helped develop the Office of Peace and Policy and supported the creation of a peace plan for the City of Birmingham.”

During her time with the city, Keith formed an enduring bond with a co-worker, Jasmyn Story. Together, Keith and Story began working on nonviolence, restorative justice, and reentry-focused programs for Birmingham. Keith connected with the strategic planning side of the work, while Story served as an effective practitioner. For Keith, it was powerful to further apply the knowledge and skills she attained through the APHR program.

“I’m interested in the neurobiology of empathy,” said Keith. “Understanding that empathy is one of the most powerful tools for peace is what led me to restorative justice.”

Keith’s interest in restorative justice continued to grow, as did her collaborative relationship with Story. Eventually, they both transitioned into roles with Honeycomb Justice Consulting, a collective of consultants that helps institutions and companies implement restorative justice practices and navigate instances of harm. Honeycomb also supports its clients with strategic planning and training. Keith—who now lives in Denver, Colorado—serves as a core team member for the consultancy and continues to work alongside Story, her long-time collaborator and mentor. As she helps expand the impact of Honeycomb across the country, she looks back on her time at UAB and Birmingham fondly.

“I’m grateful for UAB, and I’m grateful for [its] international focus,” said Keith. “The wisdom that came from the professors plus the legacy of the city, together, really created the space for the learning that I needed to be able to root myself in this work.”

Verbeek celebrates Keith’s accomplishments and believes her work will have a lasting impact.

"During her time in the APHR program, Kacey was both a scholar and practitioner of peace. Her work and insights have benefited APHR as well as our Birmingham community,” said Verbeek. “We will follow Kacey’s career on peace with great interest in the knowledge that she will excel at it.”

Trey Gordon, co-founder of Adjacent SpaceTrey Gordon is passionate about his community and aims to do everything in his power to serve the people within it. So much so, he co-founded Adjacent Space, a nonprofit that is committed to advancing public spaces into more visual-tactile accessible and equitable places for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and Deafblind communities. 

Now, Gordon—an Alabama native who self-identifies as fully Deaf—is receiving public recognition for his impactful work with Adjacent Space. In February, the Birmingham Business Journal honored him as a 2022 Leader in Diversity, an achievement that further elevates his work and leadership.

Gordon is an alumnus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Master of Public Administration program, and he views the skills and knowledge he developed in the program as vital to his growth as a nonprofit leader.

“My professors loved and cultivated the idea of Adjacent Space, and the support was incredible and propelled me and my team to go for it,” said Gordon. “Their understanding and advice created a path I could walk through.”

Gordon discovered the MPA program while living in New Delhi, India. “I was… working for a Deaf-led nonprofit organization focusing on empowering Deaf Indians in learning basic English and job skills, connecting with Deaf leaders, and teaching Deaf culture,” he said. That passion prompted him to research MPA programs with course offerings on nonprofit management, which led him to UAB’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

“I saw that UAB had a great fit for my interest,” said Gordon. “And UAB is such a lovely university located in a vibrant, growing city in Birmingham.”

Gordon excelled in the program, and he remains proud of his experience at UAB.

“I feel like I'm an ambassador for UAB when working with people, and a lot of lessons I learned in classes really came through during my work around the community, so I'm a grateful Blazer,” said Gordon.

Gordon often sought advice from his faculty mentors while at UAB, so, now, he finds opportunities to share his wisdom with students who are currently preparing for the future. In Gordon’s opinion, it’s important to be present and focus on the moment at hand.

“[I]t’s really important for me to not think too much about what I should be doing,” said Gordon. “Just be—you’re more than enough…things will come.”

When Johnny Edward “Rusty” Bates, M.D., was growing up in Sipsey, Alabama, he viewed his father, a draftsman and engineer, as one of the smartest people he knew.

“My father was an inspiration,” said Bates.

Although his father, Henry E. Bates Jr., was both skillful and knowledgeable, he was limited in his ability to advance in his career due to his academic credentials. According to Bates, “He always felt that not having his degree impeded his ability to move up the ranks.”

Johnny Edward “Rusty” Bates, M.D.For Bates, this observation about his father serves as an enduring source of inspiration, both in his academic journey and his professional career.

While in middle and high school, Bates excelled in mathematics and learned from nurturing teachers who helped him establish a strong foundation in the discipline. As he looked to his future, he decided to pursue a degree in mathematics, while also working full-time. He briefly attended Birmingham-Southern College, then enrolled at Walker College to earn his associate degree.

He envisioned attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham after Walker College, but he faced a financial barrier. “I didn’t come from a wealthy family,” said Bates. Thankfully, he received a generous scholarship, which helped him scale the barrier. That scholarship, which came from a wealthy businessman, set him on a new academic trajectory.

He enrolled at UAB and earned a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in art history. During his time as an undergraduate at UAB, he saw and appreciated the level of care and excellence his professors brought to the classroom each day.

“I had a great experience with great educators,” said Bates. “They loved teaching. [My professors] took an interest in me as a student. They wrote letters for me when I applied to medical school.”

After completing his undergraduate degree, Bates was accepted into the Heersink School of Medicine. He earned an M.D. in 1982, then completed his residency at University of Texas in Galveston.

Through his studies and training, Bates became deeply interested taking care of populations of patients, rather than focusing on individual patients. He decided he wanted to become a leader in correctional care, so he started his own company, Quality Correctional Healthcare (QCHC).

While Bates studied mathematics and medicine at UAB, he enjoyed solving problems and making decisions that would improve outcomes. Nowadays, he applies those same skills at QCHC. “I’m going to use those techniques to improve our overall services. We’re going to need to find smarter and better ways of doing things,” said Bates.

He has continued his academic journey to support these goals too. He earned a Master of Medical Management for Physicians from Carnegie Mellon University, and, recently, he started taking courses in artificial intelligence and machine learning from the University of Texas at Austin and the Massachusetts Institute for Technology.

Bates still looks back on the scholarship that helped him establish his academic foundation at UAB with gratitude, while also considering the obstacles his father faced. Moving forward, he wants to support future students as they pursue degrees in mathematics and honor his father at the same time. Given these priorities, Bates recently established the Henry E. Bates Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics, which will benefit undergraduate mathematics students who demonstrate strong academic promise.

“I think everybody who desires an education should be able to get an education,” said Bates. “I want to be able to benefit someone who has that desire but may not have the resources to get the degree.”

Clearly, Bates’s generosity and admiration for his father are reflected in this endowed scholarship in the Department of Mathematics.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management facilitates a valuable leadership development experience known as the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF).

Through the prestigious and competitive PMF program, graduate students who aim to pursue careers in government participate in a two-year appointment with a government agency. During the appointment, participants receive leadership training, full salary and benefits, and active mentorship.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration (PSPA) has an impressive record with the PMF program. As of January 2022, eight of the department’s MPA alumni have served (or will serve) as PMFs:

• Mason Beale
• Rachel Hicks Shabani
• Tiffany Brown
• Misha Manzy
• Elizabeth Hendrix
• Amy O’Dell
• Kaia Greene
• Ollie Davison

In December 2021, Davison received a notification from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management letting him know that he was selected for the program. It proved to be a life-changing moment.

“As a boy from Prichard, Alabama, I never would have imagined my journey would include becoming a Presidential Management Fellow,” said Davison. “I am so grateful to represent UAB and the MPA program during this prestigious fellowship. I cannot wait to show Washington D.C. what a boy from Prichard, Alabama can do to make a tangible difference for all Americans."

According to Rob Blanton, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the PMF program is a substantial achievement worthy of celebration.

“The Presidential Management Fellowship provides an invaluable experience to students in that it includes employment at a federal agency as well as multiple opportunities for future professional development and growth. It is a very prestigious and competitive program, the number of applicants is generally over 10,000 and only five percent are accepted,” said Blanton. “We are very proud to have such a high number of Presidential Management Fellows, as it attests to the ability of our students, as well as to the quality of the educational experience and mentoring that our students receive.”

You can learn more about the department’s MPA program by visiting the Master of Public Administration webpage.

Lisa HigginbothamMany Blazers donate to and engage with the Benevolent Fund, a charitable giving campaign that supports health and human service agencies, selected health-related charities, and University of Alabama at Birmingham employees through the Employee Emergency Assistance Program. Through the Benevolent Fund, UAB has distributed over $43 million to local nonprofit organizations and to UAB employees. The work changes lives, and it is a model of charitable excellence.

One of the key people behind the Benevolent Fund is Lisa Higginbotham, a two-time graduate of UAB’s College of Arts and Sciences. Higginbotham earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Public Administration in the early 1990s, and, afterwards, she navigated a prolific career in nonprofit management across Alabama.

“I fondly reflect on my time in CAS,” said Higginbotham. “From the friends I made who are now colleagues to working alongside Dr. Norm Eggleston researching discrimination in the workplace against people living with HIV or exploring ethical decision making with Dr. Mary Guy, it was all instrumental in me becoming the person I am today.”

During her time in the nonprofit sector, Higginbotham worked for Childcare Resources; Girls, Inc.; and the Children’s Trust Fund. Often, she improved processes and structures to ensure the organizations and institutions could do their best work and maximize impact—a skillset she gleaned from her time in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

When it came time to expand her family, Higginbotham decided to seek a part-time position, so she could achieve her desired work-life balance. Thankfully, at that time, UAB needed a new team member to support the Employee Emergency Assistance program—a perfect fit for Higginbotham.

Higginbotham accepted the role, and, eventually, she became the fund manager for the Benevolent Fund. She deployed a systems leadership approach to her work and uncovered opportunities to do more than provide funding to local nonprofits. For example, under Higginbotham’s leadership, the Benevolent Fund expanded service-learning opportunities for UAB students, developed new systems for Employee Emergency Assistance, and launched Blazer Kitchen (UAB’s campus food pantry which has provided 400,000 meals in just over four years).

“I launched Blazer Kitchen with a lot of help and support from our council and the UAB administration,” said Higginbotham. “We knew there were employees who needed help through our Employee Emergency Assistance program… and they could [also] benefit from access to healthy food.”

Every step of the way, Higginbotham has leveraged data, best practices, and her past experiences and knowledge to ensure her work is people-focused and impact-driven.

Over the past two years, the pandemic created numerous challenges for the Benevolent Fund, including limitations on grant-making and a pause on house builds with Habitat for Humanity, a long-standing nonprofit partner. That said, Higginbotham still encounters individual stories that illustrate the impact of her work—even during the pandemic. Recently, she worked closely with a UAB employee who experienced trauma and loss due to COVID-19. By highlighting UAB’s sick leave bank and counseling services offered by local nonprofits, Higginbotham was able to support the employee and help them navigate a heart wrenching moment.

As Higginbotham reflects on her experiences during her 18 years at UAB, she notes her passion for connecting employees to resources in the community.

“When I listen to nonprofits talk about the programs they have in the community, I think, ‘How can this help our UAB employees,’” said Higginbotham.

Now that she is back on campus (and in a new building), she sees endless opportunities to continue pursuing that passion and to deepen partnerships with nonprofit organizations. She also aims to expand Blazer Kitchen’s operating hours and further engage with the Department of Social Work and its students. Moving forward, the horizon is bright as the Benevolent Fund steers through the pandemic and continues its life-changing work.

“I encourage everyone—students, alumni, and employees—to reflect on where you are today, thank those who have helped you achieve your success, offer mentorship to the next generation of leaders, engage with your community to contribute to the public good, and stay connected to UAB,” said Higginbotham.

Taylor ByasThrough language, poets help us better understand and navigate life. However, the journey to a career in poetry is not always clear (or easy).

For Taylor Byas, a renowned poet who is pursuing her Ph.D. in Creative Writing at the University of Cincinnati, her dream of becoming a writer emerged when she was a child.

“I’ve been a bookworm since I can remember,” said Byas. “I think I always knew that I wanted to pursue English and to pursue something that has to do with language.”

Although English was her first passion, she found herself on the pre-medicine track when she arrived at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013. She chose this path because her mother was a successful doctor, and because several people questioned her future career prospects if she focused on English solely.

“Along the way, I let people discourage me… I let them ask ‘What are you going to do with an English degree?’” said Byas.

She stuck with pre-med for a year, but, deep down, she felt out-of-sync with the coursework. Eventually, after receiving support and encouragement from her emerging network of friends and mentors, she pivoted back into the English program.

“I stepped into the confidence to be fully myself,” said Byas. “UAB created a culture of perseverance. It also instilled a mindset in me—of not being afraid to fail and believing in my ideas.”

As her confidence grew, so did her talent. While pursuing her B.A. in the Department of English, Byas’ creative voice shined, and, before she knew it, she was considering the department’s graduate program. Immediately after earning her bachelor’s degree in 2017, she matriculated into the M.A. program with a focus on creative writing.

“My master’s degree, specifically, is where I found my voice in writing,” said Byas. “It was the support of that wonderful department… I was loved and believed in—well before I found it for myself. That support system was so crucial.”

Along with finding her voice, Byas also benefited from the overall rigor of the program.

“I think we never really know…how rigorous something is until we step out of it and apply those things,” said Byas. “When I arrived at my Ph.D. program, I found myself not struggling. I really have had a fairly smooth time in my doctorate degree.”

Her smooth transition into her doctoral program also allowed her the space and time to launch a fruitful career as a poet and writer. Over the past year, she secured a literary agent, released her first chapbook of poetry, sold her first full-length book manuscript to Soft Skull Press, and won the Adrienne Rich Poetry Prize—a series of significant milestones for a young poet.

“This last year has been incredibly busy and also life-changing in ways that I couldn’t have anticipated,” said Byas.

Byas maintains a down-to-earth and welcoming demeanor amidst her noteworthy achievements. Although she recognizes her talents and creative voice brought her to this moment, she also credits much of her success to her network—her community.

“We aren’t designed to do this life alone. Finding your people, finding your community, is one of the most meaningful and important things you can do for yourself,” said Byas. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the community I found and created.”

Karla KhodanianInspiration can strike when you least expect it—even while waiting in line for a coffee.

“I was 14 years old in line at a Starbucks, and I overheard the girl in front of me tell her friend that she was going to major in public relations,” said Karla Khodanian, managing partner at the Birmingham Business Alliance. “I went home that night, and I Googled public relations and landed on the Wikipedia page for it. I thought it sounded amazing.”

Although high school students often change their minds about college majors, Khodanian never wavered from her newfound passion for PR and storytelling.

“Every campus tour, everything I did after that, I was looking at schools’ communications departments,” said Khodanian. “I never had a moment of doubt… I knew it, stuck with it, and I loved it.”

Khodanian grew up in Madison, Alabama, and, while exploring college options, she sought out a change of scenery. After spending years in a suburb of Huntsville, she was ready to be in a city rich with culture, energy, and opportunity. Thankfully, during her numerous campus visits, she included the University of Alabama at Birmingham on her list. Once she arrived in Birmingham, her next step was clear.

“I chose UAB very early in my senior year of high school because I loved the campus—I loved the energy of being in a city,” said Khodanian.

She started at UAB in 2010 and thrived in the Department of Communication Studies. She also worked with several other units and groups across campus, including Blaze Productions and UAB Digital Media. At the same time, she embraced opportunities to get to know her new city and build a network of like-minded colleagues, mentors, and friends. This commitment to community led her to intern with American Idol star Ruben Studdard, the legendary music venue Bottletree Cafe in Avondale, and the Woodlawn Foundation.

“It got me outside of the campus bubble and into the community,” said Khodanian. “I learned a lot of practical applications for how to be a strong communicator. The sharpest tool in my toolkit is knowing how to communicate broadly to a big audience.”

Khodanian went on to graduate with a B.A. in Communication Studies with a Public Relations Specialization in 2014. She also earned minors in sociology and marketing. Soon after graduation, Khodanian decided to stay in Birmingham and start her career in PR.

“I chose to stay in Birmingham because I knew it would be a phenomenal place to build my career,” said Khodanian. “I didn’t want to lose the valuable relationships I built as an undergrad.”

Seven years later, she’s found a way to successfully meld her love for community with her knack for storytelling, relationship-building, and brand development. As a managing partner at the Birmingham Business Alliance—the lead economic development organization for the Birmingham seven-county region—Khodanian currently focuses on investor relations and member engagement. Through this work, she connects businesses to the Alliance’s mission of growing more and better jobs in the region. 

When Khodanian first arrived at the Alliance in 2019, she was responsible for attracting talented people to live and work in Birmingham. Her efforts culminated in a milestone project entitled OnBoard Birmingham.

“It’s really cool to have a job that helps me build the city that helped build me. I’m really proud of OnBoard Birmingham, which is the talent brand [of the Alliance],” said Khodanian. “I got to be a part of concepting and developing the project. It was something I started as a consultant and freelancer, then carried it into full-time work. I got the opportunity because of my depth of knowledge of the community and my passion for bringing more people into the community.”

In a way, the website for OnBoard Birmingham is the perfect distillation of Khodanian’s journey. It is a celebration of all things Birmingham, and it’s a digital space where people can start building their own networks and relationships—something Khodanian encourages current CAS students to prioritize.

“Take the time to build relationships with everyone,” said Khodanian. “Whether it’s your advisor, professor, peer, or someone in the community, those relationships are gold.”