Announcements

Yuliang Zheng, Ph.D., professor and chair in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Computer Science, has been awarded the prestigious Ireland Award for Scholarly Distinction for 2026. The annual award—endowed by Caroline P. and Charles W. Ireland—recognizes a CAS faculty member whose research and scholarship are of the highest caliber.

Four faculty members from the UAB College of Arts and Sciences will present during the Haddin Arts & Sciences Forum series for the 2026-2027 academic year. Named in honor of the late Theodore Haddin, Ph.D., Associate Professor Emeritus of English, the forum showcases ongoing research and scholarship from CAS faculty members. Each presentation is designed to engage faculty, staff and students across the College, offering scholarship that is interdisciplinary and translatable to a broad audience, and celebrating and elevating the intellectual vibrancy present within CAS.

As the second annual ‘Mike’ Wilson Lecture approaches on October 23, 2026, CAS News looks back at the inaugural event in the series. Hosted each fall by the Department of Sociology, the lecture is made possible through a generous gift from its namesake.

Lourdes Sánchez-López, Ph.D., has been named the chair of the Department of World Languages and Literatures in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Financial concerns can be the difference between a smooth or challenging college experience. Many can secure scholarships to offset the expenses of tuition, but as every graduate knows, other costs can become barriers to success. The UAB College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is working to address some of these other potential financial challenges through its Books for Blazers program.

Each semester, the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offers new, rare, or special topic courses in the “Cool Classes” series—encouraging students to explore unique subjects through innovative curriculums and state-of-the-art tools or methods.

Students are invited to the College of Arts and Sciences' first-ever CAS Open House, which will take place February 16 and 17. This new event offers a relaxed, low‑pressure opportunity to stop by CAS faculty offices, ask questions, explore academic programs, and learn more about upcoming courses.

Studying abroad broadens students’ horizons, reshapes global perspectives, boosts confidence, builds lasting friendships, and strengthens language skills and adaptability.

With larger incoming classes and the expansion of new, innovative certificate and degree programs, the College welcomes five new department chairs to support the CAS community.

In Fall 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration received support from UAB’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) to launch the Alabama Public Service Training Initiative (APSTI) with the mission to advance more effective, efficient, and responsive public and nonprofit sectors.

On March 3, 2025, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its inaugural Community Partner Luncheon

In June 2024, the Department of Philosophy established the Majorie Price Scholarship in Philosophy. Now, through a generous gift from Jane Laudon in memory of her sister Marjorie Price, the scholarship will be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Over the last 18 months, the College of Arts and Sciences partnered with a local firm, Clarus Consulting Group, to develop our new strategic plan for 2024-2028. I am happy to announce that the plan (“Forging Ahead”) has been approved, and it is now available on the College’s website.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Computer Science is launching an innovative new program titled, “Bridge to Cyber,” an opportunity to get a head start in cyber security education without prior background.

On November 20, 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its first-ever Graduate Research Day at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alumni House.

On September 27, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences hosted a half-day Health Humanities Symposium for faculty members and graduate students.

Sometimes, a brief conversation can make a big difference.

For Department of Theatre Chair Kelly Allison, a quick chat with Jamie Stephenson, chapter director for the Alabama Educational Theatre Association (aka “Alabama Thespians”), sparked an invitation that will likely benefit hundreds of middle and high school students for years to come.

University of Alabama at Birmingham students will have even more opportunities to engage with the community and human rights thanks to the new Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights (HRT) launching this fall.

Throughout Summer 2024, faculty, staff, and students across the College of Arts and Sciences facilitated camps and on-campus experiences for middle school, high school, and college students.

On June 28, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham broke ground on the new UAB Biomedical Research and Psychology Building.