On Friday, September 23, 2022, the UAB National Alumni Society (NAS) hosted its annual meeting and awards dinner honoring the recipients of both the 2022 Alumni Awards and the UAB Young Alumni Rising Star Awards. This was the first time that recipients for both awards were be acknowledged at the same event.

In total, the NAS distributed five Alumni Awards at the event, including: Honorary Life Membership Award, Honorary Alumni Award, Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and Volunteer of the Year Award.

Along with the Alumni Awards, the NAS honored recipients of the UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Award. This award was established to recognize young alumni who have “demonstrated an ability to excel personally and professionally while committing time and energy in service to the University and local community.” In total, five alumni received the UAB Young Alumni Rising Star Awards at the September 23 event.

The College of Arts and Sciences would like to acknowledge and celebrate six stellar alumni from the College who were honored at the event.

Congratulations to the following two alumni for winning Alumni Awards:

Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Kierstin Cates Kennedy, World Languages and Literatures with a concentration in Spanish, 2002

Kierstin Cates Kennedy, M.D., is Chief of Hospital Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor at UAB Medicine. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to a UAB graduate whose professional and community accomplishments are outstanding. The recipient must be one who is distinguished in his/her profession or other worthy endeavors, has demonstrated a continual interest in UAB, and who is a member in good standing of the UAB National Alumni Society.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Adam Roderick, Psychology, 2009

Adam Roderick is the Manager of Learning and Development at Milo's Tea Company. The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who has dedicated their time and effort to improving the University through volunteerism.

UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Awards

Also, congratulations to the following four alumni for winning UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Awards:

• Briana Bryant (Communication Studies, 2018) – Southern Research
• Dr. Bliss Chang (Biology, 2015) – Columbia University
• Dr. Zachary “Kane” Jones (Psychology, 2012) – United States Air Force
• Hernandez Stroud (History, 2010) – Brennan Center for Justice

A new scholarship is now available for students majoring or minoring in Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). An anonymous donor recently established the Sefarad Endowed Scholarship Honoring Liliana and Marcelo Benveniste in celebration of the Department’s 50th anniversary during the 2022-2023 academic year.

The scholarship is named in honor of Liliana and Marcelo Benveniste who founded Centro Cultural Sefarad (Sepharad Cultural Center), a non-profit organization based in Argentina whose objective is to promote the culture of Sephardic Jews through activities, courses, concerts, and more. In the 15th Century, a royal edict in Spain forced Jews to either convert to Catholicism or face expulsion. After their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula, the dispersed Jews maintained a strong relationship to their Iberian traditions, customs, and the Spanish language from that time. “Sepharad” is the Hebrew word for Spain, which is why descendants of these Jews are known as “Sephardic Jews.” The Benvenistes and the Sepharad Cultural Center aim to highlight the universal values of the Sephardic community and Judeo-Spanish languages, including Ladino.

“It is wonderful that the donor chose to honor Liliana and Marcelo Benveniste because their Sepharad Cultural Center promotes the endangered languages and culture of the Sephardic diaspora not only in Argentina but also worldwide,” says John K. Moore Jr., Ph.D., professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. “It is even more meaningful that this award celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Sephardic Jews alongside the achievements of UAB's Spanish students.”

The mission of the UAB Department of World Languages and Literatures is to educate, motivate, and inspire students to interact with people from other nations and/or cultures in a multiplicity of languages; to develop linguistically proficient and culturally competent individuals who think critically and communicate effectively in local, national, and global communities; and to foster the international exchange of knowledge and information between humanities scholar-teachers and other professionals. For students interested in the Spanish language, the department offers a concentration in Spanish, a concentration in Applied Professional Spanish, as well as minors in Spanish and Spanish for Business. This new scholarship will honor the legacy and impact of Liliana and Marcelo Benveniste and support students as they pursue studies in the Spanish language.

Dean Kecia M. Thomas with Kim Hazelwood at the UAB Service Awards reception.Twenty-seven College of Arts and Sciences employees who have worked at UAB for 20 years or more were recognized at the UAB Service Awards reception on April 11, 2022. These dedicated colleagues were honored for their number of years of employment at UAB as of December 31, 2021.

The UAB Service Awards are given to active employees beginning at five years of employment and at each five-year milestone. Employees who reach 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years of service are invited to a reception on behalf of UAB President Ray L. Watts and presented with a service award pin, certificate, and a gift of gratitude.

This year, Dr. Vithal K. Ghanta, professor in the Department of Biology and co-director of the Undergraduate Immunology Program, was honored for 50 years of service to UAB. Dr. Gregory Pence, professor in the Department of Philosophy and director of the Early Medical School Acceptance Program, was honored for 45 years of service. Congratulations to all our colleagues for their dedication and commitment to the University’s mission and vision.

20-Year Recipients

• Kimberly H. Hazelwood, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office
• Erin Wright, Art and Art History
• Tanja Matthews, Chemistry
• Dr. Jacqueline Nikles, Chemistry
• Daniel L. Butcher, English
• Dr. Gale M. Temple, English
• Dr. Lourdes M. Sanchez-Lopez, Foreign Languages and Literatures
• Dr. Stephen J. Miller, History
• Dr. John Heith Copes, Criminal Justice
• Dr. Reinhard E. Fambrough, Music
• Dr. Gitendra Uswatte, Psychology

25-Year Recipients

• James R. Grimes, Advising
• Margaret Amsler, Biology
• Leslie C. Hendon, Biology
• Adriana S. Addison, Psychology
• Dr. Karlene K. Ball, Psychology
• Wanda R. Fisher, Psychology
• Pamela Y. Robinson, Psychology

30-Year Recipients

• Dr. Tracy P. Hamilton, Chemistry
• Dr. Kathryn D. Morgan, Criminal Justice and African American Studies
• Kimberly A. Schnormeier, Theatre

35-Year Recipients

• Dr. Edwin W. Cook III, Psychology
• Dr. Edward Taub, Psychology

40-Year Recipients

• Dr. Howard L. Irving, Music
• Dr. Franklin R. Amthor, Psychology

45-Year Recipient

• Dr. Gregory E. Pence, Philosophy

50-Year Recipient

• Dr. Vithal K. Ghanta, Biology

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) College of Arts and Science is offering two new minors for undergraduate students.

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration recently launched the Public Management and Policy Minor. According to Rob Blanton, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration (PSPA), “The department’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program has a long history of providing graduate and professional students some of the necessary skills to succeed in the management of public and nonprofit organizations, two large and vibrant sectors within our economy.” PSPA faculty reflected on the MPA program’s successes and established a clear goal for the new minor: to build some of the same key skills and competencies for undergraduate students. The minor can thus provide a strong foundation for future graduate work in public management or give students valuable skills to help them in their career journeys.

The College is also excited to announce the new Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Minor. This minor is focused on material, intellectual, sociopolitical, literary, and linguistic approaches to the Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. According to Walter Ward, Ph.D., professor in the Department of History, “Students will learn current theories and methods for working with a range of source materials and objects, from archaeological finds and architecture to historical documents and poetry.” The interdisciplinary program combines the fields of history, literature, archaeology, anthropology, art history, philosophy, cultural studies, economics, and more to understand the premodern world. All courses are taught by faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.

You can learn more about both programs by visiting the Undergraduate Course Catalog Addenda. Also, for more information about the Public Management and Policy Minor, you can email Dr. Blanton at rgblanton@uab.edu. For more information about the Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Minor, you can contact Dr. Ward (wdward@uab.edu) or Dr. Clements (jclements@uab.edu).