Four individuals and one student organization were honored with the President’s Diversity Champion Award during a special gathering Feb. 15.

The annual award recognizes employees, students and organizations that have helped create a more culturally diverse, inclusive university community through their achievements. Nominations are solicited from the UAB community for all categories, and awards are given in each of five categories for projects or activities that best reflect the implementation of unit and/or campus diversity goals.

Congratulations to the 2018 recipients:

Edwin W. Cook III, Ph.D.
Faculty
College of Arts and Sciences

Edwin W. Cook III is the Director of UAB’s joint Department of Psychology / School of Medicine doctoral program in Medical/Clinical Psychology, which prepares students for careers in research and clinical care. He received his Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University and his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He completed his internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Florida before joining the UAB faculty in 1986. Since then he has also held visiting faculty and Fellow appointments at universities in Florida, Germany and Australia. At UAB he has served on the Faculty Senate and the IRB, as Vice Chair, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Honors Program Director in Psychology, as co-chair of the 2004 Quality Enhancement Plan Committee and as chair of the university-wide Quantitative Literacy Committee. He has served on multiple project review panels for the NIH and Veteran’s Administration, has held multiple leadership positions in the Society for Psychophysiological Research and has served as Associate Editor for the journal Biological Psychology. His research, which has been funded by multiple NIH grants, has focused on cognitive, behavioral and biological factors related to fear and anxiety as well as neural and behavioral processes related to addiction and obesity.

Sherri Moultrie, MA, CRC
Staff
Human Resources

Sherri Moultrie has been employed with The University of Alabama at Birmingham for ten years. She coordinates the AWARE (Always Working to Advocate, Retain and Employ) Program in Human Resources. The program is an innovative partnership between UAB and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Through the partnership, Sherri provides disability management services to job applicants and UAB employees whose job performance, job stability, or promotional opportunities are affected by a physical, mental, or emotional impairment. She coordinates a full scope of services, tailored to fit the needs of each employee and each department. Sherri graduated from UAB with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Sherri earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in 2004 from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Sherri is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Mikael Guzman Karlsson, Ph.D.
Graduate/Professional Student
College of Medicine

Mikael Guzman Karlsson was raised in a multi-cultural/lingual household by a Swedish mother and a Bolivian father. Although born in Skövde, Sweden he grew up in the Andean city of La Paz, Bolivia for most of his childhood. At the age of 13, Mikael and his family moved to the warm landscape of Southern California where his high school and college education instilled a keen interest in neuroscience and medicine. As an undergraduate student at the University of California Los Angeles, he double majored in Neuroscience and Physiological Science and minored in Scandinavian Studies. Mikael is presently completing his M.D. /Ph.D. training at UAB. His dissertation research in UAB’s Department of Neurobiology examined the role of transcriptional and epigenetic mechanism in learning and memory, neuronal plasticity, and Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment. Mikael's passion for pediatric medicine and neuroscience has inspired him to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in child neurology, where he plans to devote time to clinical practice, research, education, and mentorship. When not working in the hospital or the research laboratory, he enjoys playing the drums, attending concerts, and soccer.

Mugdha Mokashi
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts and Sciences

Mugdha Mokashi is a senior majoring in neuroscience while concurrently pursuing a fast-track masters in public health. She currently serves as the Undergraduate Student Government Association President and has held leadership roles in the past with student government, Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs, and other on-campus organizations. She is part of the Science and Technology Honors Program and is finishing a research thesis on the neurobiology of circadian rhythms in Dr. Karen Gamble’s lab through this program. After graduating this spring, Mugdha plans to attend medical school to pursue a future career in reproductive health practice and policy research.

UAB Student National Dental Student Association
Student Organization
School of Dentistry

The Student National Dental Association (SNDA) has a long history of working to increase the presence of underrepresented groups in dental schools. Founded in the 1970’s, the UAB chapter is dedicated to educating members in the social, moral and ethical obligations of the profession of dentistry. The UAB chapter is a strong inclusive chapter of diverse members working to improve the delivery of dental care to all people. Chapter members’ work in the community is recognized as they have received several national accolades. For example, chapter members include Albert Schweitzer Fellows, Colgate-Palmolive Pre-Doctoral Scholars, and American Dental Association Foundation’s Underrepresented Minority Scholars. In addition, members have been recognized for their local and national leadership positions that include SNDA President, Treasurer, Director of Regional Communications and Corporate Roundtable Representative. Lastly, in alignment with the SNDA’s mission, the UAB chapter is committed to promoting a viable academic and social environment for underrepresented students. Regardless of race, ethnicity, social or cultural differences, the goal of UAB SNDA is to ensure that every student feels included in a family of student dentists.

President’s Choice Unsung Diversity Champion

A new category of award was recognized this year at the event. The President’s Choice Unsung Diversity Champion award recognizes people who make a substantive yet unrecognized contribution to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion at UAB; a person whose bravery and courage is unknown or unacknowledged. Such individuals will inspire others to excellence.

Kathryn D. Morgan, Ph.D.
Faculty
College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Morgan is a full professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Director of the African American Studies Program at UAB. In addition, she is the Equity Advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Sociology from Texas Women’s University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology from Florida State University. Her research interests include corrections (specifically probation and parole), correctional health care policy, race and crime, and criminal justice policy. A recently developed line of research focuses on the death penalty and its application both nationally and in Alabama. Her expertise in criminal justice has informed the work of the UAB Forensic Science Institute. One of her most cited works examines The Impact of Race on Parole Decision- Making.