Michael Wilson has seen a lot of different sides of the University of Alabama at Birmingham: He has been a student and now an alumnus, an academic advisor, a staff member, and a volunteer. And now, 10 years into a career at his alma mater, Wilson is still looking for new challenges.
Wilson will start a new chapter in his UAB journey this December when he joins the UAB School of Engineering as the school’s new Director of Development. He will be just the fourth development officer in the history of the school.
“I am excited about joining the School of Engineering,” Wilson said. “The school is known for its world-class faculty, and now with a brand-new building in Gorrie Hall, we have an opportunity to attract even more students as well as companies and industry partners. There is so much potential to grow our fundraising, and I am really excited to be a part those efforts.”
Wilson’s ties to UAB predate his time as a student. An aunt, a cousin and his sister all graduated from UAB, and Wilson met his wife, Quilla, in a class during his first semester on campus. “It was the only Friday class I ever took at UAB, and I just happened to sit beside her the first day of class,” he recalled.
Wilson graduated from UAB with a degree in psychology in 2014. He worked as an academic advisor in the School of Education for several years before transitioning to development roles in the Honors College and the Collat School of Business. Most recently, he was the Associate Director of Development for Collat, where he increased portfolio giving by 340 percent and launched a Student Success Initiative.
“Being a UAB alumnus means the world to me,” Wilson said. “I feel UAB has been a hidden gem for the longest time, but now we have made a name for ourselves and not only in America, but around the world people now know about UAB. I often tell people, as UAB goes, Birmingham goes, and it’s been wonderful to see both UAB and Birmingham grow and change for the better.”
“Just minutes into our first conversation I could see that Michael shares UAB Engineering’s commitment to helping students succeed,” said SOE Dean Jeff Holmes, M.D., Ph.D. “It is exciting to add an accomplished development professional to our team who knows from personal experience the critical impact that scholarships, tutoring, teaching labs, and other efforts supported by philanthropy have on the lives of UAB students.”
During his time at UAB, Wilson has been active on professional committees and won numerous employee-recognition awards, such as Employee of the Week and Champion of Advancement.
Outside of work, he volunteers with local organizations and schools, including Blazer Kitchen, Jimmie Hale Mission and Putnam Middle School. Additionally, Wilson said he and his wife enjoy traveling and attending concerts, as well as dining out and exploring Birmingham with their rescue dog, Rocco.