The Provost’s Awards for Faculty Excellence in Learning in a Team Environment honor University of Alabama at Birmingham faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to engaging UAB’s students in team-focused learning environments.
The awards are based on outstanding accomplishments in teaching and mentoring as demonstrated by any or all of the following:
- Invigorate student learning through the use of team-focused classroom methods
- Have helped increase the footprint of the QEP
- Establish clear expectations and maintain high standards for academic performance
- Prepare students for success in working in team environments, including team mechanics and conflict resolution
Award
Each selected faculty member honored receives a cash award and a plaque that recognizes his or her achievement at the UAB Expo Awards Ceremony on April 13, 2018.
Eligibility
All UAB faculty members are eligible.
Deadline and Procedure for Nomination
Nominations must be submitted by March 30, 2018. Any UAB student, faculty, staff, or community member may make a nomination by completing and submitting a short paragraph describing why the nominee is deserving of the award.
Selection Committee
The Offices of the Quality Enhancement Plan and the Center for Teaching and Learning will review nominations and make recommendations to the Senior Vice Provost.
Purpose
The President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance is given to a faculty member, staff member, or student who exemplifies and embodies the UAB core value of unity of purpose through shared governance which propels our institution to achieve excellence in all parts of its mission.
Criteria for Selection
The award criteria include the following:
- Demonstration of a strong commitment to shared governance and the UAB core value of unity of purpose
- Demonstration of collaborative dialogue and open communication leading to collective success
- Ability to work with multiple constituencies and bring about positive change
- Has not been selected for this award previously
Previous Recipients
Josh Carter
Ritika Samant
Daniel A. Givan
Frank Messina
Alecia Gross
Ginger Hattaway
Mike Wyss
David Rhodes
Nominations
Any member of the student body, faculty, staff, or alumni may make a nomination by completing and submitting, by the announced deadline, a nomination package consisting of:
- the attached nomination form Opens a PDF.
- an abbreviated biographical sketch of the nominee, limited to three pages
- a maximum of three letters of support
The nomination must clearly demonstrate that the nominee meets the selection criteria and eligibility requirements. An advisory committee composed of administrators, faculty, staff, and students shall review the nominations and advise the President about the strengths of the potential candidates for the award.
The President shall make the final determination of the recipient of the award.
Nomination packages should be emailed to Kay Kirk at kdkirk@uab.edu on or before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2025.
UAB’s 2016 Beckman Scholars Program Mentor Information
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has invited UAB to submit an application for a 2017 Beckman Scholars Program Award. The Beckman Scholars Program application is limited submission, by invitation only. UAB has successfully applied for a Beckman Scholars grant previously and Dr. Mike Sloane, Director of the University Honors Program, will again serve as Principal Investigator on UAB's application (email: sloane@uab.edu; Phone (205) 934-8733)
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the Beckman Scholars Program is to provide an in-depth, sustained undergraduate research experience in chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience, biological, and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects, for exceptionally talented, full-time undergraduate students at accredited US four-year colleges and universities; young people who ultimately will become prominent leaders in their scientific and professional pursuits. The Program’s financial support for a student and mentor over 15 continuous months of research, in conjunction with the Annual Beckman Symposium, offers an academically stimulating and unique educational experience.
PROGRAM AWARDS
Since 1998, 110 different universities or colleges have received Institutional Beckman Scholar awards, which have in turn supported 1,203 student and mentor teams. Each Institutional Award spans a three-year period, with 1-3 student/mentor teams selected by the institution each year depending on its Carnegie Classification.
Institutional 2017 Beckman Scholars Awards will be made to support approximately 10 universities and colleges, for an anticipated total of 60 undergraduate students over the three-year period. The Foundation plans to announce the awards in late December 2016.
Each Beckman Scholar will pursue an independent research project, under the auspices of an approved mentor. The amount of funding for the 2017 Beckman Scholars Program is $26,000; $21,000 specifically for the Scholar and $5,000 for the Scholar’s Mentor.
Beckman Scholars Program: Faculty Mentor
Scholar Mentorship Plan (SMP) - Mentor to develop & support the SMP,
- Outlining the Scholar/Mentor relationship,
- Detailing the collaboration between scholar, mentor & mentor’s lab,
- Defining the expectations of the Beckman Scholar, including but not limited to:
- Attendance at outside presentations/scientific symposia with the Mentor
- Pursuit of increased undergraduate journal publication rates by the Scholar & Mentor
- Outlining the anticipated results of the Scholar’s research
In order to be considered as a mentor for this year’s application, we need two items:
- A completed Mentor Data Sheet
- Mentor CV
Questions about UAB's Beckman Scholars Program or competitive renewal should be addressed to:
| Dr. Mike Sloane | or | Rebecca Freeman |
| sloane@uab.edu | rfreem2@uab.edu | |
| 934-8733 | 934-3228 |
Dr. Sam BrownEstablished in 2009, The Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award recognizes a UAB faculty or staff member who embodies Dr. Brown’s vision, character, and bridge-building talents which are vital to the university’s growth and success and who, like Dr. Brown, demonstrates a deep and abiding commitment to collaborating across campus that enhances the research and teaching activities of the university.
Dr. Sam Brown was uniquely talented in facilitating partnerships and nurturing positive relationships among faculty and staff across campus that were vital to the future of UAB. At the time, UAB was in its infancy, deeming Dr. Brown’s approach and attitude particularly impactful. He assisted center directors in planning, organizing, and implementing interdisciplinary research and training centers. He successfully assisted in developing grant applications for external funding. He also served on numerous center advisory and management committees. Dr. Brown’s influence in interdisciplinary research extended to the national level—he was the first non-clinician to be elected President of the American Association for Cancer Education; chaired the executive committee for the Health Sciences Consortium for Instructional Materials, served on the National Arthritis Advisory Board; and served on the advisory committee for the National Fund for Medical Education. He also was a member of the NIH Study Group that reviewed applications for Multipurpose Arthritis Centers.
Past Recipients
Dr. Tika Benveniste
2025Heersink School of Medicine
Dr. James Rimmer
2024School of Health Professions
Dr. Chris Minnix
2023Department of English & Blazer Core
Greg Pence
2022Department of Philosophy
Dr. Jeffery T. Walker
2020Department of Social Work
Dr. Barbara A. Gower
2019Department of Nutrition Sciences
Dr. Scott Phillips
2018UAB Center for Teaching and Learning
Dr. Patricia A. Patrician
2017UAB School of Nursing
Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra
2016UAB Department of Physics
Dr. Lisa Schwiebert
2015UAB Center for Teaching and Learning
Dr. Jack Lemons
2014UAB School of Dentistry
Dr. Jennifer Kilgo
2013UAB School of Education and Human Sciences
Dr. Cynthia Ryan
2013UAB Department of English
Dr. Diane Tucker
2012UAB Department of Psychology
Dr. Lou Bridges
2012UAB HSF - Rheumatology
Grow the Endowment
Please help us grow the Sam Brown Bridge Builder award fund to further foster interdisciplinary research and relationships.
For more information, contact Lisa Bristow.
lisabristow@uab.edu
205-934-7799
Nominations
Nominees should have demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to facilitating collaboration and partnership across campus in ways that enhance the research and/or teaching activities of the university. All full time UAB faculty and staff are eligible for this award.
The primary nominator should submit a letter describing the nominee’s sustained unselfish leadership in fostering the growth and/or development of interdisciplinary collaboration between two or more schools in ways that embodies the vision, character, and bridge-building talents vital to the future of UAB. The letter should describe the impact of the efforts on specific programs or collaborations. As described in the instructions two or more letters supporting the nomination and emphasizing the nominee’s contributions are required. At least one of those letters must come from outside the nominee’s primary school of appointment.
The recipient of the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award will be recognized at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and will receive a $2,500 cash award.
Nomination Process
Annual nominations for the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award open March 1 and close June 30.
To nominate an UAB faculty or staff member the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award, please provide the following required information:
- Cover Sheet with:
- Nominee's Name
- UAB Position
- Campus Address and Email
- At least three letters of support – Please Note: The letters of support are critical to the selection process
- One (1) of the letters of support should be from the primary nominator
- Two (2) or more equally thoughtful and carefully crafted supporting letters from across the campus
- The nominee's CV or resume is also required and should be emailed with the packet
For questions related to the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award, contact Office of the Provost at 205-934-0622 or by emailing provost@uab.edu.
The Ingalls/Alumni Award is presented annually to a full-time regular UAB faculty member who, throughout his/her career at UAB, has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to teaching. To receive the Ingalls/Alumni Award, the faculty must be a former recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and have served UAB for 20 or more years as a full-time regular faculty member.
How to Nominate
Submit required documents for nomination in electronic format via email to Jessica Eddings (Project Coordinator - Provost) at jeddings@uab.edu.
Nominations for the 2026 Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching open March 1 and close June 30.
The full list of eligible 2026 nominees will be made available soon.
Eligibility
Faculty may be nominated who meet the following criteria:
- must be a full-time regular faculty member of UAB who has served UAB for 20 or more years, and
- must be a former recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Please Note: Faculty who are eligible to be nominated for the Ingalls/UAB Alumni Award are announced in the summer. The full list of eligible 2025 nominees will be listed in the nomination form, available in the "How to Nominate" section on this page.
For questions related to the Ingalls/UAB Alumni Award, contact Office of the Provost at 205-934-0622 or by emailing provost@uab.edu.
Past Recipients
2025 - Ashita Tolwani
2024 - Lisa Willet
2023 - Tino Unlap
2022 - Jacqueline Nikles
2021 - Robin Lester
2020 - Jennifer Kilgo
2019 - Gustavo (Tavo) R. Heudebert
2018 – Michael E. Sloane
2017 – Robert Centor
2016 – Robert Centor
2015 – Joseph G. Van Matre
2014 – Pauline Jolly
2013 – Gregg Janowski
2012 – Alan Eberhardt
2011 – Robin Foley
2010 – Charles Watkins
2009 – Peter Anderson
2008 – Ferris J. Ritchey
2007 – Rosalia N. Scripa
2006 – S. Jean O'Neal