University of Alabama at Birmingham graduating senior Soundharya Ramanathan has been named 
Soundharya Ramanathan the UAB Honors College’s recipient of the 2025 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student. She will be acknowledged at the Honors College Medallion Ceremony in a special presentation.
Ramanathan credits her experiences and network of support from UAB faculty and the Honors College community to help reach her goals and pursue her interests, while exploring new opportunities. “My UAB experience would not be complete without the Honors College, and I feel so grateful to be recognized in this way,” Ramanathan said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the help I’ve received from the knowledgeable faculty, the amazing honors advisors, and the motivated student-leaders.”
As a double major pursuing a Personalized Path in the UAB Honors College, Ramanathan will graduate with the distinctions of High Distinguished Honors and Summa Cum Laude. She is earning a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in linguistics, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Her minors include communication management and chemistry. Every spring, UAB recognizes students who have won prestigious national honors, including fellowships and scholarships, university school awards, and student service awards. Schools and divisions at UAB submit names of students to be honored. Ramanathan was selected by the Honors College selection committee due to her continued academic success, leadership involvement at UAB and in the Honors College, and mentorship for fellow students.
Not only does Ramanathan strive towards excellence in the classroom, but she also finds time to serve in the community and through multiple leadership roles. In the UAB Honors College, she has served in many roles including as Student Mentor and Retreat Team (SMART) Leader to help lead sessions for first-year students during the Honors College New Student Retreat, and later as a SMART Leader Coordinator to help with the planning of the retreat. She currently represents the UAB Honors College as an Honors Ambassador at recruitment events and as part of recruitment initiatives for prospective students.
At the university-level, Ramanathan serves as a site leader with the Leadership and Service Council to help coordinate large-scale student service activities such as “Into the Streets” and “Rise Against Hunger,” College of Arts & Sciences Champion to assist with CAS recruitment efforts and messaging in the Dean’s office, and Health Policy Ambassador for the Lister Hill Center to advocate for increased arts curriculum in K 12 schools. She also works as an undergraduate researcher to help code the usage of deceptive language in college-based scenarios in Kelly Morrison, Ph.D.’s lab in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Communication Studies.
In addition to Ramanathan’s campus leadership roles, she serves in other capacities that makes a difference in the community. As a volunteer with the Children’s Harbor at Children’s of Alabama, she plans and creates seasonal arts & crafts activities for children and families. Since 2023, she works with Equal Access Birmingham to help fill patient prescriptions in the clinic dispensary.
“Soundharya is an inspiring role model to all of our honors students, and her many achievements are impressive,” said Shannon L. Blanton, Ph.D., dean of the UAB Honors College. “I have been honored to watch her growth throughout her time in the UAB Honors College, and she is an exceptional example of what our Honors College mantra means by ‘Set Your World on Fire’.”
As Ramanathan reflects on her collegiate journey, she is reminded of her first research conference as a UAB Honors College delegate at the 2024 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, California. “It was so incredible to learn about various disciplines of research occurring all over the country – from science, to humanities, to art,” Ramanathan said. “This opportunity allowed me to receive hands-on experience in the research field, as I got to showcase my own research through a poster presentation. It was also exciting to visit and explore a new city. I particularly enjoyed getting to know my fellow Honors College delegates, several of whom I built lasting friendships afterwards.”
As graduation nears, Ramanathan “feels more confident as a leader and communicator” due to the vast opportunities presented to her throughout the years from UAB and the Honors College. “These experiences have broadened my understanding of service, mentorship, and community,” Ramanathan said. “Being involved in these opportunities has allowed me to reflect on the ways I can leave a positive impact on my community. I’m reminded of the collective efforts and diverse perspectives that go into ensuring the well-being of individuals.”
With aspirations of leading a fulfilling career as a healthcare professional, Ramanathan plans to attend medical school to become a physician, specializing in women’s healthcare or family medicine, while teaching classes on health humanities or English as a second language in her spare time. However, her immediate plans include moving to Chicago, IL to work in the healthcare field and volunteer at local nonprofit organizations. “My future career as a health professional is one that will be filled with life-long learning, collaboration, and growth,” Ramanathan said.
Ramanathan will cherish her memories and time at UAB and wants to offer students – both current and prospective – advice on how to have a fulfilling collegiate career. “Go at your own pace — not at anyone else’s,” Ramanathan said. “Take the time to discover what you enjoy doing. I think one of the best forms of self-care is to invest in the things and the people that you love.”
