Written by: Stephen Yoder, J.D.
Updated by: Honors College News and Stories
Students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Honors College experienced philanthropy in action when Drew Langloh,
(Left to Right): Bailey Weismann, Anousha Raman, Chloe Mathers, Jonathan Mundy, Drew Langloh, Elizabeth McCarty, Timan Lewis, and Ju Hwan Bae. president and CEO of United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA), visited the honors first-year seminar, Philanthropy 101. As the first guest speaker of the semester, Langloh offered students an inside look at how United Way mobilizes community partnerships to address the most pressing needs of Birmingham’s six-county area.
Langloh has served as president and CEO since 2008 and explained the organization’s collaborative model for fundraising and accountability, emphasizing the importance of transparency and community engagement in building long-term impacts. He also provided an overview of UWCA’s mission, which distributes more than $28 million annually to support over 80 partner organizations and programs focused on improving health, education, financial stability, and access to essential services across the region.
Philanthropy 101 is taught by Stephen Yoder, J.D., credentialed course instructor in the Honors College. Through lectures and various guest speakers, the seminar introduces first-year honors students to Birmingham’s nonprofit sector and the process through which philanthropic funds are raised and distributed. At the beginning of the semester, students were divided into one of five teams with a goal of researching local human service organizations. At the end of the semester, each team will deliver a “Shark Tank” style fundraising pitch, and the class will collectively decide how to allocate real funds provided by anonymous donors.
Yoder is no stranger to the UAB community. He recently retired from two UAB positions: professor in the Collat School of Business and associate provost for Faculty Affairs. In addition to serving as an instructor in the Honors College, Yoder is a longtime volunteer with UWCA and serves with their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation for low- to moderate-income taxpayers.
