The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Office of the Provost is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Provost Faculty Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service at UAB. These prestigious honors celebrate faculty who exemplify the university’s mission through innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to academic excellence.
This year’s awardees represent the very best of UAB’s academic community. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members:
Ashita Tolwani, MD, MS, MSc, FASN – Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching
The Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching is presented annually to a full-time regular UAB faculty member who, throughout their 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.
Tolwani, a professor in the Heersink School of Medicine, has spent more than two decades shaping the future of nephrology through her innovative teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development. She is the founding director of the UAB CRRT Academy, the only national hands-on training course in continuous renal replacement therapy, and has received numerous accolades including the American Society of Nephrology’s prestigious Robert G. Narins Award for lifetime excellence in education. Her impact spans generations of students, fellows, and clinicians, and her dedication to advancing medical education continues to elevate UAB’s reputation as a leader in academic medicine.
Tolwani is celebrated by her nominators for her dedication to medical education and mentorship. Her innovative teaching methods, compassionate approach, and commitment to student success have left a lasting legacy across generations of learners. Her work not only advances clinical knowledge but also inspires future physicians to lead with empathy and integrity.
“Dr. Tolwani’s substantial and meritorious contributions toward the education mission have been vast and highly impactful, not only for our institution, but on the national and international levels as well,” said one nominator. “Throughout her 26 years on the faculty of UAB, she has been highlighted for her innovative teaching methods and skills, her ability to successfully convey difficult concepts to students and to enrich their learning process.”
Sarah Tucker, Ph.D. – Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award
Named in honor of civic leader and UAB champion Odessa Woolfolk, this award recognizes a faculty member who has made exceptional contributions to the community through service, outreach, and engagement.
Tucker, assistant professor in the School of Health Professions, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities. Her collaborative projects have bridged the gap between academic research and real-world impact, empowering local populations and fostering long-term partnerships that reflect UAB’s values of equity and inclusion.
Tucker’s work spans multiple sectors, including criminal justice reform, trauma-informed care, and occupational therapy. She has played a key role in organizing the Jefferson County Second Chance Hiring Fair, an initiative that connects formerly incarcerated individuals with employment opportunities. She also serves on the board of Redemption Earned, a nonprofit advocating for compassionate release of terminally ill prisoners, where she provides occupational therapy consultations and contributes to program development.
In addition to her clinical and academic contributions, Tucker has led trauma-informed training for organizations such as Prison Fellowship and Hope Inspired Ministries. She regularly volunteers at local shelters and reentry programs, and has developed student-led initiatives such as the Student Advocacy and Restorative Justice Club at UAB.
“Dr. Tucker is committed to serving others. Her list of volunteering activities is long, and this letter will merely touch on her commitment to others,” said one nominator. “Most exciting is that Dr. Tucker is not only committed to serving others but always seeks opportunities to engage her students in the activities of the different organizations she works with. This enrichment of the education of our students is one of the reasons many students choose UAB Occupational Therapy as the destination for their graduate studies.”
Tika Benveniste, Ph.D. – Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award
The Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award honors a UAB faculty or staff member who embodies Brown’s vision, character, and bridge-building talents which are vital to the university’s growth and success and who, like Brown, demonstrates a deep and abiding commitment to collaborating across campus that enhances the research and teaching activities of the university.
Benveniste, senior vice dean in the Heersink School of Medicine, is a visionary leader whose work has united researchers across diverse fields to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in biomedical science. Her ability to build bridges—between people, ideas, and institutions—has strengthened UAB’s research enterprise and expanded its global reach.
Benveniste’s career at UAB spans nearly four decades, marked by leadership roles that have shaped the university’s biomedical enterprise. As founding chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, she unified faculty across disciplines to create one of UAB’s most productive research departments. Her subsequent roles in research administration and strategic planning have facilitated cross-campus partnerships.
Benveniste has chaired or co-chaired more than 50 strategic committees, including the AMC21 Executive Research Steering Committee and the COVID-19 Research Task Force. Her efforts have led to the development of new academic programs, such as the Master’s in Biomedical and Health Sciences and the Cancer Biology undergraduate degree, and have supported collaborative recruitment and infrastructure initiatives across campus.
“Throughout her remarkable career, Dr. Benveniste has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to fostering interdisciplinary partnerships that have elevated UAB’s research and educational missions,” said one nominator. “As a scientist, department chair, and senior leader, she has consistently broken-down silos between schools and departments, creating innovative structures and programs that now define our institutional identity.”
These faculty members will be formally recognized at the Newly Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, October 22. The Office of the Provost looks forward to celebrating their achievements and the many ways they enrich our university and community.