In May 1971, Bracie Watson, a senior majoring in biology, became the first Black student elected as president of the UAB Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA). According to the UAB Archives, Watson was most likely the first Black student in Alabama elected as the president of a student government association beyond the state’s historically black colleges and universities.
UAB’s USGA presidents continue to be changemakers: Tyler Huang, the 2020-21 president who graduated this spring with a bachelor’s in neuroscience and master’s in multidisciplinary biomedical science with a concentration in neuroscience, was a member of one of the fist cohorts to complete the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program. He also was instrumental in working with other student leaders ad UAB Information Technology in launching the mental health app B Well.
As a first-generation college student from a small Alabama town, Huang says he plans to pursue health advocacy opportunities post-college, an interest stoked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear more of Huang’s story in this video and UAB News.