Demarcus Davis (left), an Army veteran who graduated with two accounting degrees from UAB, speaks with a staff member at Veteran Services.As UAB advances the Strategic and Unifying Campus Collaboration that Empowers Students to Succeed (SUCCESS) Initiative, Student Affairs is playing a central role in achieving the initiative’s goal of integrating and improving students’ experience throughout their time at UAB and beyond. The SUCCESS Initiative is UAB’s campuswide effort to unify and strengthen support services, ensuring every student has access to the programs, services and relationships they need to thrive.
Two key metrics that are measuring our progress toward those goals are increased participation in student support services and increased participation in programs such as internships, community engagement and undergraduate research. And every staff and faculty member can play a part in pointing students to these opportunities.
Are you familiar with the programs, services and partnerships at UAB that create supportive environments, high-impact experiences, strong relationships and coordinated services that empower students to succeed?
Take a few minutes to watch this new series of videos created by Student Affairs, which offer a human-centered view of the SUCCESS Initiative’s priorities in action. Five students share their stories, demonstrating how strategic investment in people, collaboration across units, and intentional support structures helped them overcome challenges, stay engaged and continue moving toward completion of their degrees.
Demarcus Davis: Barriers broken, dreams fulfilled
Demarcus Davis joined the U.S. Army after high school to provide a better life for his family. But after a devastating accident during training and an unfulfilling first foray into civilian work, he credits the team in Veteran Services with unwavering support from his application all the way to graduation with two accounting degrees and a career in Birmingham.
Hycall Brooks: Finding courage within a culture of care
Hycall Brooks transferred to UAB after his freshman year and found both a creative outlet and the courage to flourish through Student Media after discovering the office during UAB’s annual Connect Fest showcase.
Maisie Davis: Designing campus impact through collaboration
After graduating from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Maisie Davis discovered opportunities to showcase her talents, get hands-on experience with creative professionals and contribute to better health on campus through Wellness Promotion.
Elise Weatherly: Building strength, lifting others
Elise Weatherly found her place in the lab and a sense of community at UAB through Undergraduate Research and the university’s powerlifting student organization. She also helps fellow Blazers connect with each other and the Birmingham area through the Leadership and Service Council.
Yonica Marbury: Cultivating a sustainable future
While many college students head to the beach for spring break to unwind in the sun, Yonica Marbury had a different mission. Instead of lounging on the sand, she was knee-deep in saltwater, planting mangrove trees along Puerto Rico’s coastline through the Blazers on Break program from Student Involvement and Leadership.
These stories illustrate what can happen when students connect with caring staff, supportive environments and high-impact experiences. The next time you meet a student in a similar situation, you can help connect them to the support they need to succeed.