The UAB Office of the Provost has recognized five faculty members across the university for excellence in service learning, undergraduate research, education abroad, and core teaching.
The faculty excellence awards, supported by the UAB Office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research, Office of Education Abroad, and Office of the Blazer Core Curriculum, acknowledge extraordinary commitment to engaging UAB’s undergraduate students in research, creative activities, service learning and core teaching experiences. Faculty may be nominated by any UAB student, faculty, staff or community member.
Faculty awardees were honored at the UAB New Faculty and Faculty Recognition Reception held Oct. 13 at the Alumni House. Others recognized at the reception include recipients of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as awardees for three named provost awards: the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award (2026 recipient: Robert Kimberly, M.D.); the Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award (2026 recipient: Irfan Asif, M.D.); and the Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching (2026 recipient: Jason Kirby, Ph.D.)
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Service Learning
Kathryn Corvey, DrPH, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health; Program Director, B.S. in Public Health
“Katie represents a move in SOPH towards inclusive, impactful education for our growing undergraduate program and has a lasting impact on both students and fellow instructors alike. Her drive to make her courses accessible and community-driven exemplifies the values of service learning, as she combines research methods with community partnerships to teach students how research in action both operates, and can be used in their future careers. Her students leave her classroom not just with knowledge, but with skills to apply that knowledge in any industry within the field of public health and beyond.”
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research
Juhi Samal, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Heersink School of Medicine
“She is remarkable not only for her intellectual leadership but also for her mentorship. She takes the time to understand all her students’ strengths and goals, providing unique guidance to help us grow both as researchers and as professionals. Dr. Samal’s constructive feedback is always paired with encouragement, creating a balance that motivates to embrace challenges rather than fear them. Her welcoming approach makes it easy to seek advice, whether on experiments, career planning, or navigating the complexities of research, ultimately demonstrating a genuine investment in our success.”
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Education Abroad
Karmie M. Johnson, DNP, RN, PMHNP, CNE
Assistant Professor, Department of Family, Community & Health Systems, School of Nursing
Christina McClellan, MA, MS
Associate Professor, Department of Historical Collections, UAB Libraries; Curator of the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences
“Karmie and Christina were outstanding study abroad professors. They prepared us well for the abroad portion of the class, including education on how to navigate London as well as pertinent lessons on museums in London and a history of mental health healthcare. Before, during, and after the abroad portion of the class, both Karmie and Christina ensured that the class was engaging and interactive. Karmie and Christina were very kind and inclusive of all students in the program, and they were very thoughtful and intentional with everything they did. They made my experience abroad and, in the class, stellar.”
Read more about the London trip led by Johnson and McClellan in this story.
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Core Teaching
Jenna Reynolds
Instructor, Department of World Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences; Director, Language Resource Center and Departmental Technologies
“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Jenna for several years as a colleague in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. Throughout this time, I have been consistently impressed by her intellectual curiosity, dedication to her students, and leadership abilities. We have collaborated on many projects including conference presentations and curriculum for courses. Having worked with her to create course content, I know the reason for her popularity with students is that she provides engaging content that challenges students in a positive way.”