Robert Corley, Ph.D., has been named director of the Global and Community Leadership Honors Program at UAB.

The Global and Community Leadership Honors Program is a new program designed to provide unique learning opportunities for students throughout their academic experience.

Students will be able to participate in special honors courses and learning experiences relating to global and community issues to prepare them for leadership roles.

For the past 14 years, Corley, an assistant professor of history, has directed the UAB Center for Urban Affairs. He has served on the honors council of the UAB Honors program since 1989.

“Dr. Corley’s experience with UAB and what the university seeks from its honors students make him a perfect choice to develop this initiative,” said UAB Provost Eli Capilouto, D.M.D.

“I want to thank and congratulate Dr. Philip Way (associate provost of Undergraduate Programs) and the entire search committee for their thorough and successful search.”

Corley earned his bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College and his master’s degree and doctorate in history from the University of Virginia.

Active in leadership roles throughout his career, Corley is on the Alabama Poverty Project Board, which he chaired from 1997-2004.

He is president of the Cahaba River Society Board and is a member of the Leadership Birmingham board and executive committee and the Region 2020 board.

He was a member of the Birmingham Board of Education for 10 years and its president from 1990-92. Corley was the regional director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews from 1984-93.

Corley also was a member of Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington’s Task Force that created and designed the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). In 1989, he became a founding member of the BCRI Board of Directors and its executive committee, serving as the board’s treasurer; his service on the BCRI Board ended in December 1999.