All Recent News

Music alumnus supports Stevie Wonder tour, aims to build a life in music
For Alec Jones, music is more than a hobby—it’s a way of life.
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Madden-Lunsford celebrating release of new book
After nearly two decades of writing, reflecting, and editing, Kerry Madden-Lunsford is preparing to release her ninth book, Werewolf Hamlet, in February 2025.
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Dong’s UAB Expo experience represents undergraduate research excellence
Lilly Dong, a junior majoring in physics with a concentration in advanced physics, is addressing real-world challenges through impressive, interdisciplinary research. Recently, Dong earned second place in the Physical and Applied Sciences category at the Fall 2024 UAB Expo—a triannual event that celebrates excellence in research, creative activity, and scholarship at the undergraduate level.
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New endowed scholarship established to honor Marjorie S. Price
In June 2024, the Department of Philosophy established the Majorie Price Scholarship in Philosophy. Now, through a generous gift from Jane Laudon in memory of her sister Marjorie Price, the scholarship will be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year.
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Jeethandran reflects on experience at American Philosophical Association conference

Preserving Titusville’s history
My name is Donna Rencher, and I am a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, majoring in African American Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice.
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Explore the new strategic plan for the College of Arts and Sciences
Over the last 18 months, the College of Arts and Sciences partnered with a local firm, Clarus Consulting Group, to develop our new strategic plan for 2024-2028. I am happy to announce that the plan (“Forging Ahead”) has been approved, and it is now available on the College’s website.
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Social work alumna gives back to the community, emphasizes kindness
Shakeitha Tatum grew up in the Titusville and Ensley neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. Although she often saw the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus, her most vivid memory of the University is attached to a surprising venue: a nearby grocery store.
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Department of Computer Science announces Bridge to Cyber program
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Computer Science is launching an innovative new program titled, “Bridge to Cyber,” an opportunity to get a head start in cyber security education without prior background.
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Carlisle shares impactful stories through films
Oliver Carlisle, an anthropology major with minors in women and gender studies and film, is preparing to graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in December 2024. Throughout their time at UAB, Carlisle embraced opportunities to combine multiple disciplines and apply that interdisciplinary learning into real, tangible outcomes.
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Traci Jones keeps history alive as Park Ranger for A.G. Gaston Motel
That is what University of Alabama at Birmingham alumna Traci Jones is able to provide as Park Ranger for the A.G. Gaston Motel, located within Birmingham’s Civil Rights District. Jones, who graduated with a degree in African American Studies in 2016, offers an informative look into the past through her role with the historic site.
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2024 recipient of the Ireland Award for Scholarly Distinction is Kevin McCain
When Kevin McCain, Ph.D., first visited the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus back in 2012, he felt an immediate connection to the city of Birmingham.
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Schmidt leads with curiosity
Joanna Schmidt likes solving problems. Big, complex, challenging problems. That might explain why she is thriving in her role as an engineer at NASA, a job where she gets to regularly use the problem-solving skills she gained from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physics.
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Sarah Atkinson has had psychology on her mind since an early age
“I was always an existential-type kid,” said Atkinson. “I enjoyed psychology because it’s essentially the study of humans and human behavior, and how everything interacts with one another from a psychological perspective. I found that fascinating. I wanted to study that and learn more about it, and eventually be able to help people who are going through very difficult times in their life.”
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Buchwalter’s time at UAB has led to a variety of pursuits, from teaching to TikTok
“There was just something about her raw curiosity and desire for knowledge that made teaching something I wanted to pursue,” said Buchwalter, who went on to major in history—with a double minor in philosophy and criminal justice—and later earn a master’s in social science education. “I absolutely fell in love with working with those kids, so I pivoted into education.”
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CAS Graduate Research Day spotlights research and the changing landscape of graduate education
On November 20, 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its first-ever Graduate Research Day at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alumni House.
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Meet the 2024 – 2025 CAS Champions
The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 CAS Champions.
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Anthropology student using skills in the community
The following is a guest piece written by anthropology student Kizzi Frisby. The College of Arts and Sciences occasionally invites students to author reflections on their experiences in the classroom and in the community.
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Communication studies grad Zach Moore captures impactful stories for Immune Deficiency Foundation
How do you ask somebody questions about the worst experience of their life, all while filming their response? That was the dilemma facing 2014 University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate Zach Moore recently as he created a documentary in his role as Communications Manager of Digital Media for the non-profit Immune Deficiency Foundation.
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Department of Mathematics sophomore is on the fast track to success
Kiersten Ratcliff is all-in on mathematics. Since choosing to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her studies, Ratcliff—a sophomore in the Department of Mathematics Fast Track Program—has been exploring the many research and mentorship opportunities the department has to offer.
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UAB’s new music therapy program is pitch-perfect for founding Director Ja’Bria Barber
Earlier this year, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Music announced a new music therapy concentration. The news hit all the right notes for Ja’Bria Barber, Ph.D., so, even though she has no connections to the Birmingham area, she left her home near Charlotte, North Carolina, in August to join UAB as the founding Director of Music Therapy on the university-side of campus.
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Sanogo found a home at UAB
While growing up in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, Fatoumata Sanogo, Ph.D., did not enjoy school. In fact, she actively disliked it. That all shifted when she enrolled in a boarding school per her parents’ request.
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Career of Southern Research’s Rebecca Boohaker was developed in a UAB lab
Like many people, Rebecca Boohaker, Ph.D., had a part-time job in high school dealing with dishes. But instead of food dishes in a restaurant, Boohaker was handling petri dishes in the microbiology lab of University of Alabama at Birmingham professor John Kearney, Ph.D.
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Meet the College of Arts and Sciences USGA Senators
Meet the student senators representing the College of Arts and Sciences in the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA)!
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Twenty CAS faculty members receive promotions
The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to announce that 20 faculty members across ten departments have been awarded promotions (including one faculty member who also was awarded tenure).
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College of Arts and Sciences hosts symposium focused on health humanities
On September 27, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences hosted a half-day Health Humanities Symposium for faculty members and graduate students.
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UAB’s Department of Communication Studies remembers Dr. Larry Powell

CAS alumni shine at annual awards dinner
On September 19, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s National Alumni Society hosted its 2024 Alumni Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting at the UAB Alumni House.
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Department of Theatre welcomes middle and high school teachers to campus
Sometimes, a brief conversation can make a big difference.
For Department of Theatre Chair Kelly Allison, a quick chat with Jamie Stephenson, chapter director for the Alabama Educational Theatre Association (aka “Alabama Thespians”), sparked an invitation that will likely benefit hundreds of middle and high school students for years to come.
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Upcoming interdisciplinary forums to honor the life and legacy of Theodore Haddin
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences has selected five presentations for the 2024-2025 Theodore Haddin Interdisciplinary Forum Series (also known as “Haddin Forums”).
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Philosophy alumna brings Southern Philosophy to Boston
Liza Thomas wants to become a philosopher. She graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from the Department of Philosophy in 2023 and is now applying for graduate philosophy programs to achieve her goal.
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New B.A. in Human Rights seeks to equip students with skills needed to make a difference
University of Alabama at Birmingham students will have even more opportunities to engage with the community and human rights thanks to the new Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights (HRT) launching this fall.
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Summer 2024 photo recap
Throughout Summer 2024, faculty, staff, and students across the College of Arts and Sciences facilitated camps and on-campus experiences for middle school, high school, and college students.
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Mollica finds a new career path and support through the Department of Computer Science
“It is never too late to start something new,” said Mollica, a senior earning a B.A. in Computer Science—and a Minor in Business—who will graduate in August 2024. “When you say ‘yes’ … opportunities open to you that you can’t even imagine in your wildest dreams.”
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Social Work Faculty News
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Social Work would like to congratulate Mary Jacque Carroll and Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Ph.D., on their successful promotions! During the fall semester of 2024, Carroll will be promoted to associate professor, while Hitchcock will assume the title of professor.
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Social Work welcomes Drs. Kun Wang and Jay O’Shields
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Pangborn selected as new chair of the Department of English
Matthew H. Pangborn, Ph.D., will serve as the next chair of the Department of English in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences.
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Henrich looking forward to new home for the Department of Psychology
On June 28, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham broke ground on the new UAB Biomedical Research and Psychology Building.
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College of Arts and Sciences faculty reflect on Humanities Building
Some know it as the Humanities Building, others simply refer to it as “Building Three.” Regardless of what you call it, the building has served the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus well for the past five decades.
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