S P R I N G 2 01 4
FERGUSON STUDENT CENTER EXPANDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STU DEN T A F FA I RS sa.ua.edu
Mark D. Nelson, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost Sara A. Hartley
Assistant to the Vice President for External Affairs Editors
Sara A. Hartley and Jessie Patterson Jones Writers
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Sara A. Hartley Jessie Patterson Jones Sam Nadolski Kristin Nelson Paige Watson Deanne Winslett Graphic Design
Nick Thomas Designs Photography
Miriam Brant Jeff Hanson Jessie Patterson Jones Matthew Murro Issue No. 7
Capstone is published in the Spring and Fall by the Division of Student Affairs. Address correspondence to: The University of Alabama Student Affairs Box 870301 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
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A Message from the Vice President
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Ferguson Center and Career Center Expand
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Student Spotlight: Allie Hulcher
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Community Service Center: Becoming the Change
10-11
Staff Spotlight: Steven Hood
12-13
Campus Veterans Association: Taking Care of Their Own
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For address changes, alumni notes or story ideas, email studentaffairs@ua.edu.
UA LEADS: Leadership Conference Inspires Students
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Creating Capstone Connections: Neil and Jamie Koonce
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The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity educational institution/employer.
2013 Gifts to Student Affairs
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‘Brain Matters’ Takes Over Air Waves
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UA in the Community: Dinner with Strangers
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2013: Year in Review 2 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
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a message from THE VIC E PR ES I DE N T
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,
This is an exciting year for the Division of Student Affairs! 2014 will mark the opening of our beautifully remodeled and expanded Ferguson Student Center, which will include a brand new state-of-the-art Career Center. This update will allow us to increase our outreach to employers and students as we focus on career placement and training. In addition, Presidential Village II residence hall will open this August, expanding student resident space by 871 beds. Within that community, a brand new Student Activity Center will open and provide students with recreation and fitness facilities and grab-and-go dining services while becoming the new home to First Year Experience and Parent Programs, Housing & Residential Communities and UA’s rowing team. At the same time our facilities are expanding, Student Affairs has implemented a variety of new programs and resources this year, including: a campus-based session of The LeaderShape Institute which will launch this May, the inaugural UA LEADS (Leadership, Education, Action & Diversity Summit), and the campus-wide implementation of a Co-Curricular Transcript allowing students to track and officially document their out-of-class learning and experiences. As you explore this issue of Capstone, I hope you are inspired by the stories of our growth, our students and our alumni. These stories are a direct result of the dedication and support of our staff, alumni and friends who understand the value and mission of UA’s Division of Student Affairs. Thank you for being a part of the UA family! Sincerely,
Mark D. Nelson Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost
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UA’s CAMPUS LIVING ROOM UA’s Ferguson Student Center undergoes renovation and expansion to accomodate growth.
Center, additional meeting rooms, and a more centralized location for student involvement opportunities and resources.”
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Carl Bacon, director of the Ferguson Student Center, said he is looking forward to having additional meeting rooms when the building returns to service this fall. “It’s going to allow us to serve students a lot more effectively,” he said. “We have not had an addition in quite a while, and this will help us to serve more students. The last time the Ferg underwent a renovation, UA had 19,000 students on campus. Now we are at 35,000.”
n average, more than 21,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors make their way through the Ferguson Student Center each day – which means more than 5 million people visit the hub of campus affectionately known as “the Ferg” each year. Following a $25 million update that will be completed in August, the most-utilized facility at UA will be ready to make its latest mark on student life at the Capstone. To better serve the campus and community, the Ferguson Student Center is undergoing a 75,000-squarefoot addition and a 100,000-square-foot renovation. The construction of the addition began in July 2013, expanding the building outward on the south side. Earlier this spring, the Ferg officially began renovations, with dining locations, the Supe Store and Ferguson Mail Center remaining open. “The Ferguson Student Center is the true hub of student life at the Capstone, and the expansion and renovation will only enhance our students’ out-of-class experience,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost Dr. Mark Nelson. “Students will benefit from a new state-of-the-art Career
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Looking out the window of Bacon’s office before the renovation began, visitors could see the old structure and the new one begin to meet in perfect harmony. It seems only fitting for a building that, which originally opened in 1971, has been flexible in meeting the needs of UA students over the years. “There have been many additions and changes to the Ferguson Center since its opening, and one of the strengths of the building has been that it has an array of columns that support the structure and lets everything inside be moved,” Bacon said. Bacon said the progress on the building has always been part of the campus plan as UA grows. He recalled a conversation he had with former UA President and current UA System Chancellor Dr. Robert E. Witt shortly after he joined UA. “We
were discussing the growth of campus, and he said we first have to address where students live, then where they study, and then where they meet and socialize,” Bacon said. “Now we are in that third phase, with the progress of the Ferguson Center and the Student Activity Center.” “It’s just a very exciting time for us. It’s exciting to see that the Ferguson Student Center is still a priority to the UA campus. It’s still the busiest building on campus.” Student excitement has been building as construction has continued. “I think it is going to look amazing when it’s done,” said Monsurat Olugbode, a senior majoring in advertising. “The plans are beautiful, and it will give students more room to breathe and more dining options. It seems like all of the resources students need will be under the Ferg’s roof again, which makes things so convenient.” For the tens of thousands of faculty, staff and students who eat, work and spend free time in the Ferg, the reopening of the building is highly anticipated. “We are a home away from home for the students,” Bacon said. “We are that grand central station. We support students who live on campus, students who commute and non-traditional students. It’s a great place to study, to rest, to eat, to re-energize, and to get some business done.”
On average, more than 21,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors make their way through the Ferguson Student Center each day – which means more than 5 million people visit the hub of campus affectionately known as “the Ferg” each year.
The new and improved Ferguson Student Center features a grand hall (left), which will serve as a focal point for the building. Inside there will be additional common space so the Ferg remains the beloved living room of campus. The east entrance to the Ferguson Student Center (right) and a larger view of the project highlight the new look of this campus hub.
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“The Ferguson Student Center is the true hub of student life at the Capstone, and the expansion and renovation will only enhance our students’ out-of-class experience.” –Dr. Mark Nelson The new Career Center will feature 18 interview rooms which will provide more space and flexibility for both meetings and interviews.
CAREER CENTER EXCITED FOR NEW HOME The department responsible for opening many doors for both students and alumni to internships, jobs and a variety of industries will find itself in new surroundings this fall as well. The Career Center is among the many Student Affairs departments that will have new facilities upon the completion of the Ferguson Student Center. When Career Center Executive Director Travis Railsback and his staff move into their new office in August, they will have double the space of their former home. “Not only is the space significantly larger, but the new configuration will greatly enhance our ability to serve students, employers and alumni,” Railsback said. The Career Center works to maximize career development and career
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opportunities for both students and alumni. The staff provides career education programming, assessment and counseling, and serves as a liaison to business, government and nonprofit organizations looking to build relationships with and recruit UA students and alumni.
“Not only is the space significantly larger, but the new configuration will greatly enhance our ability to serve students, employers and alumni.” -Travis Railsback “Our all-new Career Center has allowed us to be very intentional about every facet of the facility,” Railsback said. “The space will not only be great to work in from a staff perspective, but will — more importantly — allow us to provide students, employers and alumni exceptional career services.” Railsback and his staff members are
excited to put the new facility to use in the upcoming school year; they know that what the new space will allow them to do is most important. “While having an attractive physical facility is important, what actually happens in the space is much more critical,” he said. “The layout will allow a number of key career-related activities to take place simultaneously. At any given time, students may be meeting with career consultants, groups may be taking part in educational programming and employers may be interviewing students. I really foresee the space being a very dynamic hub of activity.” “The Career Center plays a pivotal role in helping thousands of students explore, prepare for and ultimately connect with career opportunities annually,” Railsback said.
The new Career Center layout will allow numerous activities to take place simultaneously, which will increase the number of students and employers that can be served.
SUPPORT THE CAREER CENTER There are individual and corporate naming opportunities within UA’s new state-of-the-art Career Center. Please contact: External Affairs at 205-348-6275 for more information on how you can help build successful careers.
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MAKING A MARK
ALLIE HULCHER SENIOR IMPACTS UNIVERSITY RECREATION’S MARKETING
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llie Hulcher, from New Market, Ala., faced an easy decision growing up she considered her new college home. With an interest in writing for a magazine or newspaper one day, she was drawn to The University of Alabama due to its respected journalism program. Hulcher, a double major in journalism and English, credits the University and her involvement in Student Affairs with her success at the Capstone over the past four years. Currently serving as University Recreation’s marketing assistant, Hulcher combines her love of photography with her student position as she photographs events for the department, manages social media accounts and generates various stories for their website. Before her time working in University Recreation, Hulcher seized the opportunity to work and intern at other media outlets in Tuscaloosa. For Hulcher, this included working at The Crimson White, The Tuscaloosa News and Mosaic Magazine. Hulcher, now a senior, admits that
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during her freshman year she did not visit the Rec as often as she’d like, but after beginning work there, she described how staff members made influential and lasting impressions on her. “My co-workers at the Rec are positive and energetic, and it’s rubbed off on me,” she said. “Working at the Rec has definitely made me more fitness-minded.” As the marketing assistant, Hulcher often finds that the boundaries of journalism and marketing mix throughout her workload assignments and many extracurricular activities. “Journalism students often joke that marketing is the dark side of media, because journalism is supposed to expose truths and marketing’s goal is to make something appear flawless to consumers,” she said. “But since starting my job at the Rec, I’ve realized that if you admire the company you work for, and believe in its goals, you can’t help but want to share information about it with everyone.”
Her experiences at UA, as well as her involvement, have prepared her for the future. The University has also given Hulcher the chance to study abroad in different countries this past year, including both Spain and Portugal with the journalism department’s Alpine Living magazine and Oxford, England with UA’s Honors College. Staying busy and positive are two things Hulcher credits to her personal and academic success. Hulcher’s worldly travels and passion for writing and photography have not only been enhanced through all that the University has to offer to its students, but they have been enriched tremendously as well. Hulcher’s service and commitment to programs sponsored by The Division of Student Affairs are a true testament to the Capstone’s opportunities and the potential it provides to students.
“Since starting my job at the Rec, I’ve realized that if you admire the company you work for, and believe in its goals, you can’t help but want to share information about it with everyone.” -Allie Hulcher
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UA’S COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER Becoming the Change “Meaningful Service, Measurable Change”
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forward progress as the Community Service Center creates programs in order to help create a better UA community and a greater global community.
Along with the new motto, the CSC adopted a new vision statement, promising: “To cultivate a culture that produces committed and engaged citizens that understand their role in creating a better society.” Director Courtney Thomas said this vision sets
Thomas came to UA in 2013 and has been working to help the CSC make a difference in the city, state and beyond. One of her initial steps to accomplish this involved outreach to develop student action teams that focus on different community sectors. Seven “action teams” are being formed to focus on student service opportunities, including poverty, lifespan, education, Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and Campus Kitchen. The development of these teams will help promote education and awareness for each area, while allowing students to choose service activities based on their passion or interest.
niversity of Alabama students who want to become more involved with giving back to their community will have more opportunities than ever with UA’s, Community Service Center (CSC). The Division of Student Affairs Community Service Center is changing and adding to their programming to allow students new and different service and engagement opportunities. The CSC is promoting these additions to students with their new motto, “Meaningful Service, Measurable Change.”
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“Every month we want to highlight a particular service area and show students why they should serve their communities,” said Thomas. “This also gives more meaning to the service they are doing.” Campus Kitchen is a new initiative that has sparked the interest of many students. The outreach is used to help combat hunger by working with dining services to use excess food as meals to give to those in need. The program will begin by donating food once per week, with plans to grow and donate more frequently. “The idea with Campus Kitchen is that it allows students to learn about the operations of a complex service project, while at the same time being able to personally interact with the people to whom the project is geared,” said Chisolm Allenlundy, a UA student and assistant director of hunger and homelessness.
The Community Service Center staff members hope these changes will bring more exposure to students on how they can become involved within their UA community. In August, the CSC will help bring a service aspect to Camp 1831, a 3-day program for freshman and transfer students centered around adventure, leadership, service, history and tradition. Thomas said that if first-year students have a positive experience with service early in their careers, it will lead them to want to become more involved. With this experience, these incoming freshmen can become engaged citizens. Once they graduate, they leave UA with the skill set to lead and a mindset to serve. “If students are exposed to service in our community, when they graduate they can continue their service experiences in their new communities,� Thomas said.
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
CREATING COMMUNITY:
UA’s Executive Director of Housing Focuses on Students
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ith more than 14 years’ experience in student housing, Dr. Steven Hood is a master of managing multiple demands, projects – and people. In his role as executive director of UA’s housing and residential communities, he gets to work with students, construction and renovation projects, budgets, a large team and more. Hood said the impact that housing and residential communities has on students’ daily lives drives him to give students the best on-campus experience possible each and every day. “Much of what we do in HRC is try to help students, and new students in particular, find where they fit at The University of Alabama,” Hood said. “We do this by simply exposing them to the nearly countless options to become involved on campus and this is accomplished primarily through relationships.” In many ways, Hood’s work life resembles his family life. He has been married to his wife, Tiffany, for 18 years, and they have three daughters – Kyra, 14; Ashley, 12; and Caroline, 10. “I think what we try to do in HRC is quite similar to what most any parent does for their children. We are involved in everything from crosscountry to dance now, so we are on the run quite literally,” Hood said. “There is always something to do. We enjoy fostering the girls’ interests. These activities can not only build social networks, but enhance selfconfidence that we hope will have a lasting impact throughout our girls’ lives.” It is that attitude and drive to help better the lives of all students on campus that has helped Hood make his mark in Student Affairs at The University of Alabama since his arrival in 2011. Hood, however, took a back road into his career in higher education, originally having no intention of pursing a career in the
field. “I started asking myself what I enjoyed up to this part of my life, and I started thinking about my college experience,” he said. “It was appealing to me. Since I had been a resident advisor, housing was my logical first step to get my foot in the door in higher education.” After turning his search to higher education, Hood landed a job at Samford, where he spent four years, before moving to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga as the director of housing for nine years.
“Steven is a true leader within our division. He brings a wealth of experience from various institutions and is able to guide high-level strategic planning efforts while remaining approachable, engaged, and focused on students.” -Dr. Mark Nelson Hood became interested in working at UA because his wife grew up in Gordo, Ala., and had family close by. While family connections were part of Hood’s interest, the other came from the career challenge that UA presented. “I had spent most of my career working at small to midsize institutions, and I wanted to see what it was like working at a larger research institution,” he said. “The growth was appealing and exciting.”
Dr. Steven Hood, executive director of Housing and Residential Communities
exciting as we look at the possibilities and what can best serve our students and help them be successful,” he said. “We want to design facilities and programs to help our students be the best they can be at UA, from the time they are freshmen and sophomores to the time they walk across the stage and graduate.”
Hood’s impact has been felt by many, including UA’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost Dr. Mark Nelson. “Steven is a true leader within our division,” Nelson said. “He brings a wealth of experience from various institutions and is able to guide high-level strategic planning efforts while remaining approachable, engaged, and focused on students.” As he looks ahead to the future of UA and HRC, Hood said he is excited to take the next steps needed. “I think designing the next phase of housing is SPRING2014 | 13
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t The University of Alabama, anything is possible if students have a passion and a desire to see it happen. To see such determination in action, one needs to look no further than the Campus Veterans Association, which began as a group of students who saw an opportunity to provide unique resources for student veterans and service members. These students served as catalysts to the formation of a new department within the Division of Student Affairs. In 2009, several students sought to develop a group to provide information and support for veterans and service members on campus. They began the process of registering as a student organization with the department of Student Involvement and later became 14 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
the Campus Veterans Association (CVA). The camaraderie and assistance found within the CVA led to the development of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA) within the Division of Student Affairs. The CVA’s mission is to provide military veterans, dependents and survivors with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed while attending The University of Alabama and upon graduation. The CVA provides a support network for these individuals, a social experience that builds on the bonds forged during service, and a voice that advocates for the military community. The group’s motto says it all: “Taking care of our own.”
Some veterans find it difficult to shift from active duty service to full-time academia, said Will Suclupe, the graduate advisor and former president of the CVA. He explained that finding somewhere to fit in when he first arrived at UA would have been much more difficult without his involvement with CVA. After joining the group, Suclupe found a sense of fellowship that was similar to what he experienced with service members in his past. “CVA gave me that community here when I felt isolated,” said Suclupe. “I had some transition difficulties, but the CVA provided me with friends first and foremost, with life-long relationships, and the ability to instill some catered leadership roles within the civilian sector.”
Current CVA president Jesse Flagg shared a similar story after transferring to The University of Alabama from a small college in Arizona. “I found out about the CVA, and basically gained an instant group of friends who I could hang out with who had military experiences similar to my own,” said Flagg, a senior majoring in kinesiology. “They understood the way I looked at life and my own perspectives. From there, I knew this organization was something that I believed in, and I knew I wanted to become an officer and help the organization grow.” Flagg said his main responsibilities as president are to follow the by-laws of the student organization and to make sure that the vice president, secretary, treasurer, officers and committee chairs have tasks and resources to fulfill those responsibilities. He also works to plan the CVA’s community service projects and raise awareness for the group. CVA members participate in several community service projects and outreach events. They have an annual CVA Golf Tournament and a 5K. The group also worked to clean up a local cemetery after the April 2011 tornado. This project was dedicated to cleaning and glorifying a cemetery that contained World War I, World
War II, Vietnam and Korean War veterans. The CVA also partners with the VMA department each year to participate in events throughout the week of Veteran’s Day. While providing peer-to-peer support on campus, the group also makes a difference in the community.
Both the VMA and the CVA cater not only to veterans and service members, but also to dependents, which include spouses and children of service members and veterans. There are approximately 600 veterans and 1,500 dependents enrolled at UA, including individuals taking classes overseas.
The student organization works in tandem with the department of VMA, and the two share many of the same goals and objectives. However, the office of the VMA provides additional resources to student veterans and service members, such as textbook rentals, educational assistance and help processing G.I. Bills. While some responsibilities overlap between VMA and the CVA, each organization plays a different role in the lives of veterans, service members and dependents on campus.
The Campus Veterans Association strives to take care of its own, just as The University of Alabama Division of Student Affairs works to ensure that each of its students has adequate resources and experiences to enrich the collegiate experience. The CVA is yet another example of how University faculty, staff and administration can adapt to the needs of its students and find ways to improve the services offered at the Capstone.
“The CVA is a voice for the students,” said Alex Karagas, assistant director of Veteran and Military Affairs. “It gathers the concerns and highlights of its students and provides a social outlet for people transitioning from military to academic life. The role of VMA is more administrative. We are all about student learning and helping with their educational transition.”
To learn more about the CVA, visit their Facebook page (University of Alabama Campus Veterans Association) or call the department of Veteran and Military Affairs at 205-348-0983.
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UA LEADS: INAUGURAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE INSPIRES
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or junior Miya Ball, leadership is a skill that has always come easy. But as she nears the completion of her college career at The University of Alabama, she realizes that the tangible leadership skills learned in college will put her ahead in her later career. After being nominated by Student Affairs’ department of First Year Experience to attend the Inaugural UA LEADS (Leadership, Education, Action and Diversity Summit), her future career in exercise and sport science is becoming a reality, and she understands much of the
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preparation for her future comes from opportunities beyond the classroom. “The conference will help me in my future career in so many ways,” said Ball, who was one of more than 170 students who participated in the program sponsored by Student Leadership. “As a junior, I learned things that will not only be helpful in my personal life but in my participation as a member and leader in the groups I’m involved in. As I work toward my future, I realize that I should consider everything a learning experience.”
UA’s department of Student Leadership recently realized structural changes that place more emphasis on student leadership development. UA LEADS was the first campus event sponsored by the new area. The event provided networking opportunities for student leaders from all across campus and skillbuilding workshops offered by faculty, staff and students who graduated from the national LeaderShape Institute®. Students helped plan and facilitate the conference along with the department.
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STUDENTS TO ACT “By hosting UA LEADS, we hope that students were introduced to new ideas of what leadership is and how they can be a leader in their everyday life. In addition, we encouraged attendees to consider diversity and engage in meaningful dialogue with their peers,” explained Kaitlin Hartley, coordinator of leadership programs. Workshops varied in topics but were centered on four main themes: leadership development, foundations of education, social justice advocacy, and diversity awareness. Students had
the opportunity to pick from a variety of sessions to tailor their leadership development experience to their own individual goals.
“I learned things that will not only be helpful in my personal life, but in my participation as a member and leader in the groups I’m involved in.” -Miya Ball
“The breakout sessions were fantastic,” said Tanner Hallman, a sophomore from Arab, Ala. “I was able to select sessions that were directly applicable to me. I’m trying to break into leadership roles, so I chose breakout sessions that helped me learn about what kind of leader I am and how my personality will mesh with those around me.” Keynote speakers at the event were also inspiring to student attendees. Drew Dudley, chief catalyst of Nuance Leadership, opened the conference with a message about
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“Everyday Leadership.” The concept is simple—create opportunities to live up to your own values and live them out everyday—but the message was impactful. Dudley has spoken to more than 100,000 people worldwide and is most well known for his TED Talk about “Lollipop Moments.” After his opening presentation, the energy in the room was contagious as student leaders from all corners of campus came to the realization that every moment counts and that true leaders create moments where people feel they are better off after interacting with you. “He brought everyone’s focus to everyday leadership and how we are all leaders in one way or another,” said Hallman. “This realization is so important because we don’t all have to be a CEO of a major corporation or a politician to be leaders. He redefined the way I look at leadership entirely.” Although this was the first year to host UA LEADS on campus, the success of the program and feedback from students is promising as Hartley and her team look toward the future. “We hope that UA LEADS will become an annual tradition for our campus and will continue to grow in student attendance. As we look toward the future, we are considering expanding to become a regional conference, giving our students the opportunity to engage with peers from surrounding institutions.” The students who attended agree that anyone could benefit from the program. “I would absolutely recommend this conference to other students,” explained Hallman. “Being around like-minded students was extremely refreshing and reminded me of how much UA students care about the world around them.”
Top: Stan Pearson speaks about diversity at UA LEADS. Middle: Students listen as they learn about leadership. Bottom: Participants could choose from a variety of sessions which sparked their interest. 18 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
“I would absolutely recommend this conference to other students. Being around like-minded students was extremely refreshing and reminded me of how much UA students care about the world around them.” -Tanner Hallman
UAStudentLeadership @UALeadership Maximizing student learning at The University of Alabama (205) 348 - 2836 • leadership.ua.edu
Halle Lindsay Thankful to hear @NuanceDrew lecture about leadership, determined to make an impact for others and add value to life. #UALEADS14 Nichole Dennis Truly an amazing experience today at #UALEADS14 So proud of the way it turned out! @UALeadership #changinglives
Jamie Hillman “Who you are in 5 years won’t be determined by a few extraordinary days, but by everyday victories.” @NuanceDrew @UALeadership #UALEADS14 Austin Burnett “Leaders make things possible; great leaders make things inevitable.” - Bill Battle #UALEADS14
Shelby Delana So glad I decided to get up this morning and spend my day with other like-minded young leaders at #UALEADS14 I had a total blast!
Above: Drew Dudley speaks about everyday leadership.
Sarah Kidwell @UALeadership #UALEADS14 was AMAZING!! Seriously impactful!!! Loved it! Already applied to LeaderShape!! SPRING2014 | 19
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
UA PARENTS GIVE BACK “My husband and I have had the opportunity to meet so many people through Student Affairs. We’ve grown to love Dr. Nelson and several others who are really great at keeping in touch with us,” -Jamie Koonce
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hen visiting The University of Alabama for the first time on a campus tour with their oldest son Andy, Neil and Jamie Koonce felt a little lost on campus because they had no previous connection to UA. Andy enjoyed his tour so much that he decided to make UA his college home, and his parents began looking for a way to connect to the Capstone as a means to support their son and his new home away from home. The Koonces learned about the Parent Advisory Council during Parent Orientation and decided to become involved with Student Affairs by serving on the council. They described that their role has made all the difference throughout both of their sons’ tenure at UA. “One of the most important things about being on the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) has been relating with other parents and knowing that my student is going through the exact same things as others,” said Jamie. The Koonces agree that it is comforting to see how a large university can connect them with so many parents on a personal level. Litsa Orban, assistant director of First Year Experience and Parent Programs, said the Koonces are assets to the PAC. “The Koonces are such a joy to have serving on the PAC. They are eager to learn as much as they can about UA, and they do an awesome job representing the University to other UA parents,” said Orban. “In addition, they provide valuable insight to our office and encourage us to do the work that we do.”
Neil and Jamie Koonce enjoy time with their youngest son, Will, a sophomore at the Capstone. Jamie Koonce was even able to meet a fellow Bama parent who lives in Sacramento, Calif., where Andy took his first job following his graduation in 2013. “It was a really funny story actually; Andy had just gotten his job location and I sat down by another parent at a meeting and asked, ‘So where are you from?’ and she told me Sacramento,” she said. Networking and creating friends with other parents is so beneficial for all members of the PAC, Jamie noted. “I’ve met people from all over throughout my involvement on PAC. One couple even lives two miles away from me in Knoxville, and I would have had no idea had we not become involved.” Jamie volunteers at UA by serving on the parent panel at Parent Orientation, because she said that was the most informative and helpful session for parents when she attended with Andy. “I’ve enjoyed sitting on the panel so much. I am so full of stories and love sharing with other parents,” she said.
Jennifer Hayes, assistant director of First Year Experience and Parent Programs, praises Jamie for all of her sound advice. “She gives the most solid, and humorous advice when serving on the council, she is so relatable to all of our incoming parents,” Hayes said. “My husband and I have had the opportunity to meet so many people through Student Affairs. There are so many wonderful faculty and staff available to parents and we now know who’s who. We’ve met so many deans, we’ve grown to love Dr. Nelson and several others who are really great at keeping in touch with us,” she said. With their youngest son, Will, enjoying his sophomore year at UA, the Koonces are still finding new ways to stay involved and support Student Affairs. In 2014, they are joining the Student Affairs Leadership Council to continue their commitment at the Capstone and look forward to engaging with UA on a new level.
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GIFTS TO STUDENT AFFAIRS 2013 Thank you to our alumni, parents and friends who supported the Division of Student Affairs in 2013. Your generous contributions supported scholarships and expanded student and campus life initiatives. Your gifts go directly back to students, allowing them to enhance their learning beyond the classroom. Thank you for your continued support. $10,000+ Alabama B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Yuval Almog American Tank & Vessel, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. James Franklin Calhoun Pinebrook Properties, LLC Schwab Charitable Fund Shealy, Crum, & Pike, P.C. Mr. and Mrs. F. Don Siegal Vulcan Materials Company Vulcan Materials Co. Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999 Alpha Lambda Delta Baumhower’s Wings U LLC Mrs. Tina Nichols Corr Dr. Roxanne R. Travelute and Dr. Michael Benjamin Honan Dr. Elizabeth and Mr. Jason LaClair Mortar Board Jay Stein Foundation Trust Yogurt Mountain
$2,000 - $4,999 Altria Group, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Roy W. Bailey Mrs. Star K. Bloom Dr. Marc Evan Bloomston Mr. and Mrs. John Broda Community Foundation of South Alabama Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Costello Dr. Charles G. Demeranville Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Mrs. Margaret P. Garner Dr. Donald E. Hall Mr. W. Mike House Dr. Nancy Johns and Mr. John D. Johns Mr. and Mrs. David P. Jones LittleInc Labs, Inc. McAlister’s Mr. Warner O. Moore III The Patterson Family Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Pearson Regions Financial Corporation The Honorable C. Lynwood Smith, Jr. Southern Company Services, Inc. Target Corporation UNUM Corporation Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Wells Fargo Bank
$1,000 - $1,999 Alabama Power Company Mr. and Mrs. William Dean Azar Belk, Inc. Mrs. Gloria Blackburn Mr. Gary Blitzer Ms. Tara N. Bloom Mr. and Mrs. John Duffy Boles, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Boudreaux Mr. Kyle Buchanan Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Burch, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lew Burdette Dr. and Mrs. Terry Allen Burgess Chesapeake Consulting Inc. Mr. and Mrs. David Lauren Clokey, Jr. Mr. H. Ray Cole, Jr. The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Community Foundation of West Alabama Dr. and Mrs. Mark Elbert Cooper Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Cooper IV Ms. Elizabeth Burford Crump Dr. Cheree Causey Mr. Thomas Parks Davis Mr. George Bartlett Demmas Mr. and Mrs. David M. Doll Mr. David A. Donaldson Mr. Glenn P. Felton The Gaines Law Firm LLC Goldman Sachs Fund Mr. Kenneth Alan Grodner Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hamm Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harrison Mr. and Mrs. Edmond C. Henson, Jr. Mr. Mark F. Jacobs Mrs. Karen Ludowissi Jasper Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Jones, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Jones Kemp Management Solutions, LLC Mr. Jeffrey R. Kirk Dr. Larry R. Kirkland Mr. and Mrs. W. V. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Loper Mrs. Mary Hurm Mantiply Dr. David Mathews Mr. Scott McCoy Mr. P. Douglas McCraw Mr. Irving David Meisler Mrs. Ashley Jill Metsky Dr. and Mrs. Mark D. Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Jay Newman Mr. and Ms. Charles Martin Newton Dr. Jerry Clyde Oldshue Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg & Moore PC Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Piper III
22 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Mr. and Mrs. James L. Priester Regions Bank of Tuscaloosa Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Roach Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Richey Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Gordon Robinson III Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Rolfe Mrs. Julia Smeds Roth Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brian Shipp The Honorable James M. Simon, Jr. Mrs. Joan Reichwein Smith Dr. and Mrs. Michael Earle Stevenson Mr. Donald Wilbur Stewart Dr. Louise R. Thibodaux Mrs. Tracy Michelle Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Gary Toole Mr. and Mrs. John M. Turner, Jr. UBS Financial Services Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wilkes Mr. and Mrs. Stantley B. Williams Mr. James W. Wilson III Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Woosley III Mary & George Herbert Zimmerman Foundation
$500 - $999 Mr. James M. Abroms Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. Adams Mr. and Mrs. William Lincoln Agricola II Dr. Norm Baldwin Bec-Don, Inc. Mrs. Linda Lockhart Brown Mr. Jon David Conolley Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wayne Davenport Mr. James Bradley Davidson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Diaz, Jr. Grace Ministries, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hendrix Mr. and Mrs. Philip Morton Hodgson Dr. Leesa Kay Rogers and Mr. Joel G. Huguley IBM Corporation Mr. Brian Allan Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Doug King Dr. and Mrs. Steve J. Kulback Mr. and Mrs. Partick Michael Leyden Mr. Mark W. C. Martin Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Masingill III Mrs. April McKenzie Mason Mr. Marion Sentell McIntosh Mr. Bernard Moseby Mr. and Mrs. Michael Nettles Mr. William F. O’Connor Dr. Pamela Hughey Parker Mr. and Mrs. Rodney A. Pilot Mr. John M. Plunk
Mr. Oscar Monfort Price IV Mr. Eric Lloyd Pruitt Mr. and Mrs. Scott Reasoner Mr. William Zachary Riddle Results, LLC Mr. John David Saxon Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Schini Mr. Donald S. Smith Ms. Ashley Warren Toole Mr. Hubert W. Toole Mr. John Robert Toole, Jr. Triford Foundation Mr. Kevin Lyle Turner Mrs. Victoria Starks Ward Mr. and Mrs. Michael James Wiggins Mr. and Mrs. Jim Yann
$100 - $499 Ms. Amanda Adams Ms. Darja Adams Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Adams Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Aicher Mr. and Mrs. Craig Akridge Alabama Credit Union Mr. Steve Alexander Mr. Bradley M. Allen Mr. Rufus David Allen, Jr. Mr. Brian L. Andersen Mr. Douglas L. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Annexstad Mr. Brett D. Arnold AT&T Foundation Mr. Charles Austin Mr. Guy Crafton Axtell II Mrs. Maya K. Beck and Mr. Wesley Back Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Bagby Mr. James Baker Ms. Robin Baker Ms. Susan Baker Mr. Edward C. Baldwin Mrs. Susan Banker Mr. Robert Kirk Bare Dr. Robert F. Barfield, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barnard Dr. and Mrs. David Lacy Barnes Ms. Lorraine F. Barnett Ms. Jennifer Jane Barringer Ms. Kathy Barton Mrs. Kathryn A. Bass Mr. William Nelson Bates Mrs. Robin Bauman Mrs. Linda Beals Ms. Victoria Raine Beaman Mrs. Karen S. Bearden
Mr. John J. Beavers Mr. and Mrs. Bill Beckett Mr. David Behring Mrs. Joan Belanger Mrs. Angie Belinkoff Ms. Ashley Belleau Mr. Danny L. Bentley Ms. Savannah N. Bernal Mr. Chad Neal Berney Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Bessellieu Mrs. Debra Bexley Mrs. Mary Kate Bexley Mrs. Donna Biase Mr. and Mrs. Brian Biggs Dr. Carmelita James Bivens Ms. Felecia J. Blanton Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Bless Ms. Danielle Blevins Mr. Bertram Alan Bloomston Ms. Nan C. Bobbett Bobcat Concrete Services Mr. David Sidney Borland Mr. Bradford Wayne Botes, Jr. Mrs. Joyce A. Bowar Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Bowen Ms. Caroline Boxmeyer Mr. James Jefferson Bradford Mr. Taylor David Bradley Mr. Paul M. Brennan Mr. Henry Clay Bright III Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Briscoe Ms. Charlotte Brown Mr. and Mrs. J. Benson Brown Ms. Jill Brown Mr. Jimmie Brown Ms. Lauren Michelle Brown Mr. and Mrs. Rick Brown Mr. Dave Brunk Ms. Monica Buchanan Ms. Sue Bugg Mrs. Vicki L. Burch Mrs. Karen C. Burklew Dr. and Mrs. Lee Burns Mr. and Mrs. Howard S. Bush, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Murray Byrd Ms. Mary Lee Caldwell Mrs. Connie Campbell Mr. James M. Campolongo Mr. and Mrs. Clay A. Canaday Mr. and Mrs. John L. Capecci Mr. W. Frederick Carden, Jr. Mrs. Angie Cardwell Ms. Morgan T. Cardwell Dr. Barry Lynn Carroll Ms. Mary Kathryn Carroll Cascade Sales Inc. Ms. Holly Murphy Kreisler and Mr. Curtis A. Casteel Mr. Vincent Wayne Cave, Sr. Center for Business and Economic Research Mr. David B. H. Chaffe IV Mrs. Ashley B. Chambers Mr. and Mrs. R. Keith Chambless Mr. Larry Brittain Childs Mrs. Terri Cimmarrusti Ms. Bettie M. Cinello Mr. and Mrs. Gary Edmund Cloyd Dr. Spencer James Coleman, Sr. Ms. Linda A. Colvin Drs. Robert and Joan Comas Mr. and Mrs. James D. Comerford Dr. Arthur Emanuel Constantine Ms. Carissa Faye Cook Mr. Joe Cook, Jr. Mrs. Nancy Coolbaugh
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Cooper Mr. Robert William Corning Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Corral Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cotton Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Cox Mrs. Susan C. Cravens Mrs. Kathryn Crouse Ms. Emily Allison Crow Mrs. Melanie Crowson Ms. Laura L. Crum Dr. and Mrs. W. Donald Crump Mrs. Caroline Strawbridge Culp Mrs. Marguerite Simon Culpepper Mrs. Denise Curto Mr. Joseph R. Curto Ms. Lisa M. Dahl Mr. William R. Daniell Mrs. Deborah K. Daniels Mr. Tripp Dargie Mr. James Davenport Ms. Lois A. Davidson Mrs. Stephanie Kay Davis Mr. William E. Davis Mrs. Melanie Dean Ms. Michele Deedy Ms. Beatrice deGouyon-Person Mrs. Nancy deJong Mr. and Ms. Mario M. delaGuardia Mr. Bradford Denning Mr. Caulley Deringer Mrs. Patty Dickey Mr. and Mrs. Thuan Doan Ms. Vikki Dodd Mr. and Mrs. Stuart J. Doliner Mr. William Arthur Donaldson Mrs. Georgena Dopyera Mr. Daniel Edgar Doran Mr. J. Boyd Douglas, Jr. Ms. Leslie Doyle Mr. William Robert Drago Ms. Danielle Drake Mrs. Katherine S. Drews Ms. Anne Dunajcik Mrs. Carol Boman Duncan Mrs. Lisa M. Duncan Mr. Corey Alexander Ealons Mr. Brian Patrick Edge Dr. and Mrs. B. H. Eichold II Mrs. Deborah W. Eidson Ms. Linda Elebassi Mr. Michael Estremera Mr. and Mrs. Dan Eugenio Mrs. Lynne Evans Mr. Dennis G. Fain Ms. Lori L. Fairchild Mrs. Laura G. Fay Mrs. Joan Kelly Feimer Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Ferrer Ms. Victoria Lynn Fetner Mrs. Nicolette R. Finer Mr. and Mrs. James Fink Mr. Charles C. Fleming Dr. and Mrs. Henry Edward Florey Ms. Katherine Foyt Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Franklin Ms. Karen Franklin Ms. Elizabeth Franks Mrs. Brooke Freel Mr. and Mrs. Rodney L. Fulkroad Mrs. Kathleen Gabler Mr. C. Miles Gagner III Mr. and Mrs. James Gallo Mr. Matthew P. Gallo Mrs. Mercedes Galloway Mrs. Lynn Gazzara
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Gencarella General Mills Foundation Mrs. Mary T. Gentry Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gildenzopf Mr. Kenneth D. Givens GJB, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Don Glisson Mr. and Mrs. Gregory W. Golden Mr. Brad Goldstone Ms. Nancy Gomes-Porter Ms. Barbara J. Goodhue Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Goodwin Mrs. Kathy Goodwin Mr. and Mrs. James L. Goodyear Ms. Jan Grant Mr. Henry Varley Grantham, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David A. Greene Greener Corp. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Griggs Mr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Grisham Mr. and Mrs. Ignacio Guerrero Mrs. Amie Lea Guice Mr. and Mrs. Greg Guin Ms. Kimberly Gunn Mrs. Blanche Harris Gunter Mrs. Lauren L. Hall Mr. and Mrs. Phillip C. Hall Mr. Steven Brian Hall Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Halli, Jr. Commander Lee A. Hallman Mrs. Yvonne Hamilton Ms. Della W. Hardin Ms. Marilyn M. Harper Ms. Tonya Harper Mrs. Ann D. Harris Mrs. Ceil S. Harris Mrs. Cindy Harris Mr. Kenneth Alan Harris Ms. Stacey L. Harris Mr. Stacey Harrison Mr. Rohani Harshman Ms. Debra L. Hart Ms. Mona Lee Hart Mrs. Nancy Hartley Ms. Sara Anne Hartley Ms. Teresa L. Hastings Mr. Clifford J. Hataway, Sr. Dr. Jackson Hataway Mr. and Mrs. John George Hattner Mr. John Head Ms. Tracy L. Healy Dr. Tim S. Hebson Mrs. Mary Ben Heflin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hester Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gregory Heyman Mr. and Mrs. Bryson F. Hill III Ms. Erin Hill Ms. Inga M. Himelright Mr. Timothy Hoff Ms. Jacqueline Holdbrooks Dr. Gary E. Holland Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Honkanen Mr. Keith D. Horton Mrs. Wendy Hosto Mr. and Mrs. Tom Howland Ms. Maria Cristy Hoyo Mr. Rodney Huey Mr. and Mrs. David R. Hunter Mr. David Ikeler Dr. Susan Wells Ikonen and Mr. Jyrki Tapio Ikonen Mrs. Ulana Illiano Dr. and Mrs. Alejandro Inclan Ms. Kathleen Thea Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Edger Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jeffreys JNJ Apparel Mrs. Beth Johnson Mrs. Jennifer A. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Mack Johnson Mr. Seth Lyon Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jones Mr. and Mrs. R. Matthew Jones Dr. Joseph Clarence Joyce Mrs. Deborah Kemple Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Kennedy Mrs. Eileen Keplinger Ms. Kendra Nichole Key Dr. and Mrs. Lee N. Keyes Mr. and Mrs. Christopher James Kiley, Sr. Ms. Amy Elizabeth Kilpatrick Mrs. Janice Jean King Ms. Jessalynn Smith King Dr. Margaret Ingram King Mr. and Mrs. Michael Klister Mrs. Kim Klodnicki Mr. and Mrs. David Knight Mr. James Knittle Ms. Laurie Knoespel Ms. Susan Koontz Mrs. Clare Korst Mrs. Jennifer Kratohvil Dr. Fiona Jane and Mr. David Robert Kress Ms. Sharon Krusinsky Commander and Mrs. Thomas J. Lally Ms. Jayna Partain Lamar Mr. and Mrs. Lathan F. Lancaster Ms. Deborah Morgan Lane Mrs. McKinley Lanier Ms. Zina Larsen Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lass III Mr. Aaron Vines Latham Mrs. Molly Mayfield Lawrence Mrs. Raphael Leach Mr. Thomas R. Leach Mrs. Amanda Lecaroz Mr. Billy P. Ledbetter Mr. and Mrs. Walton S. Lee Ms. Kim Leger Mr. and Mrs. Georges M. Legrand Leigh Buick Company Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Clay Lemley Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Phillips Leonard Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones LeVert Mr. Frederick R. Levin Mr. Stuart S. Lewis Ms. Chali Linke Mr. Scott Linne Mr. David Michael Lipari Mr. George Ed Litaker Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Little Mrs. Lynn C. Lloyd Lockheed Martin Corporation Foundation Mr. Thomas Chris Logan Mrs. Beverly A. Lomax Mr. Juan Lopez-Campillo Ms. Lisa Marie Loudon Mrs. Lisa Lubel Mr. James D. Lusk Mr. Timothy R. Lyons, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Macher Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lee Maddox Ms. Jacqueline Dawn Magri Mr. and Mrs. John Maloof Mr. and Mrs. James D. Mangie, Jr. Mrs. Janet Marshal Ms. Brenda L. Marshall Ms. Susan M. Marston Mrs. Theresa Pappas and Mr. Michael Martone SPRING2014 | 23
GIFTS TO STUDENT AFFAIRS 2013 Mr. and Mrs. Brent Mason Mrs. Karen S. Mason Mr. Mathew Matala Mrs. Toccoa Mayhew Ms. Theresa McCaa Mrs. Tammy McCarty Mr. and Mrs. Bill McCleave Mrs. Ann G. McCormick Mr. Timothy McGillick McGough Management, Inc. Mr. David McGregor Mr. Randy McGuire Mr. and Mrs. F. Mitch McNab Mrs. Suzanne Melton Mrs. Tammy Metcalf Mr. Matthew Milam Mrs. Candis Milan Mrs. Heather Cannon Miller Mrs. Dana Milliken Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Millirons, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Monroe Mr. and Mrs. John Steven Monte Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Moran Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Edward Moran Mr. and Mrs. Gary Morlas Mr. and Mrs. Doug Morris Ms. Laurie Morris Mrs. Angela F. Morrison Mr. Harris V. Morrissette Mrs. Amy Moses Dr. and Mrs. Charles S. Mosteller Mr. and Mrs. Gary Moynihan Mr. and Mrs. Brian F. Mulholland Mrs. Melinda Murphree Mr. and Mrs. Kent O. Murray Mr. and Mrs. Robbie S. Murray Mr. and Mrs. Patrick D. Mutchler Mr. John B. Nabors II Mr. and Mrs. Conrad D. Naftel Mr. Steven Edward Nance Ms. Kristin M. Nelson Dr. and Mrs. Robert Wood Nesbitt, Sr. Ms. Joy C. Newman Mrs. Leah Carol Nielsen Mr. and Mrs. Moshe Ninio Mr. and Mrs. Joe Nixon Mrs. Lacie Humbers Nolin Ms. Mary Frances Norvet Mr. Brian Charles O’Brien Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Olsen Mr. Chris Olson Ms. Patti Olvey Ms. Lynn Orr Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Owsley Mr. and Mrs. Patrick B. Padon Mrs. Phyllis Paine Mr. Paul J. Pappanastos Mr. James Hugh Parker II Mrs. Ladon Patterson Ms. Christina Peek Mr. Brandon Ben Peete Mr. and Mrs. Keith J. Pendleton Mrs. Julia Cathleen Percy Mr. Michael C. Perry Mr. Joe Petersen
Mr. Michael V. Petersen Ms. Lori Petrosinelli Ms. Jasenka Petrujkic Pfizer Foundation Mr. Richard S. Phillips Mr. Peter Lindsay Philpott Ms. Brenda M. Pond Mr. and Mrs. David Marshall Powell Ms. Donna Sue Powell Dr. Michael W. Proctor Mrs. Alison Propst Ms. Denise Pruitt Mr. John Pruitt Ms. Melinda Gay Pruitt Ms. Teri Raborn Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Jon Rafool Dr. Catherine Johnson Randall Raytheon Company Dr. Rebecca Avery Reamey and Mr. Nathan Reamey The Reginald C. Mohun Family Mrs. Beverly McIlwain Reid Mr. and Ms. David Renaud Mr. and Mrs. Don C. Reynolds Ms. Susan R. Reynolds Mr. Thomas E. Reynolds Mrs. Deborah A. Reynolds-Lacy Mr. and Mrs. Sean C. Rice Mrs. Catherine B. Richardson Mrs. Nancy E. Rifkin-Hummel Mr. Josh Rivers Mr. William Harold Roach Mr. James Earl Robertson Robinson Tuscaloosa LLC Dr. Richard W. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Rogers Mr. Rodger W. Rolland Mr. Charles E. Romano, Jr. Mrs. Kelly Bouldin Roney Mrs. Lynne Rooks Ms. Amie D. Roscoe Mrs. Ellen Blinder Ross Mr. Donald Rossi Ms. Katherine L. Russell Mrs. Candace Rutherford Mr. and Mrs. Jim McDonald Sandefer Mrs. Andrea Hirniak-Sandy and Mr. Alec Russell Sandy Mr. and Mrs. Sam Scheidler Mr. Eric Schey Mr. and Mrs. Jerome F. Schick Mr. Charles M. Schmidt, Jr. Ms. Karen Schreiber Dr. Nelda Chadwick Schultz Mr. and Mrs. Ron Scorzelli Mr. Jeffrey Alan Seale Mrs. Diane Serembus Mrs. Linda Severin Ms. Penny Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Alan Shaw Mrs. Terri L. Shepherd Mrs. Judy A. Siegfried Mrs. Shannon Rose Kapeller and Mr. Jeffrey B. Silvernail Mr. Randy D. Sims
24 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
Ms. D. Sinkus Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Sidney Skidmore Mr. and Mrs. Craig L. Slay Ms. Gina Smazik Mr. David J. Smith Ms. Donna Smith Mr. Jason Smith Mr. and Mrs. John Smith Ms. Mary Smith Ms. Shari M. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Myron Lowell Smoot Mr. Gary Wayne Smothers Mr. and Mrs. Reginald W. Snell, Sr. Southern Floor Systems Inc. The Spa, LLC Mr. Ronald Thomas Spencer Dr. and Dr. Philip J. Spevak Mr. Steven Spurlin Mrs. Patricia B. Stanley Mrs. Melanie Steele Mr. Richard Stegall Mr. Donald Stone Dr. and Mrs. Rick Streiffer Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stubbs Mr. Russell R. Stutts, Jr. Mrs. Patricia Carol Sullivan Mrs. Joyce Suttles Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Szaloky Mr. and Mrs. Bijan Tafazoli Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Taylor Mr. Darrell Terpo Mr. Allen Lee Terry II Mr. Dustin Terry Ms. Sana S. Thomas Mr. Robert W. Thomason Ms. Myra Thompson Mrs. Claire Black Tisdal Mr. George Tomlin Mrs. Amy Jane Townsend Mr. Thomas Earl Townsend Dr. Pamela Doyle Tran Mr. William R. Travis Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Traw Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Trevino Mr. Cameron Mark Troilo Mrs. Debbie Trusevich Mr. Michael L. Tucker United Dirt Track Racing Association, Inc. The University Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dean Van Metre Ms. Susan Vaughan Mrs. Amelita Vaughn Mrs. Allison Shirley Verhine Ms. Liliana Villegas Mrs. Amanda Claire Vines Wagnon Family Revocable Trust Mr. George Kontz Walker Ms. Virginia T. Walker Ms. Jenna Ward Mrs. Debra T. Watkins Mrs. Kimberly H. Watson Mr. and Mrs. Lacy J. Waynick, Jr. Mrs. Judy Pugh Weems Mrs. Nancy Weems Mr. Gregory W. Welch
Wells Fargo Foundation Ms. Edith M. Wells Dr. Philip Westbrook Mr. Scott Wheeler Mr. and Mrs. David Maynard White Ms. Ethel W. White Mr. F. Len White Ms. Heather Mackenzie White Mr. Joshua Victor White Ms. Sherry Smitherman White Ms. Lauren Whitten Ms. India D. Williams Mrs. Elizabeth S. Williams Dr. Jimmy John Williams Mr. Joel Williams Mrs. Vicky Willis Mrs. Karen Henriksen Wilson Mr. Matthew P. Wilson Ms. Serena Slater Wilson Mrs. Mary Jo Wink Dr. and Mrs. John F. Wisniewski Mr. Ted Wolfe Mr. Tony Wolfe Ms. Tanya Woolley Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wright Mr. and Mrs. Watson Wright Ms. Joan Wrigley Mrs. Dana Wronski Ms. Susan L. Wyman Ms. Chanley A. Wynn Mrs. Heather L. Yamashita Mr. Dan Yancey Ms. Kathleen Yordy Ms. Michelle Youngs Mr. and Mrs. Greg Youra Mrs. Betty Waite Zoller
Other Contributions Mr. and Mrs. Glyn Agnew Ms. Donna Ailion Mrs. Elizabeth Allport Mr. Victor Amato Mr. Adam Amaya Mrs. Virginia M. Ambler Anonymous Mrs. Greta Skoglund Beauchamp Mrs. Susan Winkleman Beauchamp Ms. Robin Behn Mrs. Keirstin S. Belson Mrs. Cheryl Bencala Mrs. Judy Bencheck Ms. Carolyn E. Bero Mr. Jim Berry Mrs. Debasis Bhattacharya Ms. Laurel Billings Mr. and Mrs. Larry Birkes Ms. Cheryl Camilla Bostic Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brainerd Dr. Andrea Brake Mr. and Mrs. Don Brake Mr. Thomas Henry Bratten III Mr. and Mrs. John Brennan Mr. and Mrs. Tom Breslin
Ms. Anne Marie Brettel Mr. William Edward Bries Mrs. Nita Little Bright Ms. Sharon Brown Mrs. Shelia Bruce Mr. Jeffery Bryant Mrs. Stephanie Dawn Bulgarella Dr. John J. Burke, Jr. Ms. Beverly A. Burks Mr. and Mrs. James B. Butler Ms. Susan Buzzard Mr. Joseph Welch Cade Mr. and Mrs. William Ray Cadenhead Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Calhoun Mr. Leonard E. Callahan, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gerard Calligaris Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle Campbell Ms. Birgit Carlson Mr. James P. Carmichael Mrs. Maria H. Cecil Chrono Track Mrs. Kathryn Cianfoni Mrs. Patricia J. Cleveland Mr. Scott W. Collins Ms. Emily Elizabeth Conner Mrs. Lee Anne Conti Mr. and Mrs. Chip Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Mike Cooper Mrs. Jennifer Cope Mr. and Mrs. John Corcoran Mrs. Martha Cottingham Ms. Margaret Courson Mrs. Janet Daniel Crabtree Dr. Kathleen Powers Cramer Mrs. Melissa A. Curtis Mr. and Mrs. Kurt A. Danielson Mrs. Susan Sands Darlington Mr. and Mrs. Peter John Daronco Mr. Ryan J. Davis Mrs. Helen Deen Mr. Joe Devance Mr. Steven W. Dodd Mr. William Evan Dodd Mr. Robert P. Downey III Mr. Bernard Doyle Ms. Jacki J. Dunayer Dr. and Mrs. George T. Duncan Mr. Robert P. Dunn, Jr. Ms. Pamela Earle Mr. J. David Ellwanger Mrs. Shannon V. Eva Mr. and Mrs. Troy Evans Mr. and Mrs. John Christopher Farren Mrs. Teresa Faulkner Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Ferrell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ferretti Mrs. Michelle Rae Ferretti Mr. and Mrs. Richard Powell Field Mrs. Vicki H. Filstein Mr. and Mrs. Heath Firestone Mr. Ryan Flamerich Ms. Mallory Elise Flowers Mr. Perry T. Foor Mrs. Julie Schilleci Foster Mr. and Mrs. Cris Franks Ms. Anita Gallo Mrs. Nancy Gehlsen Ms. Tracey T. George Mr. Winston Howard Gillum, Jr. Tina Gilman
Mrs. Patricia Goodell Mrs. Marsha King Grady Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Grant Mr. Donald L. Green Ms. Martha Mathews Griffith Ms. Deborah J. Grochau Mrs. Glenda K. Guyton Mr. Andrew Dickson Hall Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Halmi Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Hammons Mrs. Ethel Paulette Harris Dr. and Mrs. Murray Clark Havens Mr. Neal Heifetz Ms. Anna Hendrich Ms. Sidney Lynn Hennessey Mr. Trace Hennesy Ms. Hannah Elizabeth Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Hiltz Mr. and Mrs. Dennis P. Holland Ms. Sarah Ann Hughes Mrs. Sherri Hunter Mr. and Mrs. Justin J. Hurd Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mark Hurst, Sr. Mrs. Tamara K. Husman Mrs. Lauran Jacks Mrs. Cathy James Mrs. Charniece Jasper Mrs. Gina Johnson Mr. Kirby Johnson Mrs. Leisa Smith Johnson Ms. Lisa Daughtry Johnson Mr. Mitchell R. Johnson Ms. Kelcy Johonson Mrs. Mary Allen Jolley Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kasson Ms. Karen Giddens Kelly Mr. and Mrs. James King Mr. Cason Michael Kirby Ms. Ashlee L. Kirt Ms. Laura Kochman Mrs. Elizabeth B. Kopecky Mr. Jerald Jacob Labovitz Ms. Rhonda Ladner Mr. Austin Lafferty Mr. Troy Joseph Lampley Mrs. Paige Lancaster Mrs. Monica Larson Mr. Richard B. Lassow Mrs. Coriseia L. Lawson Mrs. Linda R. Leah Mrs. Sue LeBrun Mr. Eric C. Lemay Mrs. Susan C. Lewis Ms. Becca Livingston Mrs. Marian Accinno Loftin Mrs. Elizabeth Lonegan Ms. Debra L. Loya Mrs. Bobbie Woodman Macdonald Mr. Robert L. Mackall Mr. and Mrs. Craig G. Marr Dr. J. Barry Mason Mr. and Mrs. William Masterson Mrs. Dianne M. Mathews Mrs. Linda S. Matthews Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Maugeri Dr. and Mrs. Wesley McConnell Mrs. Jennifer McCullough Mr. Michael McCullough Mrs. Tracy McGarry Dr. and Mrs. Jay McGrory
Mrs. Perri McKay Ms. Denise T. McLeod Ms. Karen K. Melvin Mrs. Diana Browning Michaels Mr. Gary S. Miller Mrs. Mary Jo Jernigan Miller Mr. and Mrs. Kent Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. Michael Joseph Mitton III Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Montecalvo Mr. Brad Moody Mrs. Lori H. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Alex Von Morris Mrs. Marcy J. Morris Mr. Angus C. Morrison Ms. Bonnie B. Morrison Ms. Lonnie Mae Morse Drs. Robert and Laura L. Moylan Mr. and Mrs. William E. Mundy Mrs. Betts Murdison Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Murphey Mrs. Cynthia Nealon Mr. and Mrs. Tim Neff Mr. James H. Nichols III Mr. Lucas Niiler Mrs. Lacee Nisbett Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Nolan Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Norment Novartis US Foundation Mrs. Barbara N. O’Connor Mr. Daniel Keith Odrezin Mrs. Janet Okerman Mrs. Shelia Oliver Mr. Larry W. O’Neal Mrs. Maribeth Osborn Mrs. Cynthia P. O’Shields Drs. Louis and Bridget Ostrow Dr. Kathryn Sue Oths Mrs. Sylvia Ott Dr. Kenneth B. Ozzello Mrs. Karen L. Page Mr. and Mrs. George Wilbert Parker III Ms. Jane B. Parker Ms. Caroline Sue Parsons Mr. Gary Thomas Partridge Mrs. Barbara K. Patton Mrs. Lori Pendley Mrs. Dawn D. Penny PFQ LLC Mr. Steven Phelps Mr. Clyde Mason Phillips Ms. Lori Phillips Mrs. Yvette M. Pigott PNZ, LLC Mrs. Tara C. Poe Ms. Mary Fran Callahan and Mr. John L. Pope Dr. and Mrs. Timothy Powell Ms. Jan Pruitt Mrs. Cathryn Pugh Mr. Robert Alexander Pugh Mr. Robert J. Pyszka Mr. and Mrs. Michael Anthony Rajterowski Ms. Kelly R. Ramsey Mr. and Mrs. Steven Francis Ray Mr. Joseph Lawrence Reese, Jr. Mrs. Luanda Reese Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Reigel Mr. C.A. Richey Mr. W. Anthony Riley Mrs. Miriam R. Ritenour
Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Harold Noble Rollins Mr. and Mrs. Russell Rosenberg Ms. Sophie Rosenblum Mr. John D. Rowlett Mr. James Claude Salem Mr. William G. Sanders, Jr. Ms. Barbara Schmidt Ms. Lisa Schneeman Mr. James R. Schweer Mrs. Theresa Bakey Segin Mr. and Mrs. John W. Seles Dr. Calvin F. Senning Ms. Rashmee Nawar Sharif Mr. and Mrs. Steven Sharp Mrs. Lacey Sharpe Dr. Shane Sharpe Ms. Barbara Simpson Mr. Paul Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sinderman Ms. Jane B. Sklar Mr. Andrew Appling Smith Mr. Michael G. Smith Mr. Tray Smith Mr. and Mrs. Mark Smylie Mrs. Michelle Hooper and Mr. John Springer Dr. and Mrs. Allen Stern Mr. Leonard U. Stolar, Esq. Mrs. Claire Strand Ms. Stephanie Sukert Ms. Candace L. Taylor Mrs. Leigh A. TenBerge Mr. and Mrs. Scott Terry Mrs. Linda Carmichael Thomas Mr. Jonathan D. Thompson Ms. Claire M. Thonus Mrs. Martha Thorne Ms. Victoria Ann Tigwell Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tontillo Mr. and Mrs. Keith Tracy Mr. John J. Trentacoste Mr. William J. Tucker Ms. Lissa Handley Tyson Ms. Bronwyn Valentine Mrs. Katrina R. Wade Ms. Debra L. Ward Mrs. Carla Washington Mr. James Weidenheimer Mrs. Joan H. Welch Ms. Brandi Wells Ms. Kellie Wells Mrs. Ellie F. Wetsman Mr. and Mrs. John F. Wheatley Dr. and Mrs. Steven B. Whitaker Ms. Bonnie L. Whitner Mrs. Lisa Wice Mrs. Alan Evins Williams Mrs. Sherri Williams Mr. William Williams Ms. Mary Jane Willis Dr. Liza and Mr. David Wilson Ms. Madeleine M. Hill and Dr. William W. Winternitz Mrs. Tina L. Wood Mr. Paul Wright Mr. and Mrs. John S. York Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Young Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Zeitouni Zinpro Corporation Ms. Theodora Ziolkowski
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness of this list. If we have inadvertently omitted your name or listed you incorrectly, please contact STUDENT AFFAIRS at 205-348-6275 or by email at studentaffairs@ua.edu.
SPRING2014 | 25
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
‘BRAIN MATTERS’ ...takes over air waves
A
s B.J. Guenther takes her place in the small booth, with large headphones on her head and a microphone in front of her, she waits for the cue from her production team.
Five…four…three…two…and she’s on the air. By day, Guenther serves as a counselor for The University of Alabama Counseling Center. After hours, she is the creator and host of the Center’s Brain Matters radio show, airing every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. on 90.7 The Capstone. The show discusses mental health in a more casual setting, helping to fight the stigma that still exists when discussing mental health issues. “From the Counseling Center standpoint, we see it as a way to market our services. Not only to market our services here at the Counseling Center, but to also be able to talk about mental health issues in a different setting,” Guenther said.
Guenther originally came up with the idea for a radio show when she was conducting research for her dissertation. Mental health radio shows are uncommon, but Guenther reached out to other universities with similar programs to see how she could apply the idea at The University of Alabama. “I thought it would be a fun venue to get the message out and to help fight the stigma that a lot of people have, even in 2014, that coming to counseling makes you weak or that talking about depression is embarrassing,” Guenther said. The first Brain Matters show aired during the spring 2013 semester, discussing topics such as homesickness and eating disorders.
“I thought it would be a fun venue to get the message out and to help fight the stigma that a lot of people have, even in 2014, that coming to counseling makes you weak or that talking about depression is embarrassing,” -B.J. Guenther
B.J. Guenther, a counselor at UA’s counseling center, hosts her weekly radio show Brain Matters. 26 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS
With the support of the Counseling Center, the Division of Student Affairs and Student Media’s 90.7 The Capstone, Guenther was able to learn the ins and outs of hosting a live radio show and turning it into a successful program. She said she hopes that the show will be able to reach the widest audience of students possible, giving students who otherwise would not come to the Counseling Center an opportunity to have their mental health questions and concerns addressed. “I think some of them have an idea that counselors are a certain way, or that somebody’s going to find out, or either somebody in their family has gone to counseling and it didn’t work,” Guenther said. Guenther ultimately wants to transition the show into a live call-in show. She currently features two guests per show and interviews them on different topics related to mental health and wellness. Previous guests have included Miss University of Alabama Miranda Ward, who discussed her personal battle with bulimia. To help her coordinate her show, Guenther has partnered with fellow counselor and University of Alabama graduate Natalie Beck. Natalie, along with her undergraduate sister, Dorothy Beck, runs the production of the show and is trained in handling live calls that pertain to mental health issues. “Mental health is such a taboo topic. I feel like any approach to making it more normalized is very important,” Natalie said. Dorothy, a junior studying nutrition, said she is thankful to have the opportunity to play a part in such an innovative show during her undergraduate career. “I feel grateful to have this opportunity,” Dorothy said. “I have learned so much. It’s been a great learning experience.” Guenther and her team ultimately want Brain Matters to grow into a recognizable, non-traditional venue for discussing mental health. There are only two other shows like Guenther’s in the nation, and she hopes to build upon what she has learned to expand on this new innovative niche she’s created for The University of Alabama community. SPRING2014 | 27
UA in the Community: DINNER WITH STRANGERS
W
hat would happen if students could sit face to face with Tuscaloosa community leaders and have a discussion about what is needed and wanted by both them and the UA community? Student Affairs has created a space where students and people from throughout the community can voice their opinions in a casual setting? Dinner with Strangers brings many key players to the table to engage in a larger discussion about the strong relationship between UA and Tuscaloosa. Heather Roberts and other leaders at the Ferguson Student Center realized a need for more relationships between students and the community they call home throughout their years at UA. “Our director, Carl Bacon, had asked me to think about new ideas for student programming, particularly those which help to connect students to the larger community and provide opportunities for experiential learning,” said Roberts,
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an administrative specialist for the Ferguson Student Center. Dinner with Strangers emerged from Roberts’ research as a collaborative event series originally developed in the fall of 2012 to provide UA students with an opportunity to engage in conversations with members of the Tuscaloosa community. “The goal of Dinner with Strangers is to provide UA students with an opportunity for experiential learning that supplements their classroom experience on campus,” Roberts said. “By providing students with an opportunity to engage with community members to which they might not otherwise have access, we hope to broaden their perspectives and introduce them to new and valuable resources within the Tuscaloosa community.” In it’s first year, Dinner with Strangers included a session where participants would blog about a topic for two weeks.
The conversation that began online would pick up in person with a dinner shared by students and various members of the community. Students covered four topics throughout the semester, including local food, music, visual expression and downtown revitalization – and these discussions planted the seeds for something bigger. This spring, Dinner with Strangers has continued to evolve, retaining the same group that participated in the fall. “The students have been meeting as a group with a couple of community members who are interested in working with them one-on-one to come up with an action plan for involvement,” Roberts said. “One group of students is interested in creating a downtown student ambassadors program, another is planning a closing reception event for this year’s program to promote involvement for next year, and the final group is looking at ways to ease tensions between student tenants and permanent
residents in the historic district.” Freshman Rachel LeComte said she chose to get involved with the program because, while she is from Tuscaloosa, she spent her high school years at boarding school and wanted to get to know downtown again. “I hope we are able to make a difference,” she said. “It’s a start, and sometimes that’s all you need.” Kellee Reinhart, a longtime Tuscaloosa resident and the vice chancellor for system relations at The University of Alabama System office, said she jumped at the chance to get involved with the program as a community participant. “I saw this as an opportunity to meet students, meet people from the town side who I never come in contact with, and to see where those intersections are in our interests and goals,” Reinhart said. Joint campus and community partnerships like this one, Reinhart said, will continue to impact Tuscaloosa for years to come. “Programs like this are vital to the success of Tuscaloosa going forward,” Reinhart said. “We walked away from our first dinner, and I remember thinking ‘This is a really cool place to live.’”
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YEAR IN REVIEW
The 2013 Student Affairs Expo helped the departments in UA’s Division of Student Affairs connect and engage with more than 300 students in the Ferguson Center.
2013
UA’s 2013 Family Weekend included numerous events to welcome students’ families to campus during the Alabama vs. Colorado State football game weekend. The highlight for many was the pre-game tailgate at Presidential Park.
The University of Alabama was named a Purple Heart University for its outstanding commitment to student veterans. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Duane Lamb, who is also an assistant vice president at UA, presented the award to UA President Judy Bonner at halftime of the Alabama vs. LSU football game.
The Office of First Year Experience and Parent Programs hosted a Family Welcome Reception to meet and greet more than 700 new students and their families during movein this fall.
University Recreation partnered with Special Olympics to host a Unified Sports flag football game prior to the Alabama vs. LSU football game. The teams were made up of students from UA and LSU, as well as local Special Olympics athletes from Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge. The game included visits from Gov. Robert Bentley and the Million Dollar Band.
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Construction began on the Student Activity Center at Presidential Village.
Upcoming Events: Aug. 20: Classes begin Sept. 5: Grand Opening of Student Activity Center Sept. 5-7: Family Weekend Oct. 18: UA Homecoming vs. Texas A&M
STUDENT AFFAIRS Assessment Blackburn Institute Career Center Community Service Center Counseling Center Dean of Students
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SPRING2014 | 31
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