2009 CHES Reunion Magazine

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COLLEGE OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Box 870158 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0158

COLLEGE OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

COLLEGE OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

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Find Your Future in

CHES

Dear prospective student, I am delighted that you are considering The University of Alabama and The College of Human Environmental Sciences as your academic home for the next four years, and what an exciting time to do so.

The opportunities for students here are endless. Two years ago, CHES became the third largest College on The University of Alabama campus. This growth and success can be attributed to the dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to the enrichment of our students. Although our numbers are growing, CHES still maintains a small student to advisor ratio and small class sizes, both aspects of the College that our students greatly appreciate. Our fine faculty continues to be involved in cutting-edge research with a focus on enhancing the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

Dear future UA student, My name is Logan Dowell and it is an honor for me to introduce myself as the current President of the College of Human Environmental Sciences’ Council of Presidents. Congratulations on exploring The University of Alabama to further your education. While the University prides itself in the many programs it has to offer students, I urge you to consider the College of Human Environmental Sciences as your home away from home. I am a senior majoring in Human Development and Family Studies and have been part of the CHES family since my freshman year at the University. The college has provided me with the opportunity to gain a valuable education, develop strong leadership skills, and it offers many avenues for service.

The University Scholars Program offers exceptional students majoring in either nutrition or consumer sciences the opportunity to complete both the bachelors and the masters degree program in five years. For additional information, please visit either of these links–nutrition www.ches.ua.edu/nhm/honors or www.ches.ua.edu/scm/honors.

We now invite students to participate in courses on campus, as well as through our innovative distance education programs. Currently, we offer six undergraduate degree programs available online and five graduate programs. One other degree program is available with a combination of innovative distance deliveries. Please visit our website regarding our innovative distance degree programs–http://www.ches. ua.edu/distance.

The hub of the College is Doster Hall, a convenient location for all students, on and off campus. CHES holds a distinction as being one of the fastest growing colleges on the UA campus but has the reputation of caring for each student as an individual.

Among many of the college’s positive attributes are the low student to faculty ratio, one on one advising, and small class size.

CHES also provides its students with many ways to become involved in the college and around campus. You can take part in organizations within your major, in honor societies, as an SGA senator, or with the College-wide Council of Presidents and Ambassadors. The most important aspect of the entire college is its faculty and staff. CHES faculty and staff play a key role in our education and are personable, nurturing and encouraging. They are truly the best. They want to see their students succeed and will do everything possible to see that happen.

As you will see, our students and faculty alike pride themselves on upholding a tradition of academic, social and extracurricular excellence.

Students are encouraged to get involved, to ask questions and to make a difference in their college, community and beyond. We hope that you will give CHES the opportunity to provide you with these same tools and to help you become the best student you can be.

In choosing where you will spend the next four years of your academic career, know that the College of Human Environmental Sciences welcomes you whole heartedly into our family. I encourage each of you to follow your passions and do not ever hold back. Dream big and do what is uniquely you. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you next year at the College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Our faculty members anticipate hearing from you and answering any questions you may have about becoming a CHES student. Campus visits are welcomed, to schedule please call 205-348-6250.

Sincerely,

Please take the time to visit us online at www.ches.ua.edu or on campus and learn even more about the opportunities that await you as a student in The College of Human Environmental Sciences.

I encourage you to check out UA Early College which offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to gain valuable college credits through online classes, while still enrolled in your high school.

We look forward to hearing from you, online and in the classroom.

Success is a priority for students enrolled in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, and CHES works hard to support students! These actions have made the College of Human Environmental Sciences the fastest growing

division on The University of Alabama campus.

Logan Dowell President, CHES Council of Presidents

• The Crenshaw Leadership Academy provides opportunities for students to enhance their leadership skills.

• Two Living-Learning Communities (Harris Hall and the Nature/Nurture Community) provide opportunities for student enrichment.

• A strong emphasis is placed on student involvement in research and professional activities.

• Internships are available for students in all majors.

• Advising is a priority for faculty in the College. Evaluations of advising indicate high student satisfaction (83.4% of HES students indicated they were either satisfied or very satisfied with advising in CHES for the Spring 2008 semester).

• Opportunities are available via Distance Learning for six undergraduate programs and five areas for graduate studies.

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• A career counselor is available for all students in the College.

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Take the first step toward earning your degree at UA, BEFORE you graduate from high school!

Juniors and seniors who are ready to get their college career on track can get a head start through Alabama’s new Early College program. The innovative program gives motivated high school students the chance to take up to one year of general education courses online, and receive actual college credit for their work.

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f you have an interest in people and a genuine concern for families and children, a degree in Human Development and Family Studies might be right for you. Coriell Weeks, a graduate of the HDFS program, uses her skills to work with children and families in the underserved areas of Tuscaloosa. Students in Human Development graduate prepared to work with children, adolescents and families in a variety of settings.

CORIELL WEEKS bridges social, age and racial gaps on a daily basis. As director of the Cottondale Elementary Afterschool Program in Cottondale, Ala., Coriell works with 60 students and their families, all who taught Coriell patience, understanding and respect. She works hard to teach them the same.

As a soon-to-be high school graduate, Coriell was struck by the fact that close to 50 percent of her classmates were either expecting a child or already caring for one. Coriell wanted to be part of the solution for this problem. She began volunteering with local organizations in the Tuscaloosa area as she started classes at UA. Her mission was to reach out to pregnant teens.

“I saw that these mothers were being treated differently than other pregnant women,” said Coriell. “It wasn’t fair that they didn’t have the resources to take care of their children. I wanted to make sure that they had the parenting skills and the support that they needed.”

Who can apply to Early College?

To be eligible for Early College, Alabama high school students must have completed their sophomore year, and may not have started their senior year. In addition, students need a 3.0 average, transcript approval and a recommendation from their counselor, principal or home school agent and a strong work ethic.

What classes can I take through Early College?

UA Early College offers a variety of general education classes like English Composition, Introductory Biology, Art History and others. Early College is meant to complement the most rigorous course of study offered by your high school, and can be taken while you are enrolled in AP, Honors and IB curriculums. Classes taken through Early College are University level courses and you will earn real college credit for your work.

What Universities will accept my Early College credit?

Well, of course, UA will! In fact, students who stay in good standing with their high school and complete 18 Early College credit hours with at least a 2.5 GPA in their Early College classes are eligible for automatic admission to UA. The credits that Early College students earn will appear on their transcripts as having come from The University of Alabama, and are accepted at all public colleges and universities in the state of Alabama and may transfer to out-of-state colleges.

Will I still be a freshman when I get to UA?

Students who have completed early college classes are still eligible for all the first time UA experiences! You are qualified to apply for scholarships, to apply for admission to UA Honors College, to go through rush and experience everything at

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UA with the rest of the freshman class. Students who have completed Early College credits will have the advantage of feeling confident in their classes, and will find that they have more time to participate in other academic experiences like study abroad, summer internships and more.

I’ve never taken a class online, how will I know what I am doing?

Students who enroll in Early College come to Gateway Day on UA campus. There, students become familiar with the UA eLearning system, talk to UA faculty and staff about making the transition from high school work to college courses, time management and what it means to officially be a student at UA! Early College students will also complete a Gateway course to reinforce the skills needed to succeed in the distance-learning program. You will review the eLearning system, freshman writing protocols, research skills and other important course information, earning two hours of college credit in the Gateway course!

Who will be there to help me when I have questions about my classes or my course work?

Instructors accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools are there to help you. Using online resources, you can interact with instructors and get help when you need it. Peer Coaches, upper level undergraduate and graduate students at UA, are also available to talk to students, answer questions about college courses and help Early College students stay motivated and track.

Where can I learn more about Early College?

Visit the Early College website at www.uaearlycollege.ua.edu for information on application deadlines, scholarships, classes and more!

Coriell found opportunities to do just that through organizations such as Youth for Christ’s Teen Moms program, Big Brothers Big Sisters and through her work in the College of Human Environmental Sciences.

While taking classes, studying for tests and serving as her college’s representative to the UA Student Government Association, Coriell continued to expand her volunteer reach throughout the Tuscaloosa community. “I knew that there was much more out there, beyond my little world on campus,” Coriell said. “My professors helped find me places in the community and on and off campus to volunteer and get involved.”

After finishing her degree in Human Development and Family Studies, Coriell was hired by Tuscaloosa’s One Place. This local family resource center dedicates funding, volunteers and time to design programs for children and families in Tuscaloosa County by offering them afterschool care, adult GED courses and career development classes.

Shortly after being hired, Coriell accepted the position of Afterschool Program Director at Cottondale Elementary. Coriell and her team faced challenges as they built this new program.

They worked hard to create a safe place for students, but also a place where students and their families could grow and learn together.

Employees and volunteers at the afterschool program work with children to build relationships. They also interact with families to council parents, grandparents and sometimes siblings on topics such as bullying, conflict resolution and anger management.

“It starts with a relationship, and my coursework in Human Development and Family Studies really taught me how to relate to people,” said Coriell, who believes she walks away from her afterschool program each day having learned more than her students.

Through her work, she has seen children grow and learn life’s lessons: be tolerant, show respect, develop confidence and have patience. Coriell said she too grows in these ways daily, simply by building relationships

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“I enjoyed the concept of working in this industry because it is such a broad field and you can go into many areas. My first job had a little production, coordinating, merchandising and sales all wrapped up into one,” said Jessica. “At first I hesitated to choose fashion as a career path, but after my first semester, I realized that the fashion business was what I wanted to do. I researched the Department of Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design in Human Environmental Sciences and realized the major was everything I wanted.”

To complete her degree, Jessica was exposed to the many different aspects of the fashion industry through a broad range of coursework.

“My courses were very helpful because they were a mix of hard-core business classes and fashion classes,” said Jessica. “I took classes in my major like international marketing, consumer behavior, retail management and accounting. I also participated in fashion retail seminars, visual merchandising and cultural dynamics of fashion, just to name a few.”

While excelling in her classes and immersing herself in campus activities, Jessica worked with professors in her department to find internship and job opportunities that would help her succeed after graduation.

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o you thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and enjoy working with people? Would you enjoy working with one of the nation’s largest employers – the fashion industry? Jessica McNeal from Coral Gables, Fla., found it was her passion and has worked in the fashion retailing and modeling industries since graduating from UA.

In the fall of 2008, Jessica found the perfect occasion to gain valuable experience working with a fashion line. Jessica spent the summer employed as a retail merchandising intern with the Karen Kane Inc. clothing line in Atlanta.

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f you are interested in history, art, experimenting with color, shape and texture, then apparel design might be right for you. Mary Catherine Moody, from Birmingham, Ala., has shown her designs on the catwalk, and has used her design skills to land a fashionable internship in New York City.

MARY CATHERINE MOODY has always been a designer. While a high school student in Birmingham, Ala., she took art classes and designed jewelry for her friends and herself. But it wasn’t until Mary Catherine enrolled in the Apparel Design program at UA that she found her true passion.

an oversized tee shirt and are instructed to make interesting, fashionable and unique garments that are then auctioned as a fundraiser for CHES.

“I love art and creativity,” said Mary Catherine. “And I’ve always liked to design and sew, but I never actually made a garment until I was in my classes. I was amazed to see what I learned and what I could make.”

As she started looking for internships, Mary Catherine utilized another area of her design talent to market herself and her clothing.

By building a personal portfolio web site, www. m a r yc at h e r i n e m o o d y. com, the designer was able to showcase her collection with photos from Rock the Runway, projects, her resume, sketchbook and blog to potential employers, professors and customers.

Mary Catherine has taken classes in apparel construction, pattern design, draping and other courses that have taught her how to design and create her own garments. She also has studied subjects that taught her the business side of fashion and apparel merchandising. Taking classes that incorporated the merchandising aspect of fashion into her curriculum made the budding designer more aware of marketing herself and her clothing.

As a student athlete at The University of Alabama, JESSICA MCNEAL was comfortable wearing running shoes and a track uniform for close to 30 hours a week her first two years of college. However, the recent Apparel and Textiles graduate has traded her athletic uniform for the styles of Karen Kane and fast-paced world of the Miami fashion and modeling industries.

“Becky Blair, the internship coordinator and a professor in the department, set up the interview for me,” said Jessica. “Ms. Blair had previously worked for Karen Kane as their vice president and still had wonderful relationships with the company. I absolutely loved it.”

As a junior at UA, Mary Catherine had her first opportunity to show her own line, La Femme Collection, at a CHES fashion show. The Rock the Runway show is a spectacular production that allows Apparel Design students to showcase their clothing. The show also is an opportunity to build a portfolio that they can use when applying for internships and jobs.

As an intern, Jessica was in charge of overseeing four stores in the Atlanta area. She got to work directly with the stores to merchandize, organize and decorate with new pieces from the Karen Kane collections on their sales floor.

“I spent three months designing and hand sewing 13 dresses for the show,” said Mary Catherine. “After I worked that hard, it was amazing to see them finished and coming down the runway. I wish every day could be a fashion show.”

A Coral Gables, Fla. native, Jessica was initially attracted to the fashion industry after working for a fashion show production company the summer before she enrolled at UA.

“It was a challenging and creative internship that gave me freedom to do as I pleased selling on the floor,” said Jessica. “The internship made me more confident and independent.”

Mary Catherine also participated in the 2007 Tee Time fashion show.

The show is a challenge for students like Mary Catherine, who are given

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f you thrive in creative project management, enjoy working with people and problem solving, then a major in Interior Design might be right for you. The interior designer plans interior spaces that serve the aesthetic, functional, safety and economic goals of their client.

Heather Griffin, a UA graduate from Somerville, Ala., has turned her talent at design into an earth friendly career using new “green building” techniques.

As a graduate of the Interior Design program in CHES, HEATHER GRIFFIN has always been comfortable using color in her work. She has now found that working with “green design,” or environmentally sustainable techniques, and her bachelor’s degree from UA have given her an edge over many of her peers in the field.

When Heather graduated from high school in Somerville, Ala., she knew that CHES was the right choice for her. In fact, the aspiring interior designer knew that the College was the only choice for her.

“I came to Alabama specifically for my major,” said Heather. “The Program had a great reputation and my research showed it was the place to go for interior design. When I sat for my second interview with the president of the firm where I work, she told me they would hire almost anyone coming out of the design department of UA because the program was so well respected.”

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While a student, Heather was involved in a diverse group of activities.

She served as an Ambassador for the College, was the President of the UA Wesley Foundation and became associated with the American Society of Interior Designers.

Although Heather was involved in many student organizations, she continued to excel academically. Heather was named the Outstanding Senior in Interior Design, maintained a high GPA, completed a summer internship with an interior design firm in Montgomery, Ala. and chose to spend a semester studying Renaissance art in Italy.

“Studying abroad changed everything about how I design,” said Heather. “It was also such a great life lesson and that is what college is all about–surrounding yourself with new cultures, new ideas and new people.”

Heather has continued to surround herself with new ideas since graduating in May 2008. Since beginning her job as an interior design intern at JH Partners Architecture & Interior Design in Huntsville, Ala., Heather and also received her LEED-AP certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Accredited Professional is a qualification that allows Heather to certify projects with the U.S. Green

“I worked very hard on my web site,” said Mary Catherine. “When I interviewed for internships, all of the designers were so impressed that I had put something like that together.”

Because of the outstanding response to her web site, Mary Catherine has been approached to serve as a spokesperson for the company that hosts her site, and has been asked to speak to CHES classes about how her site has helped expand her budding career.

Building Council. She is now one of two members in her firm to have a LEED-AP certification, and the only interior designer.

“I am the youngest member of the firm to have this certification and that makes me an asset,” said Heather. “I think that says a lot about a recent graduate.”

Heather will continue to work under an architect as an interior design intern until she has enough hours to qualify her to sit for her National Council for Interior Design Qualification certificate.

“When I went about creating a portfolio and preparing for job interviews, I had constructive criticism and encouragement in my mock interview and portfolio critiques,” said Heather. “I also had teachers who shared leads within the job market and when I received the offer for my job I went directly to our financial planning instructor for insight and understanding of the offer. I actually had the job before I graduated. I had wonderful support finding my internship from our entire college.”

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“I knew that Financial Planning and Investment Management was the field I wanted to enter,” said Kyle, “so the concentration in Family Financial Planning was much more suitable for me than getting an MBA.”

After her first taste of government work in Washington, Melissa was sure she wanted to go back. She began researching internship opportunities with Speaker Newt Gingrich and secured a position the following summer as his research intern.

Kyle enrolled as a graduate student in Consumer Sciences, with the ultimate goal of sitting for his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential. To be eligible to sit for the exam, Kyle would complete a specific academic curriculum, offered to both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Consumer Sciences at UA. While a student, Kyle joined the Financial Planning Association in CHES. Like other members, Kyle had the chance to hear professionals and faculty members speak about their field and offer advice to students about to begin their job search.

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o you have an aptitude for math, economics and social sciences?

Do you have an interest in public policy and consumer issues, a concern for helping people reach their financial goals? Kyle Whittington combined his skills in business, economics and his passion for helping others to start his successful career as a Certified Financial Planner.

When KYLE WHITTINGTON graduated from The University of Alabama in 2005 with a degree in Finance he knew he wasn’t yet done at the Capstone. Some students stay an extra year for another football season; some stay for one more spring break. Not only did Kyle get to spend one more fall tailgating, he also earned a degree that would prepare him for a job in the competitive field of financial planning.

During his senior year at UA, Kyle, a Montgomery, Alabama native, was an active member of many student organizations and a charter member of the Alabama Finance Association. His campus involvement helped him to earn an internship at Merrill Lynch in Tuscaloosa.

Splitting time between finishing his degree and working, Kyle began to explore his options after graduation. While speaking with a coworker at Merrill Lynch, Kyle discovered the Family Financial Planning program within the CHES’ Department of Consumer Sciences.

“Professors continually told us about opportunities in smaller firms, we just had to look hard to find them,” said Kyle. “It also helped to have guest speakers come to classes and explain their businesses.

This opened up doors and gave us ideas about where to look for jobs.”

After graduating from UA with his graduate degree, Kyle was hired to run the trading desk at Meld Financial in Birmingham and earned his Certified Financial Planner’s license. Kyle’s responsibilities initially included continuous research on available products in the investment markets. Since working for Meld, Kyle’s responsibilities have expanded and he now works directly with clients and the president of his company to manage client assets.

“My main goal as a CFP is to make sure that everything we decide is what is best for the client,” said Kyle. “We want to help the client feel comfortable with our management and recommendations.”

Kyle understands the importance of hard work and personal relationships in the classroom, and in his professional career. “In the College of Human Environmental Sciences, I really felt everyone knew me and was there to help me if I really needed it,” said Kyle. “They were quick to help with school material and offered many ideas for job searching close to graduation.”

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f you are interested in a major that incorporates information from all areas of Human Environmental Sciences, then consider the General HES course of study. Allison Burch, a senior from Pensacola, Fla., has used her classes to help her prepare for a variety of internships and apply for graduate programs.

After playing softball for two years at a junior college in her hometown of Pensacola, Fla., ALLISON BURCH decided it was time to hit the major leagues. Allison transferred to UA, interested in finding a major where she could pursue her varied interests and prepare herself for different career and graduate school options.

After taking classes in a couple of different majors, Allison found her place as a General Studies student in the CHES. The department Allison chose gave her the freedom to explore different classes while finding a concentration that would allow her to apply for internships, graduate school and jobs in a variety of fields.

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“Dean Milla Boschung put me in contact with an CHES alumnus who had previously worked for Speaker Gingrich, which was extremely helpful,” said Melissa. “Also, Dean Boschung and Mrs. Jan Brakefield, a professor in Consumer Sciences, were extremely helpful and worked with me, allowing me to get class credit for the internships.”

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or students interested in public policy, economics, business and consumer based issues; a major in Consumer Sciences is a perfect fit. Senior Melissa Chambers combined her skills in these areas to help people through politics.

When MELISSA CHAMBERS enrolled in her first class at The University of Alabama, she had no idea that her hard work would land her the big house - the White House, that is. Melissa, a senior majoring in Consumer Affairs in the Department of Consumer Sciences, spent her fall 2008 semester working as an intern for then First Lady Laura Bush.

Melissa’s road to the White House began at Alabama when she registered as a student in the CHES. “I decided Consumer Affairs would be this best major for me because of the diversity and because I could pick a focus, which is government,” said Melissa. “My focus allowed flexibility for my internships, and allowed me to receive course credit for my work.”

During the summer after her freshman year at Alabama, Melissa worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern for Senator Richard Shelby and Congressman Spencer Bachus. As an intern, she gained valuable experience working in government offices, handling media inquiries and working with constituents for the two lawmakers.

“Finding the General Studies major was like a breath of fresh air,” said Allison. “I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do, and this major allows students to explore all of the different departments in the College of Human Environmental Sciences.”

Allison found that her decision to major in General Studies placed her in classes where professors knew her name, cared about her work and were interested in helping her find a chosen path.

“I wish that I had found the General Studies major when I first came to UA,” said Allison. “My major has allowed me to mold my course of study to my interests, whether those interests be in sports management, government or even some consumer science-related field.”

While a student at UA, Allison got involved in campus activities that allowed her to pursue her different interests. Allison was involved in multiple student organizations. She also found an internship that allowed her to utilize skills she had learned in many of her General Studies classes, as well as her passion for sports.

Allison spent a summer working with the Pensacola Pelicans, a minor league baseball team in her hometown. During her internship, she worked with community relations and marketing. Because Allison

While working for Gingrich Communications, Melissa had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of Washington D.C. media.

She worked on research for the book, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, and assisted in preparation for media appearances.

While working for Speaker Gingrich, Melissa began to pursue different White House internships, which she had heard about from several other interns in the D.C. area.

She was selected to work in First Lady Laura Bush’s press office. There she compiled daily news articles and photos, completed reports for Mrs. Bush’s Chief of Staff highlighting weekly work, prepared briefing papers for Mrs. Bush’s press and communications opportunities and was selected to greet guests at holiday parties hosted at the White House.

“Working in the White House was an experience in itself,” said Melissa.

“Actually working there was an amazing feeling, getting to walk through those gates every day is something I will never forget.”

Now, back at UA, Melissa serves as an CHES Ambassador and is a fellow of the Crenshaw Leadership Academy. She plans to graduate in May 2010, and hopes to continue her work in Washington, D.C. “These opportunities have provided me with many contacts in many different fields,” said Melissa. “I think the contacts I have made, combined with the skills I acquired while working in these offices have prepared me to find a job in politics.”

enjoyed her time working with the Pelicans so much, she pursued a student position working with Sports Marketing for UA athletics.

As a student worker with UA Sports Marketing, Allison worked with professionals around campus to produce events for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball.

“It’s not hard to get involved on campus in activities that you like,” said Allison. “Even as a transfer student I found that if I was interested in something, I just had to research the organization and get in touch with the right people. That’s how I found out about UA Sports Marketing.

Working there was great, and I can see how all of the classes that I take in General Studies will contribute to someone interested in a job in that area.”

When she graduates in December 2009, Allison is confident that her diverse classes and experiences at UA will prepare her to apply for graduate school.

“No matter what I decide to do after I graduate, I feel like the classes I am taking in General Studies will prepare me,” said Allison. “I have learned so many skills that I know I can apply anywhere.”

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f you thrive in an environment of helping others, personal accountability and nontraditional work hours, the hospitality industry might be right for you. RHM graduate Rachel Thorington put her skills to work helping to serve Alabama’s elite football guests.

“The curriculum, advisors and professors are a very important part of finding your internship and succeeding in it,” said Rachel. “The Restaurant, Hotel and Meeting Management program encourages internships, and professors are always more than willing to help a student find the correct fit.”

Having previously worked in foodservice and hospitality, Rachel was prepared for the demands of her internship. Before the football season started, Rachel contributed to the production of the policy manual, menu portfolios and any other information sent to the skybox holders. During the season, she served as a liaison between visitors, the catering staff and UA Athletic Department.

“I worked every home game that fall,” said Rachel. “Those seven days made me understand the expectations and responsibilities of being a hospitality manager. It is such a tremendous event and so much goes in to that one day.”

For many UA students, the spring A-Day game is a preview of the upcoming football season. For RACHEL THORINGTON, the 2007 A-Day game was an introduction to her internship in the BryantDenny Stadium Skybox office. Rachel worked with The Colonnade Group and spent a year with the business team that manages the high-end skybox seats and creates a one of a kind experience for Alabama football fans.

When Rachel, a Restaurant, Hotel and Meetings Management major, began looking for an internship, she focused her search on the eventplanning field. Although the Tuscaloosa native originally looked for internships outside of her hometown, she quickly changed her mind when introduced to The Colonnade Group.

The Birmingham-based business specializing in sports hospitality management hosts events at SEC schools, conference championships and fundraisers. It was a perfect fit for Rachel. Her internship allowed her the flexibility to continue taking classes as she approached graduation and working part time when she needed.

Rachel’s experience with Alabama athletics didn’t stop there.

Although her placement as an intern was in the Bryant-Denny Skybox office, Rachel was given the opportunity to attend and work at many different sporting events, on and off the UA campus. During her year with The Colonnade Group, Rachel had the chance to work in the Coliseum Club Room during basketball and gymnastics events, to travel to the SEC Championship and work on the Dr. Pepper SEC Fanfare and to work at the SEC Track and Field championship.

When Rachel’s internship with The Colonnade Group came to an end, she was offered a job at the Westervelt Warner Museum of American Art in Tuscaloosa, where she serves as the Event and Adult Tour Coordinator.

“I would definitely advise students to complete at least one internship during their college career,” said Rachel. “My internship and classes were vital to where I am today in my career. I learned more than I could have ever imagined and I will always value the experience I had.”

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he hospitality industry is ideal for individuals who are passionate about meeting people’s needs and providing outstanding customer service. Sarah Israel, at left in photo, shares her passion for serving others through her glamorous internships working with organizations raising money for charitable causes.

When SARAH ISRAEL set foot on the red carpet at her first Hollywood party, she felt right at home. Fortunately, Sarah had already found a home in the CHES that prepared her for her challenging internship with a premier event planning and public relations firm in Los Angeles the summer after her junior year at UA. Growing up in Birmingham, Ala., Sarah’s family had planned events for the Arthritis Initiative. Fundraisers like the Bone Bash and Car, Keys and a Cure continue to raise money for a number of areas of arthritis research, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that affects Sarah’s younger sister.

“I had the opportunity to work with my mother and plan events for a foundation that really makes a difference for a huge number of people and their families,”

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If you have an aptitude for science and a passion for helping people lead healthier lives, consider the Food and Nutrition major in the Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management. Leah Gates, a 2009 graduate in Food and Nutrition from Headland, Alabama, found her career calling in this field. Graduates like Leah in food and nutrition find opportunities to work in major medical centers, small hospitals, public health programs, corporate wellness programs and private consulting firms.

LEAH GATES excelled in the classroom and in campus activities, striking a balance that allowed her to use her talents and academic success in many areas of campus involvement.

Leah received recognition for her work with awards from CHES, the Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management and from the Alabama Dietetic Association.

Leah’s pursued her goal of becoming a registered dietitian by applying to and being accepted into the department’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP). While completing coursework and supervised practices experiences for the UA CP, Leah was an active member of her social sorority, served on numerous Student Government Association committees, was a member of Freshman Forum and joined several professional organizations.

Leah’s involvement across campus allowed her to use skills from her nutrition classes to help fellow students. As a member of Chi Omega social sorority, Leah served as the nutrition and food committee chair, helping make meal and snack options in her sorority house more nutritious. Extending the reach of that project, she was chosen by faculty members to make a presentation at a Greek House Directors Convention. She spoke to house directors from around the southeast and offered healthy meal tips, information from the American Dietetic Association, sample meal plans and ideas for creating food committees – much like the one she worked with in her own sorority house.

In and out of the classroom, Leah worked with her professors to put her curriculum to good use. During a required rotation for her major, Leah had the opportunity to work with Lori Greene, assistant director

said Sarah. “My mother and the other organizers of the early events worked hard to bring doctors to Alabama that could work with children like my sister. I saw how event planning could change lives.”

Sarah found it was easy to put her background and natural talent at event planning to work as a student at UA. She served as the vice president for Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as acting as the secretary for the Hotel and Restaurant and Convention Association and serving on the Human Environmental Sciences Academic Honor Council. Outside of CHES, Sarah found ways to gain even more experience by serving as the social chair for Delta Delta Delta, her social sorority.

Using connections she made through CHES and friends, Sarah began to look for internships in the Los Angeles area her junior year.

Her persistence paid off when she found a 12-week internship with Fingerprint Communications, a fashion and lifestyle firm that operates in New York and Los Angeles.

While at Fingerprint, Sarah had the chance to use the combination of skills she learned in her RHM classes and in her personal experiences with event planning to work on large private events like the Maxim Extreme Sports Party and charity functions like Design for Humanity.

of nutrition education and health services at The University’s Student Health Center. As part of her work, Leah was responsible for creating new projects for Eating Disorder Awareness Week, reaching out with information about body image and the dangers of eating disorders to Alabama students.

Leah also found ways to put other classroom lessons to work in her extracurricular activities. As the choreography director for UA’s Student Government Association Homecoming celebration, Leah used valuable time management and organizational skills to arrange the event, which was attended by 1,500 people and raised $6,400 for charity.

Now working on a master’s degree in Health Studies, Leah works as a graduate assistant and remains involved in activities around campus.

“Any organization that is available to a student is a good one,” said Leah. “I think that the more you are involved in your college and university, the more you will get out of your four years here at the Capstone. I’ve made so many friends being in different organizations around campus.”

The event featured celebrity designers like Nicole Richie and Nicky Hilton and was a fundraiser for the SurfRider Foundation.

Sarah participated in planning, preparation and on site control of red carpet events and charity fundraisers. She worked with staff members to prepare photographers for celebrity entrances at events, to maintain a log of fashion clippings for their clients and to promote their products.

“I was impressed with how much freedom and responsibility I was given in my internship,” said Sarah. “I was given the liberty to make on the spot decisions and do things I had learned about working with my mom and in school.”

Now a graduate of the RHM program, Sarah plans to work with her family in Birmingham to promote awareness and support of the Arthritis Initiative before looking for opportunities to move back to Los Angeles and work in non-profit event planning and fundraising.

“I love that I have a degree that I can really put to use,” said Sarah. “I learned such a mixture of things, but I am so excited right now about working with a cause I am so connected to.”

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re you passionate about health? Are you energized by helping people improve their health status? If so, the health studies program might be right for you. Trent Moore, a senior from Alabaster, Ala. is hopes to use his degree to help save lives, in more ways than one.

Trent saw the opportunity to develop a program using techniques he learned in his Health Studies courses at UA. He took classes in health communications, health promotion, public health and nutrition.

UA senior TRENT MOORE was just 14 when he discovered his career calling to help keep fire fighters healthy. Trent, a General Health Studies major in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, began volunteering at the fire department in his hometown outside of Alabaster, Ala. as a teenager. Most of his responsibilities at that time had more to do with running errands and cleaning up than with fighting fires. Still, Trent began to develop a passion for the profession and a respect for the demanding physical challenges it presents.

“It is amazing what these men do,” said Trent. “Even when they get hurt and they have to keep on going: through training missions, through rehab and through work every day.”

Trent’s love for firefighting lead him to join the Fire Explorer Program, allowing him to work with the Hoover, Ala. fire department and experience for himself the hard physical trials of the job.

“These men are some of the hardest working athletes out there,” said Trent. “I started thinking about how much the profession could benefit from a training and health program beyond having a weight room in the fire station and the physical aptitude test firefighters take.”

Like other students in the department, Trent had the chance to choose from a broad range of classes that would prepare him for a career in many different health fields. After finishing their degree, students are ready to work for public health organizations, non-profits, private corporations and to attend graduate school in a number of health and policy related fields. In addition, students are prepared to sit for an exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing to become a Certified Health Education Specialist.

“The professors in Health Science teach you like you are a colleague and not just their student,” said Trent. “I loved the general health classes that expose you to the ecological approach to health and fitness. It is so important to understand that there isn’t just one piece to being healthy. It has to be a combination of all those different things: fitness, nutrition, training.

When he graduates in spring of 2010, Trent hopes to attend a graduate program in Athletic Training, and then to enroll in Fire College.

With his educational background in Health Studies and a graduate degree, Trent would like to assemble a physical training and rehabilitation program at his fire station that will help prevent injuries, get firefighters back on the job after they have been hurt and will allow them to better serve the community at large.

“I like to do things that are hands-on. When I work, I like to see the results happening right in front of my eyes,” said Trent. “I want a program like this to work where I am, but I would love to see it implemented everywhere.”

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tudents interested in developing a strong foundation in needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention programs in community, medical, work site and school settings should consider a degree in Health Studies. Michelle Harcrow works with students on the UA campus to make sure their mental and physical health are priorities.

Like many students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, MICHELLE HARCROW is both a student and a teacher. A doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Studies, Michelle also serves as the Assistant Director of Health Promotion in the Student Health Center and is the Advisor for Project Health at UA. Project Health is the University’s peer health education student organization. Michelle works with students from a variety of disciplines across campus to promote health, provide guidance to students and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Like Michelle, students involved with Project Health have made it their goal to spread awareness of the mental and physical health resources UA offers. The program offers UA undergraduates the chance to increase student knowledge about topics like nutrition, alcohol and tobacco use, financial health, mental wellbeing, healthy relationships, and others.

As part of the project, students have given presentations to campus organizations, constructed programs of their own to implement for their peers, worked in elementary schools to present

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he Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) prepares students for careers in athletic training by providing quality coursework and offering exposure to a variety of directed education experiences and allied health professionals. It also prepares graduates for the certification examination offered by the Board of Certification.

ERROLL LEWIS knew his future was at The University of Alabama.

Once he arrived on campus, he found his career in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP).

“I knew I wanted to become a certified Athletic Trainer, but more importantly, I knew I wanted to attend UA,” Erroll remembered. “When I discovered that UA offered Athletic Training as a major, that just made it even better!

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) prepares students for the BOC Certification Examination and careers in athletic training and allied health professions. Selection into the ATEP is made at the end of the spring semester. To major in Athletic Training, students must be accepted into the ATEP from the General Health Studies major in HES. Once accepted into the ATEP, students are assigned to a different clinical site every semester, which typically is a sport on campus, a local high school, or clinic of some sort.

“The program directors do a great job of placing us at sites based on what sport(s) we might like to work with in the future,” Erroll said.

“I was fortunate enough to work with UA’s football team during their 12-2 season, as well as UA’s swimming and diving teams.”

These experiences, he said, reinforce classroom instruction.

“I must admit that the most interesting thing about my clinical assignments (so far) was getting to travel to different places with the football team, as well as getting to know some of the players. It was cool to realize that although treated like celebrities a lot on campus, most of them are regular guys just like me.”

oral health and nutrition programs and organized the annual Student Health Fair. The Student Health Fair introduced UA students to different health and wellness vendors on campus and in the Tuscaloosa area. It also served as a day for students to enjoy live music, games, snacks and access to affordable flu shots.

“Making the move to college is one of the most transitional times in anyone’s life,” said Michelle. “I have always had a passion for working with adolescents and this is such an amazing way to watch students grow and learn, and then to see them turn around and teach their friends.”

Michelle, who has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State, came to UA to pursue her doctorate in Health Education and Promotion. She is working on a dissertation that will address chronic disease prevention by examining the relationship between religiosity and spirituality, physical activity and dietary behaviors among college students.

“I have always been interested in figuring out what it is that makes people act the way they do,” said Michelle. “I want to know if students’ beliefs and values affect the decisions they make in regards to their physical wellbeing. I would love to use my findings to develop strategies and eventually a chronic disease prevention model for colleges that could also be adapted to the community and public health settings.”

Currently, Erroll is on track to graduate in May 2011, and he then plans to pursue graduate studies and possibly earn a teaching certificate.

Students like Erroll who plan to pursue a teaching certificate do so through the alternative certification program through UA’s College of Education.

“I also have a passion for coaching basketball. I would like to coach high school (and one day, maybe even college) basketball, and be an athletic trainer at the same time. I plan to try and obtain a graduate assistant position as either a men’s basketball coach or athletic trainer.

I have several options, so I’m just going to wait and see where God leads me!”

Michelle has also worked in the Colleges of Human Environmental Sciences and Community Health Sciences to teach, develop and redesign courses for undergraduate students, including a health and wellness advocacy course designed to encourage students to learn more about peer health education. She also has developed the online modular health course, Healthy Bama, which is used as part of the college’s freshmen compass courses. But a classroom is not the only place Michelle finds the opportunity to teach.

She has used her background in Health Education and Health Promotion to reach out into the Tuscaloosa community and work with programs such as the Tuscaloosa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the Alabama Heart Walk and the Adopt-a-School program (Mental Health, Depression & Suicide Strategic Health Team at UA) among many others.

“I have a love for teaching, and a love for students,” said Michelle.

“I think that education should challenge and empower students. The College of Human Environmental Sciences does that. It creates a family network of support, with departments and professors that enjoy the opportunity to give back to their students.”

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f you are enthusiastic about sports, recreation and business, a degree in Sports Management can help you combine your interests and find your perfect career. Kaitlin White, a UA graduate student and former UA gymnast, has turned her lifelong love of sports into a career where she can share her passions with others.

Each year, students in the Sports Management graduate program at The University of Alabama have the opportunity to travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. There, students tour the facility where hundreds of the country’s most promising athletes train. They meet with the director of the facility, the marketing team and the business professionals who run the training center on the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

But for KAITLIN WHITE, a 2009 graduate of the Sports Management master’s program, these were familiar grounds. The former UA athlete had traveled to the Olympic Training Center previously as a competitor. As a high school student in her hometown of Allen, Tex., Kaitlin had competed and trained at the Olympic Training Center before accepting a position on the Alabama gymnastics team.

When Kaitlin graduated from UA in 2008 with a degree in Consumer Sciences, she began to look for ways to combine her love for sports with her passion for business and finance. The master’s program in Sports Management seemed like a perfect marriage of the two.

“The program at UA included all of the different aspects of sports management I was interested in,” said Kaitlin. “We had classes, projects and heard speakers that exposed us to event planning, financial research and all these other areas of sports business that – even though I was an athlete – I didn’t know existed.”

Kaitlin worked as a graduate assistant in the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics while pursuing her master’s degree. There she assisted the event management staff for Olympic sports for designated home contests, helped with sports travel for UA teams and worked with the Alabama Outdoor Track and Field Relays. She also gained valuable experience in marketing, event management and fundraising through her involvement with professional organizations in her department.

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As part of their degrees, students in the Institute for Interactive Technology have helped other UA students develop online portfolios using free online software, created online learning for K-12 school systems and implemented online learning programs for employees of insurance companies to increase certification exam pass rates.

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“UA athletics are so well known, and the program is so well-connected, it is easy to utilize those assets when you are here,” said Kaitlin.

Working with fellow students, Kaitlin participated in hands-on projects that gave her the real-world experience and confidence to handle any aspect of a job in her field.

“I think one of the best things about the program is the variety of students,” said Kaitlin. “I know that we have students with all different types of backgrounds. Some were athletes, some weren’t; some had backgrounds in business, communications, marketing and were from all other types of undergraduate programs. I think we all learned a lot from each other.”

In the final semester of her graduate program, Kaitlin accepted a job with the Allen Americans hockey team, a minor league affiliate of the Dallas Stars, based in her hometown.

“It will be great to really apply everything I learned as a student and an athlete to my job,” said Kaitlin. “At the end of the day, we know that it is just as much about the sports as it is the business.”

re you interested in how technology can link people in the workplace? Students interested in computer-mediated technology work to understand how individuals interact with technology and improve those abilities. KellyAnn Griffiths tapped in to those skills when she developed a computer-based library literacy course.

In the Baer Memorial Library at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala., all sorts of information surround director KELLYANN GRIFFITHS. On a daily basis, she works with reference material, audiovisual equipment, computers and books to help her cadet students maximize the library’s tools.

Seeing the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of her work, KellyAnn created an online literacy course as the Capstone project for her master’s degree in Consumer Sciences at UA. The May 2009 graduate used free online resources to build a one-hour course that students at MMI could take to become more familiar with research tools available in their library. The class was a combination of faceto-face interaction, online resources, video and other computerized tools combined to take students beyond the classroom.

Like KellyAnn, UA students in CHES’ Institute for Interactive Technology have created projects that are used to increase the ability of individuals and organizations to interact with technology.

The graduate program allows students to explore different methods of communication using new and existing technology. Since the degree is offered on campus and completely online, students work closely with faculty using computer-mediated communication tools such as e-mail, instant messaging (IM), SKYPE, blogs, Twitter and Delicious.

The interaction of professors and students using online methods increases the effectiveness of the curriculum.

“The coursework from the College of Human Environmental Sciences certainly played a large roll in giving me a foundation to work on,” said KellyAnn. “Perhaps the best part, though, was seeing how online material was presented to me. I could take how material was presented to me and pattern my own presentation from it.”

Students in the graduate program come from a variety of backgrounds.

Some are professionals working in an environment where electronic communication is a necessity. Some students have used their degree to create online media for University faculty, to provide online training for professionals in a variety of fields and to help students create online portfolios using free online products.

Using a variety of products available online, students in the IIT program have the unique ability to explore new technology and implement it in a practical environment. KellyAnn’s program has allowed cadets at Marion Military Institute to use library resources for class, research and projects in a whole new way.

“Being able to provide instruction to cadets that isn’t bound by the library hours or building is really wonderful,” said KellyAnn.

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