ASSOCIATE DEGREES

North Alabama Makes Your Education Even More Affordable

Students participating in any of our new Associate programs qualifies students for a 2-year, $4500 per year scholarship toward their degree. Incoming students who wish to apply for the Workforce Development Scholarships will be automatically considered based on their GPA and program enrollment. No additional scholarship form is required at this time Apply for an Associate’s Degree program here!

In summary, our new Associate of Science degrees with a focus on workforce development offers numerous benefits to students, employers, and local economies alike. By fostering strong connections between education and industry, these programs help to create a wellprepared and adaptable workforce that can meet the demands of today's dynamic job market. The combination of industry-relevant curriculum, stronger employment prospects, affordability, opportunities for advancement, and a commitment to lifelong learning makes these degrees an attractive option for those seeking a rewarding career. Please be sure to let your colleagues and friends know about these exciting new opportunities at UNA!

Dr. Richardson is a Professor of Biology at UNA and 1982 UNA graduate in Professional Biology. He earned his M.S. in Aquatic Biology from the University of Alabama in 1986, and holds a Ph.D. in

Zoology and Physiology from Louisiana State University awarded in 1990. Following graduate school, he was selected as an Oak Ridge Associated Universities Postdoctoral Fellow from 1990-1991. Dr. Richardson has over 35 years of experience with the population and conservation ecology of freshwater organisms and served as director of the Alabama Rare and Endangered Species Research Center 1994-2004. Dr. Richardson has remained professionally active producing over 120 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports used by legal professionals, the environmentally regulated community, and governmental agencies. He has presented testimony before U.S. Congress and Alabama Congressional Ways and Means Committee. Dr. Richardson was invited by the University of Oxford’s St. Anne’s College (2007) and Harris-Manchester College (2011) to speak on the topic of Global Climate Change and Sustainability. In 2010 he was appointed by Alabama Governor Riley to serve on the Alabama Environmental Management Commission (AEMC) until 2018. While a Commissioner, Dr. Richardson served as Chair of the Rule Making Committee and as Vice-Chair of the AEMC In 2009, Dr Richardson and UNA alumnus Jeff Selby formed AST Environmental, LLC, an environmental consulting firm designed to serve the needs of the environmentally regulated community. Dr. Richardson currently serves as Vice-President and Senior Ecologist for AST. Dr. Richardson’s consulting work through AST has covered not only Alabama and the greater southeastern U.S., but has expanded into New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Texas. In addition to Dr. Richardson and Mr. Selby’s involvement, AST now employees three UNA graduates and a current UNA student. During his time at UNA, Dr. Richardson has taught Introductory Biology, Aquatic Ecology, General Ecology, Animal Physiology, Marine Behavioral Ecology (at Dauphin Island Sea Lab), Tropical Marine Ecosystems, and Biological Literature for Chinese Students in Huaiyin China (June 2018). Dr. Richardson served multiple terms on the Faculty Senate, including serving as President, and taught summer school at Dauphin Island Sea Lab from 1992-2005