UWA Today Magazine is published by the University of West Alabama Office of Institutional Advancement and the UWA Foundation.
Design & Editorial
Betsy Compton
Cody Ingram Lisa Sollie
Savannah Thornton
Dr. J.J. Wedgworth Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Betsy Compton ‘06, ‘10 Director of Strategic Communications
Banks Gordy ‘03, ‘22 Director of Alumni Affairs
Rodney Granec ‘96, ‘17 Director of Sponsored Programs, Research & Outreach
Lynda Harwell ‘81 UWA Foundation Accountant
Photography
Betsy Compton
Cody Ingram Lisa Sollie
Savannah Thornton
Hoda Hassan Grants Specialist
Cody Ingram Marketing Communications Coordinator
Hayden McDaniel ‘21 CMC Technology Coordinator
Teresa Partridge ‘82 UWA Foundation Relations Assistant
Gary Rundles Development Officer
Caroline Stanton ‘11 CMC Digital Equity Coordinator
News, updates, or changes of address
UWA Today Magazine UWA Station 6 Livingston, AL 35470 tigertales@uwa.edu
Lisa Sollie News Communications Coordinator
Savannah Thornton Web Content Coordinator
Chris Theriot Director of Grants & Resource Development Liaison
Kathleen Upchurch Stewardship, Donor Engagement & Research Coordinator
Garrett Webb ‘24 Development Officer
Matt, Lake, Bailey and Brooke Gurley pause for a photo on Terry Bunn Field of Tiger Stadium after halftime activities of Homecoming 2023 in October. Matt and Brooke met nearly 30 years ago on the same campus where Lake now plays football and Matt escorted Bailey as a member of the homecoming court.
A FAMILY THING
Gurleys come full circle after meeting in Livingston
When Matt Gurley moved to Livingston in 1996 to play football at the University of West Alabama, he had no inkling he and his family would develop intrinsic ties to the university and the community they now call home.
Gurley, a four-year letterman at UWA, met his future wife, Brooke Morris, at a Phi Mu Camo Crush party. It was her first year at UWA and his last season playing for the Tiger football team.
“I really didn’t want to go to college, but I wanted to play football,” he chuckled, “and since I switched my major a few times trying to figure out what I wanted to do, that extended my stay at UWA.”
After he graduated in spring 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology, Matt moved back to Morris, Alabama, and Brooke went with him, completing her undergraduate nursing degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
story: Lisa Sollie | photo: Cody Ingram
and later earned a master’s degree from UAB the same year Matt completed a graduate degree in construction engineering management.
Twenty-one years after they said “I do,” the couple are back in Sumter County.
“Brooke and I never imagined we would be living here full time,” noted Matt, “or that our kids would both be students at UWA. We never wanted to pressure them to go here just because we did, we just wanted them to go somewhere and get an education,” added Brooke.
Against all odds, it was their daughter, Bailey, who first chose the University of West Alabama.
“I didn’t know where I wanted to go but I received the most scholarships from UWA,” Bailey said. “I initially wanted to go somewhere close to the beach and maybe study marine biology. My great grandmother, Granny Dot, whom I visited every day after school, suggested I try it here for a year. She knew I always liked going to Livingston.”
Now a senior majoring in elementary education, Bailey can’t imagine going anywhere else. “I still remember coming here as a child,” she recalled. “I was young and I guess I thought it was going to be a big city like Birmingham. Even though it wasn’t, I still really liked it because the people smiled and waved and time seemed to slow down.”
The people were the reason Matt and Brooke never lost touch with the University or the town.
“Many people we met here became not only our life-long friends,” noted Brooke, “but are truly more like family. They gave us a reason to keep coming back,” added Matt.
Their son, Lake, a sophomore engineering technology major, also didn’t know where he wanted to go to college. To him, Sumter County meant getting to hunt and fish at the family’s camp in nearby Gainesville, not necessarily going to school.
“I wanted to play football and I was grateful to be given that opportunity here at UWA. I can play football, earn the degree I want and I can still hunt and fish, sometimes even before class,” Lake said.
“And there’s a family history here too. I’ve been coming for years and wherever I go, I always see someone I know. In a way, it’s like being in my hometown.” That happens especially on Monday nights when Lake, Bailey and a bunch of their friends show up
at their parents’ place for their weekly Monday night suppers, a tradition that began in high school.
“When I was at UWA, somehow I always got stuck with the cooking duties,” noted Matt, “and then when Lake played high school football at Mortimer Jordan, he and Bailey were the fourth generation to attend that school, I would cook for some of his buddies. When we moved to Gainesville, I continued doing that and now every Monday night, both he, Bailey and around 10 to 20 of their friends will show up to eat.”
“I know my parents didn’t move down here to watch over us or anything, but it’s been really nice having them close by,” said Lake. “Monday nights are now my favorite part of the week. I also like that Bailey and I see each other all the time. I’m not sure if we would be as close as we are right now if I had gone to college somewhere else.”
Bailey remembers how excited she was when she heard Lake would be attending UWA too. “It was really hard to leave Lake and go to college,” she admitted, “because we had started to get really close my senior year of high school. Then one day he sent me a text message, that was actually a video of him playing football at our high school. Suddenly there was a lot of static and then Lake appears in a UWA football uniform before the screen goes black. I was so excited yet I was crying too.”
Homecoming is another family tradition the Gurley’s have always embraced, and this year’s was particularly poignant since not one, but both siblings were out on the field during the homecoming game; Lake in his football uniform and Bailey, a member of the 2023 Homecoming court, escorted by Matt.
“As a kid, my favorite thing about homecoming was always the parade, I didn’t even care about the candy, I just loved watching it. I even remember thinking, when I was around 10 years old and the Phi Mu float went by, my mom rode on that float years ago, and when I pledged the same sorority, I got to do that too. But this year, when I was on the float with the Homecoming court and I looked down at all those excited kids lining the street, I saw myself in their faces, and it was really special.”
Later that same evening, Matt caught himself taking it all in as he escorted his daughter across the football field during halftime.
“It was such a special day for both Brooke and I, and it was truly a blessing to see our kids healthy, happy and doing what they love. We love this place. I don’t know many people who can say all four members of their family went to the same university—I’m glad we can.”
RESEARCH LIKE A BOSS
An insatiable appetite for learning led first generation college student Zaria Gulley to the University of West Alabama, and a future in public health.
Shy and reserved growing up, Gulley kept mostly to herself, finding enjoyment and escape reading in her room. Since arriving at UWA last year, however, she has become president of the university’s Student Rural Health Association, conducted her first major research project, and has secured an internship with the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children. She most recently became a member of Student Leadership Council with the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and will serve as one of the undergraduate representatives for the Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences.
“Growing up in a small town like Livingston, there weren’t always many opportunities here, especially at my high school. I knew when I got to college I wanted to get involved and learn as much as possible so I could make the connections I’d need to get a job or get accepted into graduate school,” she noted.
Zaria Gulley is a BOSS scholar, having earned a top spot to conduct research through the Biology Opportunities and Scholarships for Success II National Science Foundation funded program.
story: Lisa Sollie | photos: Cody Ingram
UWA was an easy choice for Gulley, since it was close to home and very affordable, thanks to outstanding scholarships like the Biology Opportunities and Scholarships for Success II (BOSS II). Following on the heels of the successful 2014 BOSS scholarship program funded through a $609,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, UWA’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences was awarded a $1.5 million S-STEM grant (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) from NSF in 2022 that funded BOSS II. The six-year program is designed for undergraduate students enrolled in one of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences’ majors. Gulley, a cell and molecular biology major, was one of only 12 students to be selected to receive the annual scholarship of $8,500, which is renewable for up to four years and includes attendance at professional-level meetings and conferences as well as the opportunity to conduct research, providing her real-world experience to pair with her academic classwork.
Gulley learned about the scholarship from biology professor, Dr. Mustafa Morsy, and UWA’s principal investigator of the BOSS II project. He was also instrumental in her decision to study cell
and molecular biology, a major that he said would give her a good foundation to later attend physician assistant school, her original plan after graduation. His advice and guidance would prove fortuitous for the now sophomore student.
“It’s not easy being a first-generation college student, but Zaria has the motivation and desire to be better,” said Morsy, “and I applaud her for trying hard not to stay in her comfort zone and leaving no opportunity untapped. She’s a modest student by nature, and I often have to remind her not to be afraid to highlight her successes, and not fear those she may think are better than her.”
As principal investigator for the BOSS II project, Morsy also has the charge to encourage BOSS II scholarship recipients to get involved in research as well as apply for internships to make them stand out after they graduate.
Her research project this semester is studying the bacteria, Vagococcus lutrae, which has been discovered as a human pathogen in recent years, alongside Dr. Hung King Tiong, principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. “The goal,” she noted, “is to learn how this bacteria grows, its characteristics, how prevalent it is and how it affects seafood consumers, because the bacteria can be isolated from a marine host. We’re also hoping to discover a culture method for Vagococcus lutrae. Just being able to explore and discover things like this is very exciting!”
No longer interested in PA school, Gulley instead has her eyes set instead on a career in public health, although she is conflicted on exactly what that will look like. She learned of the field when her sister began working on a master’s degree in the subject, but it wasn’t until she did a research paper at UWA on women’s health and reproductive rights, and then had to defend her case in class, that Gulley considered it as a career.
who suffers from it,” she said, “but I would also like to do something related to advocacy—I want to help women with their reproductive rights. Regardless of which route I take, everything I’m involved in now will help get me to the next level.”
Thanks to sociology professor, Dr. Russ Davis, that involvement includes UWA’s Student Rural Health Association. Davis, who is on the board of the Alabama Rural Health Association (ARHA), was also instrumental in forming the student chapter, of which Gulley is president.
“Even though Zaria isn’t a sociology major,” Davis noted, “she has a huge interest in public health and making a difference in people’s lives. A large chunk of what we do with the rural health association here on campus, and the partner organizations we work with, is to get our students connected and give them opportunities and experiences they can use to sell themselves at the point of application to professional school.”
One of the partner organizations he works with is the Area Health Education Center, (AHEC) an organization and federal program that is administered through the state. According to Davis there are seven AHEC regions in Alabama that administer community development grants and health education pipelines at the high school level and up through the professional school level. They also have the AHEC Scholars program, a two-year program available to students studying social work, psychology, sociology, political science, business — anyone connected, even remotely to healthcare.
“I am interested in doing research on women related diseases, like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), because I know someone
“I have an annual on-board day for students to sign up for the program and Zaria jumped right in there and was accepted,” Davis recalled. “As an AHEC scholar she receives a $500 scholarship and is responsible for 20 hours of training through online modules a year. The state AHEC organization also hosts a meeting where they bring all the scholars in the state together and cover the travel for that and in other in-person training or meetings to provide networking opportunities for the students as well.”
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Dr. Russ Davis and Zaria Gulley collaborate through the Student Rural Health Association to explore outreach opportunities.
Another ARHA partner, the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children located in Vestavia Hills, recently expanded their community outreach initiatives and brought Gulley onboard as an intern to assist with that effort. She is the second UWA student to work with them.
“As an intern I am doing outreach, helping to update their resource app Help Alabama, which lists different organizations around the state like the Department of Human Resources or Department of Health, that exist to help Alabamians. In addition, I will go into different communities and tell them about the app and
what is essentially available in their own back yard,” she added.
Gulley also manages to find time to tutor students through Student Support Services and the Trio SSS Scholars program under the supervision of Daphne Bowden, an academic coordinator and education coach at UWA, who Gulley says has been very helpful, educating her on many things, whether it has to do with life or academics or both.
“Zaria has been a joy to work with. Not only is she very studious and she comes prepared for her tutoring sessions, but her students love her and think she is very knowledgeable about the subjects she’s tutoring them on. She is also patient and takes the time to get to know her tutees and figure out the best strategy they need to learn and understand the material,” said Bowden. “Zaria is also active in FLi Society, an on-campus organization for first-generation low-income students, of which I’m the advisor. Through FLi Society, she’s been involved in reading at the University Charter School during Read Across America week. She is definitely not the average college student, she’s really involved, engrossed in her work and takes college seriously. Her first priority is to learn.”
“Zaria is starting to come out of her shell,” added Morsy, “and by the time she graduates she will reach new heights she would never have thought possible a year and a half ago. I believe a major contributor to a student’s success is not us, the faculty, but those students who take advantage of the opportunities they have while they are here at UWA. And Zaria does that. She has great potential and we will be proud of what she accomplishes.”
GOING GLOBAL
story: Lisa Sollie | photo: contributed
Through the new Global Scholars Community Scholarship, UWA students can earn the opportunity to see the world through international exchanges with a growing list of more than 25 partner universities.
When Dr. Mark Davis took the helm of International Programs at the University of West Alabama in 2014, he wanted to bring the world to UWA and offer the world to the students.
According to Davis, before the pandemic halted international travel there were more students at UWA planning to study abroad than ever before, but it’s been difficult to rebuild the robust program. That’s why he is excited about UWA’s new Global Scholars Community Scholarship, an exclusive program designed to elevate students’ academic experience and shape a more interconnected future. These new scholarship opportunities are aimed at incoming high school seniors and for current UWA freshmen.
High school seniors interested in studying overseas are invited to apply for the scholarship, which includes two round-trip international airline tickets to university partner schools throughout the world, up to $6,000, and prepares students for international exchanges with partner universities through campus-based programming and faculty-led study-abroad opportunities. According to Davis, UWA currently has more than 25 partners throughout the world.
UWA freshmen can also apply for the Global Scholars Community Scholarship program to help ensure participation in enriching programs that contribute to academic and professional development and includes up to $3,000 for travel to UWA partner study abroad locations.
Davis insists recruiting international students to UWA is not a problem. “The struggle,” he said, “is getting students to understand or embrace that study abroad opens the door to collaborate, exchange ideas and connect them with other global scholars fostering academic rigor, healthy competition and cultivate a global mindset before they even set foot on our campus.”
Two UWA students, senior Carlyn Rawls and sophomore Madelyn Brasher, know firsthand how life changing studying abroad can be. Rawls, who spent a year in France, not only had the opportunity to visit some of the most popular cities in Europe, but she met people from all over the world and learned about new cultures and worldviews.
Brasher was part of small group of students who went to Ireland in the fall of 2023, a study abroad trip that she says made her life richer and more fulfilled.
“Exploring the world outside of Alabama gave me a new perspective on life that I would have never imagined otherwise,” said Brasher. “While this trip emphasized academics, I got to try amazing food, visit surreal geographical areas and engage in unique conversations, and that has made me more well-rounded.”
“Studying abroad,” added Rawls, is a once in a lifetime opportunity everyone should do if they have the opportunity.”
Growing up in Southern California, Davis had access to meet people from all over the world, but acknowledges that is not the norm for most areas of the rural south. As dean of international programs for UWA, he wants to expand well beyond the physical borders of the university and help students realize studying abroad isn’t really so far away.
“Through the Global Scholars Community Scholarship, I want to place students in UWA’s partner universities around the world, which include partners in western Europe, Japan, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, China and Vietnam to name a few,” he noted, “but I can assist with faculty-led study abroad programs as well.”
Junior integrated marketing communications major Jillian Lewis is already putting her education and skills to work at a local business.
DESIGNED FOR SUCCESS
Meridian native Jillian Lewis enjoys her part-time job at Emily G and Co., a small business specializing in home décor and interior design in Livingston, Alabama. For Lewis, a junior integrated marketing communications (IMC) major at the University of West Alabama, the store offers the perfect creative outlet to incorporate skills she’s developing through IMC and its new multidimensional interior design track introduced at UWA in the fall of 2023. IMC majors may also choose three other tracks: traditional, graphic design, and sports communication.
According to IMC instructor Audrey Poole, the multidimensional interior design track gives students a general knowledge of interior design history, eras and periods, space planning, ADA accessibility, principles, and design elements, texture and lighting, and 2D and 3D computer modeling. In the final course of the track, Interior Design Agency, students hone their design and presentation skills as they work with real residential and commercial clients.
“In Design Studio I and II, we delve into 2D modeling using AutoCAD software, where students learn how to create computer drawings, including floor plans, interior elevations, and lighting and electrical plans, and then we move on to 3D modeling using another software, Sketchup, that enables students to design 3D models and walk clients through the different spaces they are
designing. While this is not a full interior design program,” Poole added, “students will be well equipped with the knowledge of ideas, principles, and software they would need on a job site.”
Regardless of what track IMC majors choose, IMC program chair Greg Jones is confident the hands-on practical approach of each course expands students’ career options exponentially. Whether multimedia experience in graphic design, photography, web design, social media, news writing, and video production, as well as the specific content each track provides, “everything done in IMC revolves around our ‘See, Do, Teach’ philosophy,” noted Jones. “Students see or watch, they do it, and when they can demonstrate or teach the skill or technique to someone else, we know they’ve mastered it. “
IMC’s philosophy and hands-on practical application attracted Lewis and Tuscaloosa native Kymaya Walker to the program.
A transfer student from Wallace State Community College, Walker was an elementary education major at UWA until she learned about the IMC program from a friend.
“I’ve always had an interest in photography, and I had a good side hustle taking photos; I just couldn’t believe I could do this sort of thing as a job,” she noted.
story: Lisa Sollie | photos: Cody Ingram
Walker, who began the IMC program in the sports communication track, changed her mind when Poole approached her. “I was the kid who would rearrange my room at 3 in the morning,” she recalled with a laugh, “so I thought this might be a good fit.”
Lewis loves that the IMC program allows her to “dabble in a little of everything.” Growing up, she always had a creative outlet, whether decorating Christmas trees with her mom for doctors’ offices in Meridian or redecorating their home and the home of a family friend. When Lewis started college, however, she pursued a degree in elementary education. And although she didn’t dislike the field, she “felt it was not what God wanted for my life.”
Instead, online research led her to the communications field and ultimately to UWA’s IMC program.
“When most people hear interior design, they think of a decorator. It’s what I thought, too,” remarked Lewis, “until I started taking some design classes and learned there were so many elements I didn’t know about.”
Poole is pleased with how well IMC course offerings and the multidimensional interior design classes have complemented one another.
“In IMC, students learn how to market themselves or a business and, through the design courses, how to make schematic presentations using software they’ve been trained on. Last semester, I
had students use both skills for one of their final projects: to pick anywhere on UWA’s campus or in town they thought could be more functional and redesign it. These projects were a win-win for everyone; community members got free feedback and suggestions, and my students gained hands-on experience working with clients.”
Jones says these experiences look good in a student’s web-based portfolio, a requirement for all IMC majors. “Everything our students do is portfolio driven. We want potential employers to see what our students are capable of.”
Walker has learned she is capable of much more than she ever dreamed.
“I still can’t believe all the skills I have, the software I know how to use, and the friends I’ve made through IMC. Now I just need to figure out whether or not to enroll in IMC’s graduate program after I graduate this summer or look for a job.”
Lewis, who won’t graduate until Spring 2025, is focused on finding an internship, another requirement for all IMC majors. “Until now, all I’ve ever done is retail, so I hope to intern in public relations or a similar profession this summer. Whether I’m fortunate to find something in interior design after I graduate in Spring 2025,” she added, “I’ll have my portfolio, resume, and tons of hands-on experience. So I know I will succeed.”
Kymaya Walker, a senior integrated marketing communications major has developed an interior design portfolio that she says is more than she dreamed she could accomplish as a student.
bound for the CLASSROOM
Adonis Williams was in junior high before he experienced what it is like to have a male educator in a classroom. One of only a few male students in the junior and senior blocks studying elementary education on campus at the University of West Alabama, Williams and his classmates are doing their part to break the cycle for the next generation.
According to Dr. Amanda Pendergrass, UWA associate professor of elementary education and chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning, the College of Education has not had this many males in a cohort move together through the program in a very long time.
For Williams, working in a predominantly female field isn’t intimidating. He believes his upbringing prepared him for it. Raised by his mother in the small, tight-knit community of Atmore, Alabama, he was also extremely close to his grandmother and great-grandmother, who passed away last year.
“Family has always been a huge part of my life, and these three women were the ones who shaped and influenced me more than anyone.”
Through this semester’s field experience, he has already experienced a small taste of the impact his presence in the classroom will generate. “I’m soaking it up,” he said with a wide grin. “The
Junior elementary education major Adonis Williams is ready for his turn at the front of the classroom so he can be the role model he says young students need.
kids are already intrigued and want to know more about me, and I want to know about them because I love connecting with people, no matter their age.”
Williams gives nod to his great-grandmother for his caring attitude. “She always gave, and whatever she could do for people, she did it. I think I saw that behavior for so long it made a lasting impression on me, and now I model it too.”
And it’s the impact people had on him that he said he remembers most about elementary school.
“Kids that age are modeling what they see, like I did with my great-grandmother. When I think about all the opportunities I will have — especially as a Black male — to affect them in such a way they may want to model what I do say or say, it is exciting and humbling.”
In the 2020-21 school year, only 1.3 percent of public school teachers were Black men, according to the National Teacher and Principal Survey. Even more startling were the findings published in the Fall 2020 issue of Edge: Carolina Education Review (Gershenson, Hart, Lindsay & Papageorge, 2017; Lindsay, 2020) that stated for Black male students, having a Black teacher for one year in elementary school raised long-run educational attainment, especially for those from low-income households.
story: Lisa Sollie | photos: Cody Ingram
For the most disadvantaged Black males, Lindsay and her team estimated that exposure to a Black teacher in elementary school reduced high school dropout rates by 39 percent and raised college-going aspirations.
“Since most classroom teachers are female, the importance of male elementary teachers cannot be overstated,” noted Pendergrass. “All students need male role models to look up to and learn from, particularly ones who do not have one in the home. In my experience, I have not been in many elementary schools that have any male classroom teachers at all. The fact that UWA has four currently in junior block leaves me feeling hopeful that more males will join the elementary teaching field.”
WILLIAMS’ JOURNEY TO UWA
A transfer student from Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette, Alabama, Williams took classes online his first semester at UWA, but was eager to attend the University in person. While most students would reach out and arrange a tour, he went in a different direction.
“I set up a meeting with the assistant housing director to see what might be available. I knew I didn’t have time to work a job or put a big financial burden on my mom. So yes,” Williams laughed, “my first time in Livingston and on the University campus, and I’m questioning this guy about housing opportunities!” And it paid off. During the visit, he learned he could apply to be a resident assistant (RA), which would provide complimentary housing, and if accepted, all he would have to cover was tuition and fees.
Returning home to Atmore, Williams filled out an RA application and an orientation form since he was transitioning from online classes to in-person. After attending orientation, he vowed to follow every social media platform UWA had, and when he did, he learned the 2023 ambassador applications were available. Williams filled that form out, too, and before classes started that spring, returned to the University for two interviews on the same day, one for the RA position and one for a UWA ambassador.
“Even though I was super excited I was selected for both positions, I didn’t realize then how hard moving away from home was going to be. That first semester was tough. Not only did I miss the three most important women in my life, but I really couldn’t go home regularly to visit them since I was an RA and an ambassador. I also joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and of course, I was trying to keep my grades up.”
When Williams started back to school this past fall, he added a fourth commitment, the Student Government Association (SGA), to his plate. Unfortunately, he was also aware his great-grandmother’s health was declining, and in September, before he could
go home and visit, she passed away.
“Her death was tough. I’m still processing it. In a way, my grief has worsened the longer it’s been, and now, every time I go home, I have to adjust to that void. Thank God I’m busy. It helps me as I try to work through it.”
Graduation may be over a year away, but Williams is ready to “put gas” in his students’ tanks. “In theory, I don’t believe kids ever forget the one who pours into them and fills their tank. Knowing I have the power to not only fill their tank but pay for it and then send them on the way full and ready for the future is amazing!”
He also looks forward to working with fellow educators toward the common goal of student success. “There is just something about school spirit and the togetherness that I’m eager to be a part of. I see it here in the College of Education and can’t wait to experience it wherever I end up.” According to Williams, the COE’s camaraderie and team effort in and out of the classroom has significantly impacted him as a student.
“I see the way the faculty work together and cheer each other on, which encourages me and my classmates to bond and stay connected. Everything the faculty does — what they say and how, how they teach and interact with us, their students — they are modeling what they want us to do with our own students one day. Dr. Pendergrass always tells us she’s here to build effective teachers,” added Williams. “And to me that means, if I’m excited about seeing how my students’ minds work and care about being a difference maker in their lives, I can’t help but be successful in the classroom.”
shortage addressed
RESPIRATORY THERAPY
Jerry King, associate professor of health sciences, looks to welcome the first cohort of students to the new health sciences-respiratory therapy track in the fall 2024 semester. The new program is expected to address a growing shortage in the nation’s healthcare landscape.
As a respiratory therapist and medical educator in Birmingham, Jerry King was keenly aware of Alabama’s lingering shortage of professionals trained to care for one of patients’ essential needs: the ability to breathe.
The good-natured joke among his colleagues, King said, is that respiratory therapists “handle anything from the nose to the diaphragm.” What isn’t as light-hearted is the meager number of respiratory therapists graduating from Alabama-based institutions each year; supply isn’t meeting demand. So King, the former interim director of the respiratory therapy program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, decided to act.
His move essentially hand-delivered one of the state’s newest respiratory therapy programs to the University of West Alabama. The program has been accredited by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and the University is seeking preliminary accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, King said.
Once accreditation is in place, the university plans to admit its first cohort of students in the fall of 2024. Graduates will receive a bachelor of science degree in Health Sciences-Respiratory Therapy track.
King, now an associate professor at UWA, will be the program director and is seeking to develop faculty for the program.
“It was a challenge,” King said. “But I just knew I had help and support of people who said, ‘Absolutely, you can do it. Yes, it’s difficult, but it’s not unbearable. It’s not undoable.’”
Especially at UWA, where Dr. R.T. Floyd, chair of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, was immediately interested in hearing King’s pitch. New academic programs aren’t created overnight, but what started with an initial email to Dr. Mary Hanks, chair of the Division of Nursing, immediately led to discussions between King and Floyd and other UWA administrators, including University President Dr. Ken Tucker.
UWA’s health sciences major already featured five tracks — athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant, and a general track — with plans to consider future expansions with other concentrations, Floyd said. The respiratory therapy track, once fully accredited, will enlarge the major to six concentrations. Plans for other concentrations are underway.
As director of UWA’s athletic training and sports medicine program, Floyd didn’t need much convincing from King’s proposal.
Unless you have a family member in the profession or have been around one, very few people knew what respiratory therapists did until COVID hit.
JERRY KING
ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR OF RESPIRATORY THERAPY
“It’s a no-brainer, really, because there’s a huge demand,” he said. “COVID made that very obvious around the country.” Students will gain experience at clinical sites in west Alabama and east Mississippi, and their classwork will take place on campus at UWA.
A high priority is creating awareness — on and off campus — about the program, said Floyd, who envisions interest may come from current UWA students as well as those who enroll specifically because of the new track. Recruiting the first group of students anchors the process of building a new program from the ground up.
“Mr. King is confident that we can get them,” Floyd said. “He thinks we could easily get 30 students in a cohort.”
Though the addition of a respiratory therapy track to the UWA catalog isn’t directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic, King is adamant that the timing couldn’t be better — for the University and for the state’s healthcare providers.
The intense media coverage of front-line hospital workers during the pandemic often highlighted the efforts of respiratory therapists, whose training placed them at the front of COVID patient care. Before the pandemic, King said, their specialized skills
weren’t as widely known — or valued by the public — as they are now. “In reality, unless you have a family member in the profession or have been around one, very few people knew what respiratory therapists did until COVID hit,” he said.
That’s not the case now.
“(COVID) opened up new procedures and care that respiratory therapists are now providing, which is great, except we don’t have enough therapists to do what we need to do now,” King said.
“Now we have all these added procedures we are expected to do. More patients saw respiratory therapists, and respiratory therapists were there at the bedside for a lot more procedures.”
Respiratory therapists’ “nose to the diaphragm” coverage enables them to assist with an expansive list of medical issues, King said. They treat pulmonary disorders in babies. They can insert artificial airways into patients’ throats. They manage mechanical ventilators and other life-support machines. They assist with disease management, smoking cessation, oxygen therapy and medication delivery. They’re involved in certain treatments for sleep apnea. It’s also common for respiratory therapists to assist patients diagnosed with bronchitis, emphysema, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
During a recent state-wide survey, King said there were nearly 200 vacant respiratory-therapist jobs in Alabama. Teaching students who will help reduce that shortage brings him joy.
“I’ve always called it the ‘ah-ha’ moment when you’ve got a student who doesn’t understand something and you’re able to explain it and they still don’t understand it, but you change the way you explain it and you see their eyes light up,” he said. “You can see when they grasp it. Hopefully, I can make a difference.”
JOIN UWA’S NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
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RURAL IS OUR BUSINESS
Dr. Uchenna Akpom, professor of accounting, finance & economics, was recently named director of UWA’s doctor of business administration in rural business program and has big plans for the unique degree program.
Longtime UWA business professor Dr. Uchenna Akpom was recently named director of the University’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Rural Business program. The first of its kind degree program was introduced two years ago at UWA and features relevant courses that focus on critical issues as well as strategies and solutions related to rural businesses and designed to offer innovative solutions to global rural business challenges.
According to Dr. Willy Hill, dean of the College of Business (COB), fourteen students are enrolled in the online program.
“UWA’s College of Business is fortunate to have Dr. Akpom as its new DBA Director. His academic and research credentials are outstanding, and his passion for teaching instruction is unmatched. Without question, the DBA program is in great hands under his leadership,” Hill noted.
Akpom joined the university faculty in 1992 as an assistant professor and left six years later. He returned to UWA in 2013 and
was part of the committee led by Dr. Veronica Triplett, assistant professor of business administration, management and marketing, who developed the new DBA program.
According to Hill, the program has experienced significant progress since its inception due to Dr. Triplett’s leadership and countless hours spent on development and implementation. “What a foundation she and the committee have put in place,” he added, “we are indebted to her.”
The degree program at UWA has two tracks. Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation is designed for business professionals or educators interested in creating solutions and new ideas for rural entrepreneurs and small business owners to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Rural and Transformational Leadership is designed to develop effective rural leadership that is practical and capable of addressing multifaceted issues in rural areas and is ideal for professionals who are considering higher education as a career.
Before taking over the helm of the program, Akpom spent the
story: Lisa Sollie | photo: Cody Ingram
last year leading an exploratory committee targeted at publishing a Journal of Rural Business, something he believes would be a repository of research.
“When I started the whole journal process, I didn’t have the doctoral program in mind, but as time passed, the DBA and the journal sort of merged. Rural business is not well-researched, and the few journals that deal with this topic are mostly foreign, not domestic. We want a journal that will bring researchers together worldwide, deal with the deeper problems businesses have in rural areas, and provide practitioners with research information and best practices they can replicate.”
Akpom, who has been interested in the DBA program since its inception, believes it will “enhance the COB and the University, and, since we have students not only from Alabama but other states in the Southeast and beyond,” he noted, “I believe we can do something to improve their regions as well.”
As the director, he also sees his role as an opportunity to impact professional knowledge in rural development.
“Growing up in Nigeria, I didn’t always have a choice where I lived. But when I did, I mainly lived in rural areas, where my interest in rural business developed. In the almost 20 years I’ve lived in Alabama, I have seen things that can be improved and exported, and I want to contribute to the local community where I live,” he added.
Akpom has high aspirations for the DBA program and desires it to be recognized as an elite program in rural business research.
“By research, I mean our graduates’ research,” he noted, “research that I hope will be cited frequently and worldwide. We (UWA) were the first to offer this program; we want others to know why. And maybe someday, when rural business is discussed, UWA will be the first institution to come to mind.”
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER AS AN
areas, ideal for professionals who are considering higher education as a career or part-time employment
The University
story:
AROUND THE WORLD and back
More than a slogan or tagline, there really is something about the University of West Alabama that drew Hannah and Josh Millwood back to their alma mater.
Teaching wasn’t on their radar when the pair attended UWA as undergraduates. And yet it wasn’t long before Hannah, who recently took on the role of master science teacher for UWA-Teach, found herself in the classroom, spending the past five years as a science teacher at Hale County High School. Josh, an assistant professor, is relatively new to teaching, but both are thrilled to return to the University.
“I think it’s kind of cool that the first science class I ever took at
UWA was zoology,” noted Josh, “and now it’s the first class I’m teaching. This is all so surreal, the fact I am now a faculty member and colleague with the professors I had as an undergrad. I forget that sometimes when I’m talking to them, and they have to remind me I can call them by their first name now,” he chuckled.
Although Hannah looks forward to shaping the next generation of science teachers at UWA, transitioning from K-12 to post-secondary was challenging.
“Change is tough for me, but once the semester began, I had the same feeling I had when I decided to come here as an undergrad, and I knew I made the right choice,” she noted. “And I can still
Lisa Sollie | photo: Cody Ingram
impact high school students, just in different way. Through UWATeach I have an opportunity to ensure the STEM teachers who graduate from the University are as passionate about their subject areas as I am. Hopefully they will instill that same wonder and excitement in the high school students they will teach someday.”
HOW IT STARTED
A marine biology major, Hannah began her undergraduate studies at UWA in 2009. After graduating in December 2012, she was asked to fill an elementary school science lab position while the teacher was on maternity leave. Although Hannah enjoyed it, she didn’t consider pursuing a career in teaching; instead, she reached out to Dr. John McCall, now professor emeritus of biology, to discuss going back to school.
“Dr. McCall was the main reason I came to UWA to begin with, so naturally, he was the first person I thought of when I considered pursuing a master’s degree in biology. I returned to UWA in the fall of 2013 and did a thesis track, which included monthly trips to Santa Rosa Sound, taking samples of seagrass meadows. Not only did Dr. McCall help me with that, he also hooked me up with the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), where I worked two seasons as a field technician,” she noted, “before I got a call from a friend who mentioned Demopolis High School needed a science teacher, and I decided I’d give it a try.”
Josh took a more non-traditional route to higher education. After high school, he spent one semester at the University of North Alabama before deciding to go to work. He was busy working his way up the corporate ladder, and Hannah was an undergraduate student at UWA when the two met through mutual friends. When their relationship grew serious a few years later, Josh received an ultimatum that changed the trajectory of his life.
“I’ll never forget. It was 2011, and Hannah’s mom told me if we ever wanted to get married, I needed to earn a degree,” he recalled. “Back then, I wasn’t thrilled when she said that, but I’m very thankful now.”
Josh enrolled at UWA and planned to major in business until he visited the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, where Hannah was attending summer courses.
“I thought what she was doing looked fun, and Hannah, who knew I’d always loved science and being outside, encouraged me to do it. I was nervous because it was completely different from what I’d been doing the past several years, but I hopped on my motorcycle right then and drove straight to Livingston. UWA’s transfer student orientation was going on that day, and I went ahead and changed my major from business to marine biology.”
In the fall of 2012, Josh began his undergraduate work and was active in research over the next four years. Interested in continuing his studies at the graduate level, he began to apply to several universities when a chance of a lifetime opened up at UWA.
“I never had any particular interest in genetics or molecular biology until Dr. Michael Sandel, a new professor at the time, received a big grant to do research on the fish in Lake Baikal, a rift lake situated in southern Siberia, which is the oldest and deepest in the world. When he told me I could go to Siberia at least once, maybe two times if I stayed here at UWA, I couldn’t pass that up,” said Josh.
“I believe I was the third person to earn a Master of Science in Conservation Biology, a degree the University first offered in 2015. It was such an incredible experience that I honestly don’t believe I would have had the opportunity to do at another university.”
HOW IT’S GOING
Josh and Hannah are happy to be ‘back home’ among the people they credit for nurturing their love of science and research.
“It’s been rewarding to shift from being mentored as a student to now being mentored as another faculty member and peer,” said Josh. “I’m also looking forward to doing active research with my students once I complete my Ph.D. It’s what I’m most excited about, that and mentoring them one-on-one, just like my professors did with me.”
“I remember how much it meant to have faculty invest and pour into me when I was a student here,” recalled Hannah, “and now I have the opportunity to do the same through UWA-Teach. This unique program allows STEM majors to dip their toes into the world of teaching to see if it’s right for them. Everyone is not a classroom teacher. I mean, you do have to have passion for that, too, but most people don’t get the opportunity to try it out. If a student decides to take step one, which is a one credit course, Inquiry Approach to STEM Teaching, and they don’t like it and don’t want to move forward with the program — no problem. They’ll get their money back if they passed the class with a C and can continue along their merry way, no strings attached.”
“Hannah and I are two classic examples of people who loved science and research but never thought about teaching, at least not when we were undergrads,” he added. “That’s why we love this program and why the job is such a great fit for her.” When Josh and Hannah recently attended the annual alumni homecoming party, something they’ve done every year since they graduated, the couple noticed something was different. “It hit us as we were talking and visiting with everyone that we weren’t just former students coming back for a visit,” noted Josh, “we’re faculty now — and we’re home.”
2023-2024
Academic Year
WALKING TOGETHER
Mother and son duo Leslie Hood and Wesley Huddleston shared a milestone at UWA’s fall commencement exercises, walking across the stage to receive their degrees and celebrating their journey together.
Leslie Hood was three months pregnant with her son Wesley when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma at Valley High School’s graduation in 1999. Twenty-four years later, mother and son walked across the stage at UWA’s 2023 fall commencement, only this time, they each received a diploma.
Hood, who earned a special education degree, has dreamt of this moment since she was a kid.
“My whole life I wanted to be a teacher, but when I got pregnant my senior year of high school, I knew I had to step up, grow up and change my plans,” she recalled, “and school wasn’t part of that. I
continued to work, as I had since I was 16, often working two jobs or whatever I needed to make sure Wesley was taken care of.” She also found fulfillment teaching Sunday School and youth at her church.
Seven years ago, she began working as a majorette and color guard instructor at Beulah High School in Valley, Alabama, and then as a substitute teacher at the high school and Beulah Elementary. When she stepped into the classroom for the first time, Hood knew she was where she always wanted to be, and after being hired as a paraprofessional in 2020, she finally explored going back to school.
story: Lisa Sollie | photo: Cody Ingram
“I knew I’d have to earn my degree online, so I spoke to my principal about it and talked to some of the teachers I worked with, many of whom earned their degrees from UWA, and they all encouraged me to do it.” Her family was also very supportive, but her biggest cheerleaders, she noted, were her husband, whom she married in 2008, and Wesley.
WESLEY’S JOURNEY
Wesley Huddleston was busy finishing up his associate degree at Southern Union State Community College, when his mom began finalizing her plans to go back to school. Going to school in person didn’t appeal to him, and knowing his mom was starting at UWA through their online program, he thought he’d give it a try as well. His degree choice was psychology.
“I’ve dealt with mental health issues most of my life, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as general anxiety disorder, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),” he noted, “so my interest in psychology grew from that. And though I’ve been in therapy since I was a kid, I didn’t want to be a therapist.” Huddleston is interested in forensic psychology, particularly working with the criminally insane and those in institutions. He wants to understand how their brains work. “I believe people like that are often misunderstood.” He added, “I want to help determine what triggers their behavior.”
Huddleston admits he got in trouble a lot during high school. “I had a 504 plan, and I don’t know if I would just get embarrassed or what when a teacher would call on me, but I would act out because I didn’t know how to respond to being singled out.” Many of Wesley’s teachers didn’t understand him, his mom Leslie noted, but for some teachers, the 504-plan helped because it made them stop, look and listen. But for other teachers, not so much.
“That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to be a special education teacher, so I can advocate for my students like I did for my son. I can be the go-between to help educate other teachers ‘why’ a particular student might be shutting down in their class. I can also come alongside parents, because I’ve been in their shoes too. And I can be available to my students whether they just need someone to listen or need help understanding what’s happening around them or remind them they aren’t the only ones struggling,” Hood explained. “We all need to learn to work together to make sure all students have what they need to be successful,” she added.
Most people who don’t struggle with the things he struggles with, noted Wesley, often think he can just overcome his disorders by pushing through them.
“They think ‘it’s all in my head’ but they don’t understand how you can almost become paralyzed with anxiety and worry and it’s hard
to move forward and make yourself get started. Therapy, as well as having people around you who encourage you, like my girlfriend, who helps me a lot and pushes me to keep going, can change the way you think about things. But it’s easier said than done.”
ONLINE DEGREE, THE RIGHT FIT
Earning a degree online has its own sets of challenges and while it may not work for everyone —both Leslie and Wesley said it was the right fit for them.
If it wasn’t for UWA’s online program, Wesley believes he would have flunked out. “I struggled at the community college and often didn’t go to class. Taking online classes required me to do a lot of independent work, reading chapters and taking notes, which I enjoy doing. And though it’s often difficult to get started due to my ADHD, once I do, I’m okay. That was the hardest part for me, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Going to school online was definitely the right move for me,” he added.
“I’ve never been in college before so it was hard, particularly at first, because I’m not one to bother people, I kind of want to figure it out on my own. Once I got over being afraid of my professors and let them know when I needed help or didn’t understand something,” Leslie chuckled, “it did get a little easier.” Regardless of the many awesome instructors Leslie had though, going to school, working full-time and raising kids in a blended family was really stressful and there were days she wanted to quit.
“I couldn’t have done this without my family; our kids and my husband have sacrificed a lot. My church family and the faculty I work with and the administration here at the school have also been a huge encouragement checking on me and making sure I was okay,” she added.
Since the family lives over four hours from UWA, Leslie had no plans to walk at graduation, but Wesley had other ideas.
“I was not a big fan of walking, I’d rather just have my diploma mailed to me,” he said, “but I’m walking for my mom. She’s my role model and favorite person ever. She’s been wanting to go back (to school) for a long time, and even with all my siblings and everything, she didn’t let that stop her and that taught me a lot. Plenty of times I would go to her feeling depressed or overwhelmed and she would reassure me. Not only was she taking care of her family, but she was working full time and going to school and whenever I would see that, I’d think, there’s no reason why I can’t do it too.”
“It’s crazy to think I’ve actually graduated, and Wesley too,” she added. “Out of all the kids, he was the one I was so afraid would drop out of school when he turned 17. I prayed a lot, and look at him now!”
HOMER fieldhouse
SPARKMAN REMEMBERED
One of the University’s most frequented offices on campus now bears the name of a longtime staff member, former student-athlete and alumnus. The University family was shaken by a tragic accident in 2021 that took the life of Susan Talbott Sparkman, then university registrar.
In the fall of 2023, the University dedicated the Susan T. Sparkman Registrar’s Office, made possible by generous contribuitons in honor of her long service to UWA.
A Mobile native, Sparkman earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in sociology in 1998, and a master’s degree in counseling/psychology in 2000. After earning her undergraduate degree, she joined the University staff in 1998. She has served as our registrar since 2008, and before that was assistant registrar and also worked in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Sparkman is fondly remembered for her dedication to her work and the collegiality she demonstrated. Her historic knowledge of the University and its operations related to academics and records, particularly those of accreditation, veterans’ affairs, and enrollment management, have made her an invaluable member of countless committees and teams.
The Sparkman family established a scholarship at UWA in her memory, and friends have supported the scholarship to help provide opportunities for deserving students.
UWA Volleyball 1994-1997
UWA Staff 1998-2021
Sparkman’s colleagues in the Registrar’s Office: (left to right) April Atkinson, Kim Holycross, Emily McInnis, Caroline Stanton and Wanda Bell
SUSAN TALBOTT SPARKMAN
A FIRM FOUNDATION
story: Betsy Compton | photos: contributed
Jason Green, a 1994 alumnus, says that the education he received in Livingston prepared him for the success he’s enjoyed in his career and equipped him to enjoy the travels he has experienced around the world, including this sop in Kenya where “Out of Africa” was filmed.
Jason Green came to Livingston with a plan. He wanted to continue his education and earn a bachelor’s degree that would complement the associate’s degree he earned in funeral service education, and he did that. But he says that his experience at Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) added more to his life and future than merely two years of higher education. Leaving with a degree under his belt, he says that what stands out to him most is what was under his feet.
With a clear vision and plan for his future, transferring from Mississippi with an applied science degree into Alabama and advancing on his degree path would require that Green take an additional English, math, and history course. Hoping for a fast track, that seemed like a major setback.
“I was mad about it,” he recalls. “But the three courses I was so mad about taking would come to be the three that impacted me the most.”
As Green reflects on his Livingston years, the memories of his alma mater quickly point to the professors and administrators who shaped his academic journey into one of leadership, civic engagement, and a lifetime of learning. He spouts off names that would prompt most living generations of his fellow alumni to take a deep dive into their own memories.
“Bowen, Smith, Springer, Carr, Dr. Beatty—” he begins, then pauses, with a gasp of sorts. “Lord, God, help me—Dr. Patricia Beatty, oh my heart. I loved Dr. Beatty. I despised reading, despised writing—all of that—until Dr. Beatty.”
Had he listened to his friends’ advice, he wouldn’t be able to offer those sentiments.
“They said she was hard,” he said with a smile. “And I learned that was true, but I also found that she believed in me and encouraged me. And to this day, I read, I travel worldwide, I know of the poets and literary giants because of Dr. Beatty.”
He recalls what he believes is the best lesson he ever learned from Beatty, who was named emeritus professor of English upon her retirement in 2010 following 28 years of service at the University,
including two years as dean of the College of Liberal Arts. She died in 2019, and a scholarship honors her legacy.
“It was the night of our final,” he thinks back. “She walked in, put down a stack of blank paper, and she said, ‘Tell me what you learned,’ and walked out of the room. I was horrified. I wrote for two and a half hours. Years later, I asked why she did that. She said that she wanted to engage our minds and make us remember and think.”
CONCRETE UNDER HIS FEET
Remember, Green’s objective was to add what he thought were the business credentials he needed to pave the way for a successful career in mortuary science and funeral service.
“She applied everything we read to modern day,” he said. “I graduated with a business degree, but I can say with certainty that Dr. Patricia Beatty was one of the most influential people in my life. She put concrete under my feet.”
His memories shift to history and math classes—the other two he was “mad about.”
“David Bowen wanted us to understand history, to understand that it can’t be changed and has to be learned,” he said. “Then there’s Micky Smith.”
Smith, a longtime math professor, is often regarded as the first person to help many students successfully navigate the world of mathematics, and for Green, the same applies.
“I despised math,” he says firmly “because I was one of those ‘I’m never going to use this’ students. But Mr. Smith seemed to always call on me in class, and I’d wonder to myself why he would do that to me. But he would remind me that going into business meant I would need to be able to compute in my head and get the answer out mid-conversation. Head math.”
Like Beatty, Smith gave Green more than the single course description would suggest he would learn.
When he enrolled, Green was sure that he was simply adding some business and technology education to his name—not the likes of composition, and certainly not poetry or the classics of British literature.
He became a member of the editorial staff of the Livingston Life, the student-published newspaper on campus. Journalism had been a passion of his at East Mississippi, as well, and he found that it offered him an added level of engagement and insight on campus in Livingston.
“We did some investigating! And we were the staff that printed in green instead of red,” he recalls, chuckling about some of the articles and controversial topics they covered. It was his work as part of the staff of the newspaper that allowed him the opportunity to work with staff and administrators on campus, opening his eyes to even more experiences and education than his curriculum was already providing. He was also a red-blazer wearing LU Envoy, serving the university as an ambassador among his peers, prospective students, and distinguished guests.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
“Let me see,” he begins. “Luther Gremmels, Richard Hester, Danny Buckalew, Don Hines, Pam Stenz...” His reflections shift from classroom instruction and coursework to his role as a student worker in Webb Hall.
He was also an SGA officer, served on the editorial staff of The Sucarnochee Review, was a resident assistant for Housing, active in the Baptist Student Union and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a slew of other honor, service, and leadership organizations. Through those, he forged lasting friendships and gained invaluable experience from the campus leaders who became mentors to him.
“I didn’t simply see them as administrators, they were like my friends. They had an open-door policy, and I believe that type of connection is so important in supporting students,” he said. (continued on next page)
A 2023 mission trip to Kenya allowed Jason Green the opportunity to work with students at a local school. He said, “The old thought is, ‘Africa changes you like no other place,’ and it does.”
Those experiences prepared him for the community and business leadership roles he has served in and continues to explore now 30 years post-graduation. He is a lifelong Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras devotee and served as King of his Mardi Gras organization in 2009. He has served as president of a local school board and of the Carnival Association of Long Beach for 14 years.
His life is quite literally steered by the direction he received at Livingston University, from his civic engagement, social involvement, and business leadership.
He serves families in their time of need with a caring and sincere presence through Reimann Family Funeral Homes in Mississippi, demonstrating the business acumen at the core of his bachelor of science in technology degree coupled with the associate’s degree in funeral service education.
Green wanted to give back to the University that he says helped pave the way for him, and he has done that through a $100,000 unrestricted estate gift.
“I’ve taken time to reflect and call upon my 30 years of the foundation that I received at Livingston and what it has meant to me and to my family,” Green said. “I have truly come to realize how important my time there was. There are many, many ways to give back to the University, whether through financial gifts, time, talents, or other resources, and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to do this.”
Green chose for his gift to remain unrestricted—meaning the UWA Foundation is entrusted to allocate the funding to the University’s greatest need. While some donors choose to support the programs or initiatives nearest and dearest to them, such as their own college or major or an extracurricular program, Green said that was not a decision he wanted to make.
“How could I choose just one?” he quipped. “I have come to realize that the classes that meant the most to me were not necessarily the ones that were directly related to my major, but all of those that I’ve been able to apply to my life.”
One of those investigative pieces of journalism that Green and the Livingston Life staff published during his tenure was a report of faculty salary information—a piece that he recalls having sparked quite the flame, but it stirred perhaps more in his mind as it gave him insight into his professors’ compassion and commitment to their work.
“They say, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,’ and I think that was, and probably still is, the case for so many professors,” Green said. “They definitely were
Jason Green, who was presented the Carnival Association of Long Beach’s Lifetime Member Award in 2018, was King Scott XLVIII in 2009 and is pictured with 2024’s Queen Rosalie, Lisa Frazier. He has served as master of ceremonies for the past nine years.
not there for the money, they were there because they cared about us as students, our futures, our well-being.”
Green takes seriously the investment that his professors and other campus leaders made in him to help him be successful as a student and after graduation.
“I often say that I received two degrees at Livingston: one in academics, and one in life lessons. I think we can honestly say as LU grads that without the time at Livingston, the people we met, the people who taught us, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Where Jason Green is today, generally speaking, is the Gulfport, Mississippi, area. But his work and continuous pursuit of education and learning take him around the globe.
“I’ve been fortunate to travel around the world, and you always take with you a snippet of what you’ve learned in Livingston,” Green said with a smile.
As his travels carry him to each map dot, he takes more than a snippet of Livingston with him.
“As I travel, Bowen and Beatty are echoing in every thought.”
TARTT FIELD {on deck}
Recruiting quality student-athletes and providing the best playing field possible for our team is paramount. To further enhance the player experience at UWA’s Tartt Field, we intend to install an artificial turf that will bring countless other benefits to our program and facility. By installing artificial turf at Tartt Field, we can strengthen our ability to recruit and compete at the top of our league.
Weather is the primary reason for game cancellations, preventing us from playing all games on our schedule. An artificial turf minimizes the number of game cancellations. If we cannot play, we cannot win, and the playing surface’s conditions determine whether the game is played or cancelled.
Additionally, artificial turf eliminates the need for the extra hours that our players spend covering and uncovering the infield, often during the early morning hours of an important game.
With artificial turf, we could host numerous tournaments during the summer while maintaining a quality surface for our UWA team to return to in the fall.
This project can only happen if our loyal UWA supporters are willing to help. The total project for installing the artificial turf will cost $2 million. We ask that you consider how your support can help Tiger Baseball win its next championship.
ERIC DUBOSE, HEAD BASEBALL COACH
WHY TURF?
{source of pride for UWA} {assistance in recruiting} {stable, low maintenance}
RUBY’S DIPLOMA RETURNS TO LIVINGSTON
Alabama Normal College relic returns to campus thanks to family’s generosity
A unique piece of university history was returned to campus in the fall of 2023 when Tee and Wilson Hinson visited the campus that Wilson’s grandmother called home at the turn of the 20th century. Ruby Ward Moore’s 1902 diploma from Alabama Normal College, as the University of West Alabama was then known, has been preserved by the Hinsons, and they presented the museum-grade framed diploma, along with Ruby’s Bible printed in French. Inside the pocket-sized New Testament is the inscription (translated), “a memory of the year 1902 at the Normal School of Livingston, Alabama, complements of James S. Coleman.”
The diploma is believed to be printed on sheepskin and bears 10 faculty signatures, the first being that of Julia S. Tutwiler. Tutwiler served as the institution’s first president, later becoming a leader in educational reform in the State of Alabama.
Ruby was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ward Moore of Livingston. She married Paul Hezekiah Thomas of Quincy, Florida, at her parents’ home in Livingston in 1906. They resided in Quincy for all of their married life, celebrating their 50th anniversary together.
The Hinsons reside in Quincy, Florida. In addition to their gift of the preserved historic diploma, they made a generous contribution to scholarships at UWA to help support student success.
Wilson Hinson, grandson of 1902 alumnae Ruby Ward Moore, and his wife, Tee, visited campus in the fall of 2023 to return his grandmother’s Alabama Normal College diploma to her alma mater and hometown. Accepting on behalf of the University were Amanda McRae (left) and University Provost Dr. Tina N. Jones (right).
The 1902 diploma awarded to Ruby Ward Moore has been returned to the University by her grandson, Wilson Hinson and his wife, Tee.
ENDOWMENT HONORS TUCKER FAMILY LEGACY
A new scholarship endowment will honor a family legacy at the University of West Alabama, its namesake the parents of UWA President Ken Tucker. The Dr. Betty Jean and Howard Tucker Endowed Scholarship, endowed at $150,000, is a transformative gift that will provide perpetual support for students for many years to come.
Tucker, who became the University’s 12th president in 2015, announced that he will retire at the end of 2024, culminating a decade-long tenure at the helm of the institution. Prior to being named president, Tucker served as dean of the College of Business.
Tucker’s mother, to whom he has jokingly referred to as “the original Dr. Tucker,” served as chair of the Department of Languages and Literature in the College of Liberal Arts for 20 years. She was named emeritus professor upon her retirement, and continued writing and publishing until her death in 2018, including novels at the age of 83 and 87. She was first published as a 19-year-old undergraduate student.
His father, William Howard Tucker began his career in the military, enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, going on to fight in World War II in the Pacific Theater. Following his military service, he spent his career at Borden Chemical Company in Demopolis.
The scholarship endowment is the third naming for Betty Jean Tucker on the UWA campus. An early leadership gift to UWA’s “The University We Will Be” capital campaign gave way to the naming of the Betty Jean Tucker Conference Room in Wallace Hall. Each year, scholarly awards are presented in her name to student writers who excel in creative and technical writing.
During her tenure, she implemented the University’s journalism minor, established a nationally-circulated literary magazine, revitalized the theatre program, founded the Livingston Press and made the division’s writing lab a model for other Alabama universities. She received the William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching and is a member of the prestigious Society of the Golden Key. In fact, the Tuckers are the only mother-son duo to hold both of these distinctions.
“Mother was the consummate professional who positively impacted countless lives through her well-earned reputation of
The Dr. Betty Jean and Howard Tucker Endowed Scholarship honors the Tucker family’s legacy at UWA, started by Dr. Betty Jean Tucker and carried on by Dr. Ken Tucker, UWA’s 12th president.
being tough but fair,” Tucker said. “Daddy was that rare blend of strength and kindness which made him the perfect example of ‘the good man.’ They were both borne of the Depresssion and therefore epitomized the virtues of hard work, sacrifice, duty, responsibility, courage, faith, and family.”
For President Tucker, an honorarium that directly supports student success the way scholarships do has the most positive and far-reaching impact.
“Scholarships help remove financial barriers that often prevent students from focusing on their studies, or perhaps even from attending college,” Tucker said. “Throughout my time in higher education, I have seen firsthand that financial hardship can affect even the hardest-working and most talented students, and our hope is that any student who is willing to work hard to learn, develop their skills, and give back in a meaningful way can have the opportunity to earn a degree through scholarship support.”
Throughout Tucker’s administration, he has advocated for fiscal responsibility and managing expenses, thereby minimizing costs for students. A tuition freeze now in its seventh consecutive year, along with increased emphasis on scholarship development, are part of ongoing efforts to making higher education an option for students who demonstrate a willingness and commitment to excellence.
This endowed scholarship is designed to reward students who meet standards of achievement but are financially challenged and may be unable to earn a degree without scholarship assistance. To be considered for the scholarship, the student must be an incoming freshman and a resident of either Marengo or Sumter counties in Alabama, having a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for all high school coursework completed, and demonstrate academic achievement, work ethic, and financial need. Preference will be given to students majoring in English, journalism, integrated marketing communications, business administration, or management.
Tucker sees access to quality education as a cornerstone
for societal progress, rewarding students’ scholarly success and nurturing their leadership abilities in a way that builds communities and strengthens their contributions in the workplace and in their civic endeavors.
An endowed scholarship is a transformative gift that provides perpetual support for students in need. Unlike traditional scholarships, endowed scholarships are sustained by the interest generated from the initial donation, ensuring a lasting impact that spans generations.
To contribute to this scholarship endowment, contact the Office of Development at 205-652-5459.
GIVING DAY SURPASSES $250k GOAL
Giving Day 2024 will long be remembered in the minds and hearts of the University of West Alabama community as a record-breaking day of unity and generosity. More than 470 donors helped surpass the goal by raising approximately $280,698 for 36 participating teams. No matter the size of the gift given, every act of generosity from alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of UWA was an investment in the university’s current and future students.
“The outpouring of generosity from the UWA community not only exceeded expectations,” noted Dr. J.J. Wedgworth, vice president of institutional advancement at UWA, “but also reaffirmed the profound impact of unity and giving that the Tiger community is known for. We can’t thank our donors enough for believing in our vision and making Giving Day a resounding success.”
UWA Alumni Director Banks Gordy, who spearheaded the April 11 event, never imagined the campus community would show up like they did. “When I saw the energy and excitement outside and
the sidewalks crammed with students, staff and faculty enjoying pizza with President Tucker and groups showing off their dance moves with music provided by DJ Michael Warren, it touched my heart.” Inside Young Hall Cafeteria, in a call center established for the day, a group of student callers, faculty, and staff spent the day contacting prospective donors. Gordy also recognized the numerous individuals and teams who worked hard, not just on the Giving Day, but in the days and weeks leading up to the event.
UWA Director of Bands Dr. Tyler Strickland noted his team had a “great time working throughout Giving Day to raise funds to purchase instruments for our incoming students. Our band students are family and they feel an ownership of the program. My assistant director, Brianna Jarvis, and I tell them often they are not only our best recruiters, but we believe they are our best fundraisers as well.”
Next year’s UWA Giving Day is slated for April 10, 2025.
UWA Band member Caroline McKinney rallied for her fundraising team to win a challenge and unlock donor pledges.
President Ken Tucker (center) and Provost Tina Jones (right) served pizza to students in the spirit of giving and unity.
MILESTONES CELEBRATED
Each year, the University of West Alabama recognizes employee longevity and milestones at a ceremony and reception held in the spring. For the 2023-2024 academic year, milestone commemorations including 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service as well as retirement for 10 longtime faculty and staff, reflect more than 1,000 years of service.
Participants in the recognition ceremony are included in photos, and the complete list of milestone recognition is listed at right.
10 YEARS
15 YEARS
25 YEARS
30 YEARS
35 YEARS
RETIREES
RETIREES
Brenda
Donnie
Leslie
Victoria
EMERITUS
Donnie
Uchenna
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SOCIETY OF THE
SOCIETY OF THE
NATIONAL
Learn more about this year’s honorees
Alumni Achievement Awards
In 1963, Dr. Robert Gilbert, Miss Elizabeth Hoover, Dr. Ralph Lyon, Dr. Alda May Spieth, and Mr. William Tidwell founded an honor society at the University of West Alabama known as the Society of the Golden Key.
The objective of the society is to honor alumni and former faculty members who have brought distinction upon the institution by the quality of their lives and their achievements. Since the initial charter, 233 individuals have been inducted into the society.
In 1994, the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards were established to recognize graduates in each college or division who have distinguished themselves in such a way as to reflect honor on the University and the National Alumni Association.
In 2012, the Emerging Leader Awards were established to recognize graduates in each college or division who show promise for success and leadership in the same manner.
Emerging Leader Awards Distinguished
FREDERICA EVERETTE MCKINNEY (‘13) Nursing
R.J. MILLER (‘08) Business
BRAD BOLTON (‘09) Business
DONAVAN JOHNSON (‘12, ‘15) Liberal Arts
KRISTA ELAM MATTIX (‘16) Natural Sciences & Mathematics
BRANDON RENFROE (‘22) Education
MARCY BURROUGHS (‘11) Education
MARY TEW LONG (‘90, ‘93) Natural Sciences & Mathematics
RANDA SIMPSON HOVATER (‘16, ‘19) Liberal Arts
GRIFFIN RICKETSON (‘19) Engineering & Technology
MATTHEW LAVENDER (‘05) Engineering & Technology
LYNN LASHLEY (‘76) Liberal Arts
TIGER TALES
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RENEE CARTER (B.S. ’93) was named assistant superintendent of elementary education for Baldwin County Public Schools in 2023. She has sered as a teacher, reading coach, curriculum leader, assistant principal, special education coordinator, curriculum coordinator, and dean of academics. She was worked at schools in Mobile, Satsuma, Chatom, Southern Choctaw, and Millry and has worked at the district level in Washington County and Baldwin County Public Schools over her 30-plus year career in education.
DAVID MOORE (B.S. ’13) became general manager of ticket sales and operations for Samford University in 2022 and is employed through Taymar Sales U as vice president to oversee all properties that utilize ticket operations. He oversees multiple college properties and a professional soccer team. He has relaunched CHAMPS, the student-athlete development program at Samford. Prior to his current role, he has worked in ticketing at the University of Arkansas, Southern Illinois University, and Georgia Tech.
ROBBY CARPENTER (B.S. ’96, M.ED. ’11) is head softball coach and co-athletic director at Thomasville High School in Clarke County, Alabama. He also teaches drivers education at THS. His leadership this season has guided the Tigers to the South Regional Tournament for post-season play after becoming Class 3A Area 4 champions.
LEWIS B. BRADFORD (B.S. ’05) was named Mississippi’s Assistant Principal of the Year in 2022 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He received the honor in his first year as principal at Northwest Rankin High School, the fourth largest high school in Mississippi, located in Flowood. He previously served as assistant principal at Pelahatchie High School. He was named Secondary Administrator of the month for the district on three different occasions.
SHARON HUDSON SMITH (M.ED. ’17, ED.S. ’19) was named Eufaula Primary School Teacher of the Year in 2023 at by Eufaula City Schools. She is wrapping her ninth year of teaching, all of which have been teaching first grade at Eufaula Primary School.
COLIN CHAMBLIN (B.S. ’20) is the Deep South Operations & Area Scout at Prep Baseball. He taught at Athens Middle School and coached baseball for one year. In 2022, he married the former Lauren Clem, who is a nurse in the neonatal unit at Huntsville Hospital. They reside in Athens.
PHILLIP LOLLEY (B.S. ’77) was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in March. He is a Choctaw County native and
began his coaching career in 1977 at South Choctaw Academy. He has coached at Warrior Academy, Demopolis, Stevenson, North Jackson, and Bridgeport, making a slew of trips to area and state championships. He transitioned to college football in 1998 to join the Auburn University staff and was defensive backs coach for Auburn’s 2010 National Championship team. He then transitioned to the Canadian Football League where he ultimately earned the rare distinction of collecting championship rings on high school, college, and professional levels.
COURTNEY PURVIS TAYLOR (B.B.A. ’04) was confirmed by Mississippi’s State Workforce Investment Board as executive director of AccelerateMS, the lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, in February. She has served as deputy director for strategy and programs since 2021. During her 15-year career in higher education, she has served as vice president for workforce and economic development at East Mississippi Community College, as regional director of workforce and economic development for the Alabama Community College System, as director of workforce solutions at Calhoun Community College, and as assistant director of Troy University’s Center for International Business and Economic Development.
TASIA FARMER (B.S. ’17) has been named head coach of the Athens High School cheer team. She has served as athletic trainer and assistant cheer coach at Athens since 2019, enjoying success at both state and national competitions. She teaches Career and Technical Education Medical Academy courses at Athens. She also holds a master of science in kinesiology from Alabama A&M University.
MARSHON HARPER (B.S. ’98) is retiring after 25 years with Chambers County Schools. He became Valley High School’s first African American head football coach in 2012 and was defensive coordinator for several years. He led the Valley baskeball team to a history-making 33-0 season and 5A championship in 2023 with a return trip to the Final Four in 2024. Throughout his tenure in Chambers County, he taught physical education.
STAN NAREWSKI (B.S. ’71) is retiring from Wallace State as track coach following a 50-year career in coaching that has included countless NCAA champions, All-Americans, and Olympic competitors. His accolades in coaching include multiple National Coach of the Year awards, induction into the NJCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the UWA Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, he plans to spend time with his granddaughter, Julia Jo.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
OCTOBER 25-26, 2024
NAME Kelsie Gilliam
CLASSIFICATION Senior
HOMETOWN Moundville, Alabama
MAJOR Health Sciences
NEXT STEP Become doctor of physical therapy
When you purchase UWA’s collegiate license plate for an additional $50, you add $48.75 to the National Alumni Association’s Tagged for Success scholarship, which helps students succeed at UWA. Even better, your purchase is tax deductible.
