Capstone Magazine - Spring 2015 by UA Student Affairs - Jessie Jones

18 –21

Steven J. Hood, EdD

STUDENT AFFAIRS sa.ua.edu

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Alicia Browne Director of Information Management and External Affairs

TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from the Vice President

Editor

Forging a Legacy: Veteran and Military Affairs

4–8

Jessie Patterson Jones

Around the Capstone

9–11

Graphic Design

Student Spotlight: Corey Dennis

12–13

Build Them Up: The WGRC’s mentoring program

14–15

Jessie Patterson Jones, Becky Robinson

Staff Spotlight: Ellen Pate

16–17

Photography

Purposeful Pals: Al’s Pals Changes Lives

18–21

Dusten Bybee, Jeff Hanson, Emily Heath, Jessie Patterson Jones

Alumni Spotlight: Matt Calderone

22–23

2014 Gifts to Student Affairs

24–27

ISSUE NO. 9

Capstone Connections: Spring highlights

28–31

Shweta Gamble

Writers

Capstone is published in the Spring and Fall by UA’s Division of Student Affairs. Address correspondence to: The University of Alabama, Student Affairs Box 870301, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 For address changes, alumni notes or story ideas, email studentaffairs@ua.edu. The University of Alabama is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer. 2 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

12–13

A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Dear Alumni and Friends,

n this issue of Capstone, we recognize individuals who are giving back to a larger cause, whether it’s The University of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa community or the country. From military veterans to a public servant, from community volunteers to University donors, I am proud to highlight the achievements and generous support of some outstanding individuals. Members of the military make great sacrifices while serving their country, as do their families. Through the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the University is supporting veterans’ integration into the UA community and the pursuit of their educational dreams. The issues a returning veteran faces in going to school can seem daunting, from overwhelming paper work to a lack of connections to “typical” student life. The support, encouragement, and knowledge of Director David Blair and his colleagues in VMA make it possible for hundreds of veterans, and even more military dependents, to pursue their education, while enriching the UA community with their experiences and knowledge. Other students are giving back to the community through volunteerism. Involvement through Student Affairs can have a great impact on students throughout their years on campus;

sometimes, it leads to continued service after graduation. For one alumnus, involvement through SGA, his fraternity and the Blackburn Institute has led to political office and service in Tuscaloosa. Finally, where would Student Affairs be without generous donors, who support our diverse initiatives to maximize student learning outside the classroom? In this issue, we recognize and thank members of the Student Affairs Leadership Council, as well as many other generous donors, for their support of our students. We truly could not provide students with the myriad opportunities that we do without support, and I thank you all for partnering with us to support the student experience. Thanks to you, students are traveling abroad through UA Away scholarships, exploring leadership through LeaderShape and engaging with their community through volunteerism. I am proud to work with you in this important effort. Thank you and Roll Tide!

Steven J. Hood, EdD Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

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Veteran and Military Affairs provides resources, home to military students By Jessie Patterson Jones

hey walk through campus just like any other student. These men and women carry their backpacks, talk with friends or study on the Quad on a nice afternoon. Sometimes you know who they are by how they carry themselves, or the gear and uniforms they wear. Other times, you have no idea of the commitment and sacrifice they have made — or the road they have taken 4 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

to find a home at The University of Alabama. Julian Alvarez knows what to look for — a certain posture, measured steps, or a simple bracelet that sets these UA students apart. They are small marks of the legacy he has become a part of at UA, where approximately 3,000 students on campus are veterans or military dependents and have sought a home at the Capstone to earn their degrees. To better serve a growing

population of veterans and military dependents, UA created the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs within the Division of Student Affairs in 2012. The office provides programs and services to meet the needs of veterans, service members, dependents and survivors in order to ease their transition to college life as students fulfill their educational goals. From GI Bill paperwork to educating faculty and staff about the specific needs of veterans, the VMA

office does it all — and it has left a huge impact on the students it serves.

“Being a dependent, we are different than normal students and we are different from veterans. We have the experience, like veterans, of moving around and being a part of military life, but we aren’t really defined specially like a veteran, even though being a military dependent is a defining part of who we are.” Kaetlyn Martel, whose parents served in the armed forces

“I immediately had a place where I could go and unwind. The office here is doing a lot on a daily basis to help me out — and others too. I see veterans come in stressed, and they come out with a completely different look on their face, because all the staff goes out of their way to help us out.” Julian Alvarez, a veteran and current reservist

“If it wasn’t for our VMA office, I would not be in college. I’d stillDIVISION be in the military or be working a THE HE U UNIV UNIVER UNIVERSITY NIV VER RSIT SIT S T OF ALABAMA’S TY OF STUDENT AFFAIRS manual labor job trying to get into a community college.” MAGAZINE AGA A ZINE AZINE SPRING 2015

Veteran Chris Leonard, a Navy veteran

FINDING A HOME Alvarez, an Army veteran and reservist from Livermore, California, transferred to UA from a community college in California after setting his sights on attending college in the South. “After I got back from my second deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, I realized I wanted more out of life than an hourly job was going to get me,” he said. “So I went and got my associate’s degree in psychology. Then I applied to UA.” Alvarez arrived in August 2013 only having been in Tuscaloosa for his campus tour. “I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going,” he said. “Then I walked into the Veteran and Military Affairs office, and they showed me where to go and what I needed to do to get used to this new environment. They went above and beyond to help me.” By the time the semester started, Alvarez knew where his classes were, where he should park and how to get around. He’d also found an on-campus home in the VMA office, where students have access to a lounge, computers, a library and VMA staff members. “I immediately had a place where I could go and unwind,” Alvarez said. “The office here is doing a lot on a daily basis to help me out — and others too. I see veterans come in stressed, and they come out with a completely different look on their face, because all the staff goes out of their way to help us out.” Chris Leonard, who grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia, got out of the Navy in December 2013, and found himself on campus two weeks later. “I joined the military first because the military was the means for me to go to college. I always knew I SPRING2015 | 5

“Also, we’re a safe place for veterans to go,” Leonard said. “I got out of the Navy and two weeks later I was a college student. I had a stressful job and people who worked for me. Two weeks later, here I was sitting in class with students who were eight years younger than me and I didn’t quite feel like I fit in. The CVA gave me an opportunity to be around people I fit in with.” That connection is one VMA Director David Blair is proud has been established on campus. To Blair, the VMA office has given both veterans and military dependents on campus a place to go to find other students like themselves. “It’s familiar ground for parents too,” he said. “Parents can call and talk to someone who knows what they are dealing with, from how GI benefits work to what they are going through when they are stationed overseas.”

The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs offers the more than 3,000 students affiliated with the military a place to study and gather, along with services like free printing, test booklets and special programming. This summer, the office will move to a newly renovated space in Houser Hall.

wanted to go to school in the South, but I came to UA because of the VMA office,” he said. “You have a lot of people who get out of the military and try to go to school and face a brick wall of paperwork trying to get in. That wasn’t the case here.” Leonard, who was deployed on the USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer, said he didn’t have time to worry about applying for college. “I didn’t have the resources to get it done easily. I had to wait two months to send off my application. If it wasn’t for our VMA office, I would not be in college. I’d still be in the military or be working a manual labor job trying to get into a community college.” Alvarez and Leonard have gotten involved in an effort to give back 6 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

to the UA community that has welcomed them. Alvarez serves as president of the Campus Veterans Association, and Leonard serves as vice president. Both consider part of their task to spread the word about the military population on campus and all that UA has to support it. “Ten percent of our student body is affiliated with the military, and a lot of people don’t realize our group is that large,” Leonard said. “Part of it is getting it out that we’re here, and that UA is veteran-friendly. The Campus Veterans Association, a student organization open to any and all students, works to advocate for veterans, as well as fundraise for scholarships and opportunities to benefit the campus veteran community on campus.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION Blair, who served in the US Army for more than 24 years, entered higher education by chance as the recruiting commander for Columbus, Mississippi, where he covered Mississippi State University. “I was really good friends with the dean of students at Mississippi State, who was a veteran,” he said. “In 2006, Mississippi State decided to open a veterans center. I was still on active duty at the time, but when I retired, I joined their team as a recruiting coordinator. We grew from 300 students in the program to 1,000 just before I left.” In 2010, Blair traveled to The University of Alabama to brief administrators on MSU’s veterans center. “At the end of it, I guess they were impressed,” Blair said. “I got a call later that said UA was going to start a program, and I should look out for the job posting.”

PHOTO BY MICHELLE LEPIANKA CARTER/THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS

Since 2012 the VMA Office has held Veterans Week activities on campus, which includes a competition called “Battle of the Branches” where students battle in trivia, intramurals, and participation in community service. Army is undefeated.

Blair began his UA career in September 2011, working out of an office in the Ferguson Student Center in what was then called the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership. He spent the next year putting his office and programs together, while construction was done on the new VMA office in BB Comer Hall. The office officially opened in August 2012, and things haven’t slowed down since. “From that point, things just hit high gear,” Blair said. The office has grown exponentially in the past three years. What started out as a one-person operation has grown to include seven people, including a Vet Success representative from the Veteran’s Administration. In addition,

Alvarez was deployed in Afghanistan twice before he enrolled at UA.

there are now 13 student workers assisting the office. In many cases, the old adage “if you build it, they will come” has proven true as well. When he arrived, Blair said UA was certifying roughly 600 students through the GI Bill. Now, that

number stands at more than 1,500. In order to accommodate such growth, this summer Veteran and Military Affairs will move one more time, to a newly renovated, larger space in Houser Hall. The 8,000 square feet will almost triple the space they have used in BB Comer. “But best of all, student veterans will have a larger gathering place, and we’ll have more study rooms and a place for our library,” Blair said. In addition, the move will allow the office to continue offering student services, including free printing, free test booklets and special programming, to bring the military population together. The success and phenomenal growth of UA’s Office of Veteran SPRING2015 | 7

and Military Affairs is one that could not have happened without strong support on campus, Blair said. “The support we’ve received from across campus is phenomenal,” Blair said. “We have partnerships with the Career Center, the Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism, and more. Everybody has jumped on board with serving our veterans, service members and dependents — and that has meant a lot.” MAKING AN IMPACT The biggest difference in the VMA office and others of its kind across the country is an important one. While many universities have veteran’s programs, few serve military dependents. Of those that do, most require dependents to be receiving GI Bill benefits. UA’s VMA office will assist any veteran or military dependent, regardless of whether they receive GI Bill benefits. Assistant director Alex Karagas has been with the office since it opened in 2012. Karagas, who came to the VMA office from a civilian background, said she has learned just how incredible the military community is. “Less than one percent of the population serves in the military,” she said. “To be able to see that community, their generosity, how they care for each other — it’s incredible.” Graduate student Kaetlyn Martel has seen the growth of the VMA office firsthand — and has been both impacted by the office and assisted it with serving others. Martel, originally from Alaska, came to UA on the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Both of Martel’s parents had served in the armed forces. Her mom served for eight years, and her dad has served for 32 as an active duty Army Ranger. Martel had been looking for an “all-inclusive” school where she 8 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

Kaetlyn Martel poses for her senior portrait with her dad, who served in the armed forces for 32 years as an active duty Army Ranger.

could have the best of all college life had to offer. From academics and athletics to sororities and an active campus, UA had everything she was looking for. “If I was going away from home, I wanted to have it all,” Martel said. “Being a dependent, we are different than normal students and we are different from veterans. We have the experience, like veterans, of moving around and being a part of military life, but we aren’t really defined specially like a veteran, even though being a military dependent is a defining part of who we are.” Martel joined the VMA team as a student worker in the fall of 2011, helping research similar offices and provide the framework that got the VMA office up and running. She worked for the office throughout her undergraduate career, and saw firsthand the growth the office went through — along with the home it became for her and many other students. “The VMA office was really the glue that stuck me here and made The University of Alabama my home,” she said. “My sorority

really helped get me acclimated my freshman year. But during my sophomore year, when I was looking to grow academically and professionally, the VMA office was really a defining place for me.” Now as a graduate student, she points back to the VMA’s impact on dependents as one of the highlights of her time at UA. “Veteran and Military Affairs has helped make being a military dependent part of what defines you and helps you know that it is something special,” she said. “I don’t think I’d be in graduate school without the VMA office and the opportunities I was given through that office.” *** While the VMA office is proud of being just one of three SEC schools who can boast a full-time VA representative on campus, offering emergency scholarships through the CVA, and the $21 million financial impact it has on campus, it is the camaraderie that the veteran and military community can find at the Capstone that means the most to students and staff alike. For Blair and his staff, coming to work each day is more than just a job. “Students that come here, this is their family,” he said. “We handle so much more than GI Bill benefits. We turn into counselors, moms and dads. We become their family and their support system at the University of Alabama.” For students, the VMA office has provided a new campus community. “It’s not just an office that processes paper,” Leonard said. “It’s a community that makes us feel safe and welcome. It really does feel a lot more like a family than anything else.”

AROUND THE Compiled by Kelsey Kunstadt BLACKBURN INSTITUTE WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR Following a national search, Dr. Ryan “Mac” Griswold has joined the Blackburn Institute as director. He started his new role in January, following his time at Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he most recently served as director of assessment and operations with the Center for Civic Leadership. Griswold has more than 17 years of experience in community-based learning within higher education, and has a particular research interest in the learning outcomes associated with activities that contribute to a lifelong commitment to civic engagement. He is a graduate of the University of Houston with a PhD in educational psychology and individual differences and he graduated from the University of Connecticut with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “The Blackburn Institute is a unique and incredibly powerful leadership program at The University of Alabama and Dr. Griswold brings a great depth and breadth of professional knowledge and experience to his new position as director,” said Dr. Adam Sterritt, assistant vice president for Student Affairs. “I look forward to the impact that Dr. Griswold’s leadership will have on the Institute and the even greater impact that our students and fellows will have across the state of Alabama, region and nation.” Griswold said coming to UA is, in many ways, a homecoming of sorts for him, “I’m returning to a large

“

”

Having met several of the institute’s student leaders, I’m excited about working with this very involved group. Dr. Ryan “Mac” Griswold, director of the Blackburn Institute

state institution after having attended the University of Connecticut for my bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as having worked on staff for five years,” he said. “Having met several of the institute’s student leaders, I’m excited about working with this very involved group,” Dr. Griswold said. “It’s also easy to see the strengths of the existing staff leadership in the office and I’m looking forward to working with both Mary Lee Caldwell and Candace Peters.” WRC RENAMED WOMEN AND GENDER RESOURCE CENTER With the start of a new year at the Capstone in January, The University of Alabama Women’s Resource Center officially transitioned to become the UA Women and Gender Resource Center.

“We are so thrilled about the name change to our center,” said Director Elle Shaaban-Magaña. “It more accurately captures the projects and services currently being offered to a diverse group of students, faculty, staff and community members.” In the past, the Women’s Resource Center was seen by many as a resource for only its namesake, women. The WGRC has always been, and continues to be, the go-to source for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. “We are not stepping away from our commitment to our roots of addressing women’s issues, but are honoring the complexity of gender and the intersection of gender to other aspects of identity and experience,” Shaaban-Magaña said. Learn more about the WGRC on Twitter (@WGRCatUA) and Instagram (@uawgrc).

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UA WINS 2014 BEAT AUBURN, BEAT HUNGER COMPETITION FOR 10TH TIME The University of Alabama won the 2014 Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive by collecting 300,049 pounds of food to top Auburn University’s collection of 198,041 pounds of food. UA’s collection is an increase over last year’s total of 299,398 pounds. After 21 years, the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive and the Beat Bama food drive have collected more than 3 million pounds of nonperishable food for needy families in Alabama. All food and money collected from the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive went to The West Alabama Food Bank. The food bank serves a population of more than 315,000 people. UA’s Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism strives to enhance the student experience through active

and diverse engagement opportunities in the community. Built upon the foundation that “service transforms,” the center provides educational and awareness programs to complement

the service opportunities. For more information, contact the Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism, 205-348-2865, or go to beatauburnbeathunger.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama collected 300,049 pounds of food for the West Alabama Food Bank during the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive.

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CRIMSON WHITE BRINGS HOME AWARDS In November 2014, The Crimson White won seven awards at a national college media conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They won two first-place awards from the Associated Collegiate Press and five Pinnacle College Media Awards from the College Media Association. Former Culture Editor Abbey Crain and former Magazine Editor Matt Ford won two first-place awards for “The Final Barrier,” including ACP Diversity Story of the Year and the Pinnacle Award for best investigative story. Senior Deanne Winslett received a Pinnacle Award for “March to Rose Draws Hundreds.” Former Video Editor Daniel Roth won ACP Multimedia Feature Story of the Year for “Stepping Through.” Former Sports Editor Marc Torrence won the Pinnacle Award for best sports games story for “Nightmare in Jordan-Hare,” and former Opinions Editor John Brinkerhoff won third- Above: Noah Huguley, Deanne Winslett, Reed O’Mara and Sean Landry stop at the Liberty Bell during their trip to the national college media conference in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. place for best opinion column. The CW’s Below: Mazie Bryant, Abbey Crain and Matt Ford await awards announcements. website won second-place in website of the year in the four-year university division. In September, The Crimson White advertising staff brought home six awards including Newspaper of the Year from the recent Southern University Newspapers (SUN) conference in Wilmington, North Carolina. The paper’s ad staff won three first place and two second place awards on the way to winning the SUN Newspaper of the Year (SUNNY) award. The individual awards included Best Individual Retail or House advertisement (first place), Best Marketing Package (first place), Best Advertising Campaign or Series (second place), Best Theme Page or Special Section (second place) and Best ADEA, or Advertising Idea (first place). SUN is composed of university newspapers from across the southeast from Louisiana to Florida and north to Virginia and Kentucky. SPRING2015 | 11

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Engineering a

NEW PATH

Dennis finds his way with UA Away, Outdoor Rec By Jessie Patterson Jones

t 16, Corey Dennis hadn’t visited many places outside of Alabama. The Mobile native said he enjoyed life, but never did too much. A split second changed his perspective forever when he was hit by a Tahoe while driving and woke up in the hospital after being pried out of the car using the jaws of life. 12 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

After spending six months in a wheelchair during his recovery, Dennis made a decision. “I realized how many cool things were out there, and I decided I wanted to go do them all,” he said. “I have this ridiculous drive to do absolutely everything. The car wreck, it changed my attitude about wanting to live a safe, comfy life and doing everything when I was older to making me realize I need to go do things now.”

Just four years later, Dennis is well on his way to fulfilling those dreams. He earned a Presidential scholarship to The University of Alabama, where he is now a junior environmental engineering major. Not long after deciding he wanted to see more of the world, he applied for and received one of the Division of Student Affairs’ UA Away scholarships during his freshman year to visit Belize. Later that year, Dennis got

involved with Engineers Without Borders, now Engineers in Action. At one meeting, a service trip to Peru was announced. Fascinated and excited, Dennis was able to transfer his scholarship to the Peru trip, which would enable him to learn more about his major while still serving others. During that trip, the student engineering team brought solar panels and a computer down to the area and helped install the beginnings of a visitor’s center in the Amazon rainforest. “We worked hard, but it was more of a scouting mission,” Dennis said. “We tested their water quality and set some things up, but a lot of our trip was prep work to set up the program for successful trips in the future.” For almost two weeks in 2012, Dennis enjoyed Peru. “We went to help a tribe in the middle of the rainforest,” Dennis said. “It was National Geographic-type stuff.” Dennis met local tribe members, visited floating restaurants, watched monkeys frolicking in the trees — and even got to hold a baby sloth, Corey Dennis switched his major to environmental engineering after a UA Away scholarship trip to Peru, where he fell in love with white-water rafting. Now he works with University Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation team.

which he called one of the best moments of his life. On their day off, the team took a 3-hour rafting trip down the Amazon. Dennis was hooked on the experience, falling in love with the outdoors and rafting. The rafting excursion stayed with him and wound up altering his course in both his studies and his campus job. The day after returning from Peru, Dennis started an engineering internship for the rest of the summer. “That time gave me a very strong desire to not work in an office,” he said. “Now I’ve got a million plans to do things in the future, and none of them involve offices or cubicles.” Upon returning to campus to start his junior year, Dennis switched from studying civil engineering to environmental engineering. “I

thought environmental engineering would be more active, more outdoors time, more opportunity to travel,” he said. “It changed a lot of things for the better.” Since then, Dennis has begun working with University Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation team, and spent last summer working as a rafting guide in North Carolina. This summer, he is set to work as a rafting guide again, this time in Yosemite. “Receiving a UA Away scholarship certainly changed my path, because I wouldn’t have rafted if I’d never gone on that trip,” Dennis said. “But working with Outdoor Recreation has been the single best decision I’ve made in college. It teaches you a lot of practical leadership lessons, like how to find new participants and get them to trust you and teach them. I’m getting paid to rock climb and teach people how to do that.” Steven Middleton, coordinator of Outdoor Rec, said Dennis brings a passion to the program that is one of a kind. “He has a positive outlook on life that you can see within minutes of meeting him,” Middleton said. “I would love to take credit for some secret formula of student development that we have at Outdoor Rec, but it is really us just getting great staff into positions where they have the opportunity to shine.” With one year left on campus, Dennis has hopes of gaining a wide range of work experience that will allow him to pursue his travels even further. “Outdoor Rec puts me closer every day to being the person I want to be,” Dennis said. “Four years ago, I couldn’t walk, and now I’m climbing, rafting and more. I wouldn’t trade my experiences at UA for anything.” SPRING2015 | 13

Build themup UA students mentor elementary students on self-esteem and leadership skills By Becky Robinson

ot only does UA’s Women and Gender Resource Center focus on leadership, diversity and education through outreach, collaboration and support on campus, but it takes its programs beyond the confines of campus and out into the Tuscaloosa community as well. In two of its signature programs, the Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) gives UA students an opportunity to connect with local middle school children through the Young Women Leaders Program and the Young Men’s Leadership Program. For several years, the WGRC has partnered with Skyland Elementary to teach fourthand fifth-graders about self-esteem and leadership roles. “We’ve had a great relationship with Skyland Elementary,” said

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A UA mentor takes time to bond with her Skyland partner. A large part of the program is to insure the children form a bond with their mentors.

Jackie Northrup, assistant director of the WGRC. “You need a school where the students are interested, where the parents are interested and also where the administration is open to this kind of program.” Although Northrup has only been with the WGRC for about six months, she said she has already seen the benefits and enthusiasm of the Skyland students. “As soon as we went to meet with the counselor and the principal this year, they were very excited to have us back,” Northrup said. “The students are apparently asking them constantly when we’re coming, so they’re very excited to have us there.” Mollie Tinney, the graduate coordinator for the Young Women Leaders Program, said her job is to organize lesson plans and to facilitate the training sessions for the UA volunteers. “Unlike other mentoring programs, our focus is not academics, it’s more on character building and learning how

to relate to other girls and work together,” Tinney said. “We’re mainly talking about gender and self-esteem, what girls learn from the media and popular culture, and we’re really trying to send the message that girls are capable of being doctors and lawyers and all those types of things.” Elle Shaaban-Magaña, director of the WGRC, said that many of the kids in the program do not necessarily think of themselves as leaders. “One of the things is to have these kids walk away with a sense of, ‘I am a leader,’ and empowering them so they feel empowered to do things and make a difference,” Shaaban-Magaña said. “We’ve seen this a lot, that women are socialized to be presented as being mild-mannered or things like that — and certainly that doesn’t mean that it’s bad or wrong if that is your natural inclination — but also we have smart women on our campus, and we want them to become critical thinkers, and we want people to feel comfortable to speak out and participate.” Eric Patterson, the graduate coordinator for the Young Men’s Leadership Program, holds a similar role to Tinney. Patterson said the program offers children an opportunity to learn outside of the traditional classroom. “I’ve worked with kids my whole life so coming into this position was almost seamless in a lot of ways,” Patterson said. “I absolutely love giving back. It’s really great to see the lights go on in kids’ minds, to see somebody care about them.” Based on a program started at the University of Virginia, both programs begin with 10, two-hour training sessions in the fall semester and carry over to the spring when

Skyland students take time to play on the merry-go-round during the program’s free time.

UA students actually visit Skyland Elementary, where mentors are paired with students to discuss the weekly topics, as well as build friendships. Tinney said the goal is to try and visit the school at least 10 times. While the women’s program includes only graduate and undergraduate mentors, the men’s program also partners undergraduate students with faculty advisors. “[The faculty] help teach our undergrad mentors to think inclusively,” Patterson explained. “We try to restrict gender binaries as much as possible, or as much as fifth-grade students can understand that concept.” According to Shaaban-Magaña, gender binaries are essentially the strict division of “what it means to be male and what it means to be female.” For instance, men are traditionally viewed as strong and unemotional, while women should be seen as quiet and demure. “What we try to do is open up the gender binary,” Shaaban-Magaña said. “We want to help people redefine and open up possibilities.” Each year, there have been 15–20

UA mentors and 20–25 Skyland students taking part in each program. Jacob Quinlan, an undergraduate mentor, helps Patterson plan and coordinate the Young Men’s Leadership Program. Quinlan, who wants to be a school counselor following graduation, said the program was a “great fit” for his career goals. “I think my favorite part has been just the collaboration that goes into every project I’ve worked on,” Quinlan said. “I think it’s really neat to be able to reach out to other departments on campus and people in the Tuscaloosa community.” At the end of every year, the programs hold a banquet on the University’s campus for the children and their families. “The kids love it,” Tinney said. “Even though Skyland Elementary is less than five miles down the road, a lot of them have never seen the campus or been to a football game. The fact that I can give back and do something for kids that may not ever have any other interaction with someone from UA, it means a lot to them and it means a lot to me.” SPRING2015 | 15

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Guiding LIGHT Ellen Pate helps students find passions, develop career paths By Becky Robinson

inding a career can be challenging, but deciding on a college major can be just as difficult, especially for first-year students. Ellen Pate, a career counselor with UA’s Career Center, helps students not only delve into their majors at UA, but also encourages them to develop personally. Pate, a Tuscaloosa native, attended Indiana Wesleyan University, a small Christian liberal arts college, where she initially majored in music for her first two years. “I started out in music and that was kind of my passion,” Pate said. “I think that pathway actually has taught me a lot of lessons on what I’m doing now.” When this career did not come to fruition because of several “disappointments,” Pate took a psychology class that altered her outlook on leadership and community participation. “I just loved what my professor had me go through as far as self-assessment,” Pate said. “Then I got involved in residence life there, and that led me to my field in counseling and higher education.”

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“

You can say I have an office job, I sit and I say the same thing — and many times I am repeating the same things over and over again — but I don’t feel like I have the same job. Every person is unique and every story is unique.”

– Ellen Pate

Pate said most of the students she sees at the Career Center are undecided freshmen and sophomores, and her job is to guide them toward job opportunities, as well as majors that suit their interests. Travis Railsback, executive director of the Career Center, said he has a great deal of respect for Pate. “She regularly challenges herself, me and our entire team to constructively question the impact our actions have on student learning,” Railsback said. “The success of our students is central to all that she does.” Mary Loyd Lowrey, director of career education and development, said she also sees Pate as a vital asset to the Career Center. “Since her arrival at UA in 2005, Ellen has pursued excellence in every part of her job, particularly providing top service to all Career Center constituents including students, alumni, faculty, employers, parents, and UA staff,” Lowrey said. “Soon after joining the Career Center, she embraced the challenge of engaging more freshmen in the career planning process and as a result of her initiatives, our outreach to freshmen has continued to yield positive results.”

Pate admitted that most of her job entails “helping students understand their values.” “I feel like a lot of students just need a little research about themselves and a little research about what’s possible, and they can have hope that there is a way for them,” she said. While attending IWU, Pate worked at the Center for Life Calling and Leadership, which taught students how to become leaders in their schools and communities. Pate adapted this model to fit the class she now teaches, aptly named “Life Calling and Leadership Development.” First taught in 2011, there are two sections of the class. One is an Honors College course and the other is open to sophomore student-athletes. Additionally, Pate credits Tim Elmore’s book “Habitudes” with helping form her class curriculum. Pate met Elmore, who is president of the Atlanta-based non-profit Growing Leaders, in 2009 at a conference and knew immediately she wanted to incorporate his leadership ideas into the classroom. Coincidently, the UA Athletics Department was already using “Habitudes” to instill leadership in their athletes. Pate said “Habitudes” is a simple read that teaches students leadership principles and illustrates how to

”

form effective leadership habits and attitudes. Pate said her favorite part of working with the athletes is the opportunity to watch them develop and grow into leaders. “Alabama Athletics is a passion for so many students and so many faculty, but it’s completely different for me now that I know the people and that I know their stories.” Pate said. “For the most part, [the athletes] are chosen for their leadership potential. They’ve been seen to have opportunity. Not all of them are the most vocal, not all of them are starters, but either by their coaches or academic advisors or people that know them, they’ve seen that they really have potential to be leaders on their team.” Pate’s work has been noticed across campus, and last April, she was honored with the UA Athletics’ Finest Faculty Award for her dedication to student-athlete academic achievement. In both Pate’s athletics and Honors classes, students write autobiographies and talk with their classmates about visions for their future. “You can say I have an office job, I sit and I say the same thing — and many times I am repeating the same things over and over again — but I don’t feel like I have the same job,” Pate said. “Every person is unique and every story is unique.” SPRING2015 | 17

Purposeful

PALS

By Jessie Patterson Jones

s the clock ticks toward 2:45 at McKenzie Court’s Community Center in Tuscaloosa’s West End, college students chatter and set out healthy snacks. Folders with children’s names dot the tables and small supply boxes stand at the ready. One by one, each college student takes a seat and waits expectantly as their site leaders check to be sure everything is ready for the afternoon. Slowly, elementary school students begin to trickle in. They walk, skip and run through the doors with backpacks as big as they are and make a beeline for their mentors. Snacks are munched on as the conversations begin and the volume level rises throughout the two rooms as both college and elementary students delight in catching up with their “pal.” *** Four years after Al’s Pals’ inception, thousands of lives have been touched through the mentoring program for at-risk youth, created through UA’s Sustainable Service and Volunteerism. In the program, UA students serve as mentors and student leaders each week, working with a Tuscaloosa elementary school student. Mentors serve as role models, help with schoolwork and lead mentees through enrichment activities. The program takes place with children in first through fifth grade at Central Elementary School, Northington Elementary School, Maxwell Elementary School and McKenzie Court Community Center. With more than 500 student mentors, 50 student leaders and four graduate assistants working with Al’s Pals, the program has left its mark on campus and the Tuscaloosa community. Mentors commit to spending one afternoon a week with Al’s Pals from 2:45–5 p.m. 18 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

Al’s Pals program changes lives for local schoolchildren and UA student mentors Rachel Guiles, the student team leader for Al’s Pals, has served as the student director for the last three years. After getting involved as a mentor and assistant student director during her freshman year, Guiles has seen the program grow from one location with 200 student mentors to four locations with more than 550 student mentors and leaders. “It’s amazing to see how many people we have impacted,” she said. “Yes, we have 550 students

mentoring this semester, but we’ve had thousands go through the program. A lot of our mentors are freshmen still figuring out what they want to do, and Al’s Pals really helps some of them find their passion. But to see the relationships students build and keep for one, two, three — or even four years — while they are on campus, that’s what’s really incredible.” Courtney Thomas, director of the Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism, said Al’s Pals is a program with double importance because of what it means to the college students who work with it, and what it means to the children in the Tuscaloosa community who benefit from it. “For our college students, Al’s Pals

Each day at Al’s Pals, students start the afternoon with a healthy snack before spending time on their homework.

SPRING2015 | 19

Bloom bids Al’s Pals farewell

shows them what it means to serve outside of themselves,” she said. “It really is an opportunity for them to step outside of their comfort zone and to see the world that is literally just down the road from them and know they can help make it better.” While the program targets atrisk youth, those students aren’t the only ones who benefit from it. College mentors have higher attendance in their own classes, and their GPAs go up while they are mentors, Thomas said. “Being an Al’s Pals mentor really teaches a sense of accountability and what it means to commit,” she said. “It’s amazing how many mentors return and mentor again and then become leaders in our program. It’s cool to watch these students choose to make their time about someone else, and the kids in the program have a role model in college.” Al’s Pals was founded by longtime UA community member and volunteer Star Bloom. Bloom’s involvement with after-school programs dates back to 2002, when she was helping Tuscaloosa’s One Place (TOP), a local family resource center, with grant writing. A proposal came out from the U.S. Department of Education 20 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

his May, longtime Al’s Pals program director and UA volunteer Star Bloom will retire from more than 30 years of volunteer service to The University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa community. Bloom has not only given back to UA through her leadership of Al’s Pals, but through many other areas as well. As longtime supporters of

the Hillel program on campus, the UA Bloom Hillel Jewish Community Center was named in honor of Bloom, co-chair of Hillel’s board of trustees, and her late husband, Stan Bloom. Within the Tuscaloosa community, Bloom has also been a longtime supporter of Tuscaloosa’s One Place, among many organizations. For her service, Bloom was

for mentoring programs, and Bloom decided to try to get one for TOP. The proposal had to be centered around a new approach to mentoring. With Big Brothers Big Sisters providing the only mentoring program in town at the time, Bloom’s new program pairing UA students and local schoolchildren received the only Alabama grant, and work began to establish a program with Matthews Elementary. Bloom’s first mentoring program originated within the Honors College, but when it moved to Student Affairs in January 2011, Al’s Pals was born, and it quickly began to grow its reach on campus. The first site to host Al’s Pals was McKenzie Court, at the request of the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, Bloom said. A Hope 6 Housing and Urban Development grant had provided enough funding to tear down old housing and build a new development. One of the requirements of building the new complex was a community center. “They were very excited to be able to get an after-school program in the community center,” Bloom said. “We were very lucky to get to start there.” Al’s Pals added a second site in the

spring of 2012, when Tuscaloosa’s One Place received a 21st Century Learning grant for Oakdale Elementary. Al’s Pals operated at Oakdale until May 2014. Last year, Bloom helped procure two more 21st Century Learning grants, which expanded Al’s Pals to Northington Elementary in the fall of 2013 and Central Elementary for a pilot first-grade program in spring of 2014. For Bloom, it is the commitment UA students make as mentors that makes Al’s Pals different. Bloom and student leaders are open with interested students about the commitment being a mentor requires. They go through training and are challenged to not start as a mentor if they don’t believe they will stick with it. While some students realize it is a commitment they can’t make, almost all readily accept the commitment and jump into mentoring. And many UA students return each year to continue their relationship and follow their “pal” to the next grade. “Al’s Pals is an opportunity for someone to realize that as one person, they can make a difference,” she said. “There are a lot of good things that need volunteers, but you

honored with the Julia and Henry Tutwiler Award in 1994, which is presented in recognition of individuals who have provided distinguished and exceptional service to the University and the people of Alabama and who exemplify the high personal and professional standards, which characterized the lives and service of Julia and Henry Tutwiler. “I have not met someone who cares as much about her community as Star does,” said

Courtney Thomas, director of the Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism. “She knows what it truly means to be an active citizen. I believe Tuscaloosa is different because of her. I believe Tuscaloosa is better because of her.” Bloom said she finds joy in serving others. “I was raised in a faith that emphasized healing the world, and I started volunteering as a requirement at my high school,” she said. “I attended Bryn Mawr College,

don’t get that feeling from one-time service opportunities.” Bloom said to see a child’s academics, social skills and behavior improve during the course of the year is what both she and the Al’s Pals mentors work for. “It’s so wonderful to see these children begin to understand they have a future out there that can take so many directions,” she said. “You get to see them visit the UA campus, and have this mentor who cares about them make the time to come see them each week. That means the world to these students, most of whom are living in single-parent homes and have a lot of adults in and out of their lives.” The logistics of reaching more than 250 at-risk youth each week through Al’s Pals are detailed. Each week, student leaders receive the curriculum plan and disseminate them to all of the mentors. Each group of mentors volunteers one day per week, and each site operates twice a week — allowing mentees to get to know two mentors. Following snack time and working on homework, Al’s Pals mentors facilitate a lesson and activity. At the end of each day, student leaders write reports on the day’s activities

— ranging from successes, problems and site supply needs — and submit them to Bloom. “That reporting is a high level of responsibility, because we adjust our curriculum and send out supplies based on what that student leader tells us,” Bloom said. “It’s a tremendous volume to manage, and it takes a huge team effort.” Once each week, Bloom meets with the graduate assistants and team leaders to talk through the programming and logistics face to face. The accountability is just one more part of Bloom’s philosophy for a successful program. “I am a great believer that people rise to the expectations you set for them,” Bloom said. “I’ve always believed that every student leader is a stakeholder in the program. I will often say to them, ‘It doesn’t matter how hard we work in the office, it’s only as good as you make it because you are the translators for our mentors and mentees.’” *** As the clock inches toward five o’clock, mentors begin to wrap up their lessons and give out daily rewards. The children earn stars

which was big on social justice and making a difference. When I had an opportunity to spend my time doing that, it just seemed like it was what I should do.” While Bloom will move to Birmingham to be closer to her family – including her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren – she said UA will still be a part of her life. “It’ll be different, but I’m excited,” she said. “I still hope to teach some, which will keep me connected.”

Many Al’s Pals mentors form such a bond with their students that they return to mentor for multiple years.

on their sticker charts for excellent behavior or progress, and mentors dole them out with smiles and praise. With hugs and high fives, the college mentors and elementary students say goodbye, and head out the doors. Smiles are big and there is a skip in each child’s step when they hear “See you next week!” — because they know the next time they walk in the door, their pal will be there waiting. SPRING2015 | 21

Making MARK ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

his

Calderone serves UA System and Tuscaloosa community

By Jessie Patterson Jones

att Calderone is no stranger to hard work or a fast-paced schedule. Since his term as UA’s SGA president from 2012–2013, Calderone hasn’t taken a break from serving The University of Alabama or the Tuscaloosa community. In August 2013, Calderone walked across the stage in Coleman Coliseum to collect his diploma on a Saturday and joined the UA System Office as a full-time staff member the following Monday. It wasn’t the first time he had made a quick transition. While in college, he completed his term as SGA president and began campaigning for a spot on the Tuscaloosa City Council the next day. He took office as Tuscaloosa’s District 4 representative that November. “I like to stay busy,” Calderone said. “I love to help people and want to stay involved as long as people will allow me to.” Calderone serves as assistant to the vice chancellor for government relations and economic development for The University of Alabama System. Working on the day-to-day operations of the office with Vice Chancellor Jo Bonner, Calderone spends much of his time focusing on economic research. “We are working to advance the overall UA System mission while also advancing Alabama’s economy,” Calderone said. “We have a great deal of assets within our system

22 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

— students, resource centers, and more and we want to offer that to the entire state.” With the UA System boasting 60,000 students and 30,000 faculty, staff and researchers, Calderone says much of his job is to help drive the message that the UA System can — and does — help make a difference in the state, to the tune of more than an $8 billion impact. It’s not all about the financial impact, Calderone said, “We want to be a partner as well. We are committed to making a difference, and we have a lot of resources to do it.” While his full-time job keeps him focused on statewide issues and resources, his role as a member of the Tuscaloosa City Council gives him the opportunity to focus on his city and his district, which includes The University of Alabama. Calderone said his council work varies from ensuring potholes in his district get filled to working on multi-million dollar development initiatives for the city. Calderone said he loves the diverse work. “It’s fun, and it can be stressful, but it’s worth it,” he said. Calderone said his student years at UA allowed him to gain great time-management skills, in addition to internships with the City of Tuscaloosa, where he spent two years before running for city council. Calderone spent much of his time within Student Affairs, becoming involved with the Student Government Association and his fraternity, Sigma Nu. He was also a member of the Blackburn Institute, as well as UA’s Honors College. “I’m not sure I would have found my passion for the State of Alabama as soon as I did, without the opportunities UA

provided,” Calderone said. “My experiences led me to develop a strong dedication to Tuscaloosa and the state. The University opened my eyes to a world I never would have seen in higher education if it weren’t for the roles I got to hold on campus,” he said. “It’s because of what I saw in the administration and Student Affairs — people want to help our students and advance our community for generations to come.” While he loves both of his jobs, Calderone said his favorite roles are that of husband to Claire and father to Abigail. In their free time, the Calderones have been restoring a 200-year-old historic home in Queen City and exploring their downtown neighborhood with long walks. For their renovation work, the Calderones were named one of the 2014 Brick and Mortar Award winners by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society. In the midst of a fulfilling and busy life, Calderone said he knows his time and experiences at UA have helped him achieve his goals, and that’s why he has enjoyed remaining involved through the Council of SGA Presidents and serving as a judge for the Blackburn Institute’s Daniels Scholars program this year. “I would not be who I am today without The University of Alabama and without the administrators that are there always trying to help students,” Calderone said. “The lessons I learned will stick with me for the rest of my life. The Capstone has truly defined who I am.”

FAMILY PHOTOS BY MARY-KEELEY MCALLISTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Former SGA President Matt Calderone is Tuscaloosa’s District 4 representative and serves as assistant to the vice chancellor for government relations and economic development for The University of Alabama System.

While he loves both of his jobs, Calderone said his favorite roles are that of husband to Claire and father to Abigail.

SPRING2015 | 23

Honoring our 2014

STUDENT AFFAIRS SUPPORTERS

Thank you to our alumni, parents and friends who generously supported the Division of Student Affairs in 2014. Your contributions supported scholarships and expanded student and campus life initiatives. Your gifts enhance learning beyond the classroom. Thanks for your continued support. $10,000 + American Tank & Vessel, Inc. Mr. William Keith Booth C ommunity Foundation of South Alabama M r. Michael Honan and Dr. Roxanne Travelute Janis Brown Associates Louise B. Wallace Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Brian Shipp Vulcan Materials Co. Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Stantley Williams

$5,000-$9,999 Alabama Panhellenic Association Altria Group, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Roy W. Bailey Mrs. Lois Davidson G ulf Distributing Company of Mobile, L.L.C. Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Henson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Leonard Mr. John Beatty Maxwell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rolfe Mr. Louis Shapiro Dr. Thomas Strong Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

$2,000-$4,999 Mr. and Mrs. Yuval Almog Mr. and Mrs. William Azar Mrs. Star Bloom Mrs. Lee Watkins Boles Mr. and Mrs. Julian Butler Coca-Cola Foundation Ms. Rebecca Hadfield Dr. Donald E. Hall Kimberly-Clark Corporation Mr. and Mrs. John Farrow Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harper Mr. Mark F. Jacobs Ladies of the Houndstooth 24 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

Mrs. Ann Blalock Lee Mr. and Mrs. Doug Morris Mr. and Mrs. Harris Morrissette Mortar Board Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Patterson Jack H. and Sue A. Pearson Honorable C. Lynwood Smith, Jr. Tower Loan of Mississippi, LLC

$1,000-$1,999 Dr. Norm Baldwin Ballard Crossing Chevron Mrs. Jenna Bedsole Beta Theta Pi House Corporation Mr. John Bolus Mr. and Mrs. Michael Boudreaux Bradford Health Services Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Burch Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lew Burdette Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Britt Dr. Cheree Causey Dr. Patricia and Mr. David Clokey, Jr. C ommunity Foundation of Greater Birmingham Mr. and Mrs. Hal Coons, III Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Corr Mr. John W. Covington III Mr. Robert Crawford Mr. David A. Donaldson Delta Zeta-Alpha Gamma Chapter Mr. and Mrs. George Douthit, Jr. Mr. J. David Ellwanger Mr. Benjamin Foster Grice Insurance Agency, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Mike Hill Mr. W. Mike House Mr. Joel Huguley and Dr. Leesa Rogers Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jennings J ewish Federation of Central Alabama, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Neil Koonce Mr. and Mrs. David P. Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Loper Dr. Holly Morris Luther Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lee Maddox Dr. David Mathews Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Meador, Jr. Mrs. Ashley Metsky Mr. Ray Miller, III Mr. Warner Moore III Drs. Michael and Arie Nettles Next Generation Consulting Mr. Leroy D. Nix Mr. Larry W. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Drs. Jerry and Isabel Oldshue Mr. Alejandro Perez Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Pilot Mrs. Holly Blackburn Piper Results, LLC Mrs. Julia Smeds Roth UBS Financial Services Mr. and Mrs. John Stanchina Dr. and Mrs. Michael Stevenson Ms. Lisa Teel Dr. Louise R. Thibodaux Mrs. Tracy M. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thurber Mr. and Mrs. John Turner Ms. Jane Van Eaton Vulcan Materials Company Mr. James Wilson, III Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee Woosley Mr. and Mrs. James Yann

$500-$999 Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Adams American Village Ms. Kathryn Bass Mr. and Mrs. Brad Boland Ms. Tara Bloom Mr. Kyle Buchanan Century Construction and Realty, Inc. Mr. John Charles Coleman Mr. James Bradley Davidson Grace Ministries, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hamm Dr. Tim S. Hebson Mr. Aaron Latham Mr. and Mrs. W.V. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. C. Martin Mr. and Mrs. Bill McCleave Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg & Moore, PC Mr. and Mrs. Robert Poole III Mr. Eric Lloyd Pruitt Mr. and Mrs. Darren Ridley Drs. Craig and Elisabeth Sheldon Ms. Donna Wesson Smalley Mr. Donald S. Smith Mr. Gregory Snodgrass Ms. Victoria Starks Dr. Frank Moody Thompson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Torbert Vulcan Materials Company Mr. and Mrs. Bert Wilkes

$100-$499 Mr. and Mrs. Craig Akridge Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Alexander Mrs. Lori B. Allen Mr. Jack Anastasia Mr. James Carley Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Vince Aquino Mr. Walt Arvin Mr. Lonnie Autery Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Avera Mr. Peter Badger Mr. and Mrs. Mark Baglietto Mr. Alan Bailey Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bannon Mrs. Kathryn Barker Mr. and Mrs. Chris Barnet Mr. Chad Battle Mr. and Mrs. Ted Baudendistel Mr. Waymon Benifield Mr. Michael Benjamin Ms. Justine Betzler Mrs. Gloria Blackburn Mr. Brandon Bledsoe

Mr. Gary Blitzer Mr. Bill Bloom, Jr. Mr. William B. Blount Ms. Rosemarie Bollar-Brannon Mrs. Mary Boone Mr. and Mrs. Scott Bowen Mrs. Stacy Bowling Mrs. Patricia Brasher Mr. Cameron Britton Ms. Karen Brommer Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Brown Mrs. Leah Browning Mr. and Mrs. Ken Bruno Mr. Jerry Buck Mr. James Burnett Mr. Jeffrey Burwinkel Mr. and Mrs. Ben Byrd Mr. and Mrs. James Byrd Ms. Kathryn Champion Ms. Mary B. Campbell Mr. Stuart K. Campbell Mr. and Mrs. James Campolongo Mr. and Mrs. Clay Canaday Ms. Dawn Carr Ms. Mary Margaret Carroll M r. Curtis Casteel and Ms. Holly Kreisler Mr. Robert Cathcart Ms. Ann Chapman Chuck’s Fish Ms. Bettie Cinello Cinello Insurance Agency, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Del Clayton Mr. and Mrs. Michael Clements Mrs. Susie Clements Cleveland High School Class of 1982 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Coates Mrs. Jackie Cochran Ms. Lindsay Coker Mr. Thomas Elliott Colburn Ms. Lauren Collier Ms. Elizabeth Connell Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Conner Mr. Kim Contos Mr. Gary Cloyd Mrs. Doris Klein Cohen Mrs. Elaine Conners Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Constantine Mr. and Mrs. Scott Corscadden Mr. Stan Cowling Mrs. Paige Cranford Mr. and Mrs. Michael Crawford Mr. George Pierce Crews, Jr. Mr. Timothy Croswhite Ms. Nance Cruce Mr. Mark Culbertson Ms. Samantha Czarnota Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Dahl Mrs. Carol Reeves Davenport

SALC is making a difference for students Special thanks go out to the 2014-2015 members of the Student Affairs Leadership Council, which supports Student Affairs through advising on long-range planning, financial gifts, student recruitment and advocacy. Student Affairs is grateful for the work they have done and continue to do to maximize each UA student’s learning experience. Julia and Dean Azar Tina and Roy Bailey Lee and Duffy Boles Mary and John Bolus Katie and Wesley Britt Piper and John Burch Suzanne and Lew Burdette Patty and David Clokey Carrie and Buzz Coons Tanya and Skip Cooper Tina and Bryan Corr Nedra and Bob Crosby Kathy and Butch Douthit Carolyn and Bert Eichold Jennifer and John Farrow

Mr. William Lankford David, III Mrs. Tamera Davidson Mrs. Carol Davis Mrs. Melanie Knight Davis Mrs. Miranda Davis Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Daws Mr. Edward Day, VI Ms. Patricia deGouyon-Person Mr. and Mrs. Mario delaGuardia Mr. and Mrs. Del Netjes Mrs. Kimberly Deloian Mr. Alan DeVaney Diamond Edge Services Mrs. Susan Di Loreto Ms. Lisa Doggett Mr. William Drago Mrs. Katherine Drews Mrs. Carol Duncan Mr. F. B. Du Pre The Honorable William J. Edwards III Mrs. Marta Ekberg Ms. Courtney Ellis Mr. Lee Engel Mr. Thomas P. English Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Espy, III ExxonMobil Foundation Ms. Eulalie Eyre Mr. Dennis Fain Mr. Tim Farmer Mrs. Bernadine Faulkner Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fearon Mr. and Mrs. Brett Feinstein Mr. and Mrs. Randal Ferguson Ms. Elizabeth Fickett

Kathy and Tim Gannon Margaret Garner Amy and Jeff Grice Carole and Richard Hamm Lillian and Bucky Henson Sandy and Philip Hodgson Leesa and Joel Huguley Mark Jacobs Virginia and Bill Jones Jamie and Neil Koonce Elena and Jeff Leonard Annette and Coleman Loper Holly Luther Cynthia and Mike Maddox April and Jonathan Mason

Vanessa and Warner Moore Arie and Michael Nettles Jeanna and Rodney Pilot Emily and Oscar Price Murray and Jim Priester Holli and Kelly Roach Kathy and Bobby Rolfe Susan and Brian Shipp Nancy Siniard Mary and John Turner Jane Van Eaton Julie and John Vanier Starla and Bert Wilkes Jessica and Lee Woosley Mary and Jim Yann

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Fink Mr. and Mrs. Travis Fitts, Jr. Mr. Jack D. Fleischer Ms. Tammy Henderson Foley Mrs. Grace Foster Mr. J. Harlan Foster Mr. James Fowler Mr. L. B. Friedland Ms. Mariah Friedland Mr. Richard B. Funk Ms. Ann Gallucci Mr. Don Gasch Mrs. Britney Garner Mrs. Carol Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Gatti Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gencarella Ms. Tracey George Ms. Paige Gibson Ms. Wendy Gibson Mr. Winston Gillum, Jr Ms. Janet Glanding Mrs. Carolyn Glisson Mr. Tomas Gonzalez Mrs. Tiffany Goldstone Mr. and Mrs. David Gosstola Mrs. Ramona Graffeo Mrs. Verdie Greeling Mr. and Mrs. Michael Green Ms. Pamela Greenberg Mr. Tommy Grier Mr. Raymond Grigsby Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Grisham Mr. and Mrs. Louie R. Guertin, Jr. Mrs. Judi Guggenheimer

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hagemann Mr. Andrew Dickson Hall Mr. Michael Farrell Hallmark Mr. and Mrs. John P. Hamilton Mr. George Harris Ms. Sara A. Hartley Mrs. Sandra Hatfield-Sauls Mr. and Mrs. John Heller Ms. Kim Hemphill Mr. and Mrs. Dale Hendrix Ms. Cristin Henry Mr. R. Harrison Hickman Mrs. Carol Hohbach Mr. and Mrs. Mark Holifield Mrs. Jill Hopkins Ms. Jean Hopper Mr. and Mrs. John Horst Mr. and Mrs. David Howard Mr. and Mrs. Tom Howland Mr. and Mrs. David R. Hunter Ms. Linda Hutchison Ms. Lacey Hyche Mr. Paul Hyche Mrs. Karen Hyland IBM Corporation Mrs. Sue Ilsley Mrs. Margaret Ireland Ms. Jamie Ivie Mr. Walter Jameson Mr. Sarah Jansen Mr. Larry Jernigan Jim Ziegler Eldercare Attorney Mr. Marshall Locklear Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Jones SPRING2015 | 25

TINA & ROY BAILEY

n September 2013, Tina and Roy Bailey made a gift to the UA Away Endowed Scholarship in honor of their children William (Billy) and Bridget. The Baileys had been searching for a way to give back to the UA community that Billy, a 2009 graduate, and Bridget, a 2014 graduate, had been part of. The Baileys selected to give to UA Away because of the benefit it provides to help students expand their college experience abroad. “UA Away scholarships are a wonderful way to pay tribute to our son and daughter who received excellent educations at The University of Alabama,” Tina said. “Many students wouldn’t have these opportunities and great experiences without these scholarships to offset the cost.” The Baileys have continued to support Student Affairs, because it fulfills many different needs students have, Tina Bailey said. “Student Affairs can and does make a difference in a student’s experience at the University of Alabama,” she said. “Student Affairs also assists in providing answers to parent questions, which definitely adds peace of mind for any parent. They play an active role in assisting students in acquiring their goals and dreams.”

26 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

Mrs. Lori Jones Mr. and Mrs. R. Matthew Jones Mr. and Mrs. William H. Jones Mr. Robert Alvia Jones Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kathe Mrs. Terri Kearns Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Keegan Mr. Kevin Kelly Mr. Michael Kelly Mrs. Sheila Overton Kelly Mr. Matthew Kemple Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kennedy Ms. Kendra Key Mr. Cason Kirby Mr. and Mrs. James Kline Mr. and Mrs. Chris Korst Ms. Megan Krewsky Laboratory Corporation of America Mr. Scott Lacefield Commander and Mrs. Thomas Lally Mr. John Lamprinakos Mrs. Molly Mayfield Lawrence Mr. Thomas R. Leach Mrs. Ann Blalock Lee Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lemley Mrs. Kathleen Lemelin Ms. Jane Lenning Mrs. Bonnie Lessman Ms. Simonie Levy Mr. Stuart Lewis Ms. Suzan Lewis Mr. Zachary Long Ms. Lisa Loudon Mr. Shane Luckey Mrs. Karen Luppino Mr. and Mrs. James Mangie Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Marotto Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Martin Mrs. Elizabeth Bryant Martin Mr. Gordon Martin Ms. Kari Curtis Martin Mr. Raymond Martin Ms. Haley Mapes Mr. John Henry Masingill III Mrs. Martha Hollis Maxwell Mr. William Maxwell Mrs. Rhonda McDonald Mr. and Mrs. C. Jefferson McGill Mr. Travis McKay Mr. William McKay Ms. Susan McVicar Mr. Steven Meade Ms. Chandler Melton Mrs. Heather Miller Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Miller Mr. and Mrs. David Mims Mr. and Mrs. David J. Minor M r. Dave Minto and Ms. Cedella Marley Mr. and Mrs. Larry Mitchell

The Reginald C. Mohun Family Dr. Timothy J. Mooney Mr. Hal Mooty Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Moran Ms. Linda Morard Mrs. Carla Morel Mr. and Mrs. John Moskowski Mr. and Mrs. William Motlow Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Murray Mrs. Carol Nesmith Mr. Leslie Nettleton Mr. James O. Newton II Dr. Alfred Nichols Mr. and Mrs. Ken Nix Mr. Steven Oliver Mrs. Constance Olson O’Neal Investments, LLC Ms. Sally O’Neill Order of Omega Drs. Bridget and Louis Ostrow Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Padon Panda Restaurant Group, Inc Mr. and Mrs. William Scott Parker Ms. Mary Kay Parker Ms. Cathy Parmly-Basnett Mr. and Mrs. Chris Parsons Ms. Jerrie Paschal Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Peach Ms. Cecilia Pena Mrs. Kathy Pestona Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Phelps Ms. Amy Phillips Ms. April Phillips Ms. Danielle Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Piekarski Mr. James Pitts Mr. John Michael Powers Mr. Robert Preston Ms. Lacy Prickett Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Privitera II Ms. Vanessa Powers Mr. and Mrs. Wen Powers Mr. William Purnell Mrs. Pamela Putnam Ms. Jocelyn Pysarchuk Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Ramos Mr. Myron Rainey Mr. and Mrs. Scott Reasoner Ms. Virginia Reed Mr. Joseph Reese, Jr. Ms. Anne Regan Ms. Sandra Reid Mr. Daniel Retzer M s. Tere Richardson and Mr. Gary Van Wagnen Mrs. Carrie Richey Mr. William Zachary Riddle Mr. W. Anthony Riley Mr. William Roach

Mrs. Alisa Stokes Robertson Mr. Michael Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Rolland Ms. Laura Rooney Ms. Christie Rose Mrs. Carolyn Rowell Mr. James Rudder Ms. Tamara Russell Mr. Donny Ray Savage Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Scarola Mrs. Cynthia Schneider Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Schick Mr. Eugene Schindler Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schuberth Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schulz Mrs. Martha Segal Mrs. Patricia Selman Mrs. Mary K. Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Lewis A. Sharp Mr. and Mrs. Alan Shaw Mr. and Mrs. Nam Shelton Mr. John E. Shepherd, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. F. Don Siegal Mr. Thomas Siegfried Mrs. Karen Donald Silliman Mrs. A. Denise Simpson Mr. Terry Simpson Mr. and Mrs. James Sims, Jr. Dr. Robert Sinclair Ms. Pamela Sitton Mr. Adam Sklansky Mr. Mike Sladek Ms. Patricia Slaughter Ms. Nonda Sloan Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Small Ms. Amber Smith Ms. Harriet Smith Ms. Jacqueline Lee Smith Ms. Robin M. Smith Ms. Sandra Smith Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sortwell Mrs. Sharon Sosnow Mr. Donald Southard Mr. Sherrill Southerland Ms. Amy Speegle Mr. Ronald Spencer St. Louis Scrap Trading, LLC Ms. Joyce Stack Mrs. Leigh Stallings Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stallworth Mrs. Kathryn Stastka Stricklend Farms Mr. Phillip Stuart

Ms. Cheryl Studer Dr. Stephen Suggs Mr. and Mrs. Bob Surdan Mr. Stephen Swinson Mr. Bruce Taten Ms. Taylor Templin Mr. William Terrell: Mr. Allen Terry II Mr. and Mrs. Mark Terry Ms. Sana Thomas Mrs. Patricia Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Neil Thrasher Mr. and Mrs. James Torti Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Traylor Mr. David Troncale Mr. and Mrs. Michael Trotter Mrs. Peggy Tryon Ms. Martha Turley Mr. Kevin Lyle Turner Mr. and Mrs. Charles Turri Mr. and Mrs. Ingram Tynes Mr. and Mrs. Michael Van Metre Ms. Austen Waldron Mr. R. B. Walker WALKERarch, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Don Ward Ms. Donna Ward Mr. Theodore Ward, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Washington Ms. Julia Watt Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Webb Mr. and Mrs. Louis Weinzelbaum Mr. H. Thomas Wells Mr. and Mrs. Jaime Wesolowski Dr. Philip Westbrook Mr. and Mrs. James Whitacre Mrs. Teresa Whitaker Mr. George White Mr. and Mrs. William Whitmer Dr. Jimmy Williams Ms. Maria Williamson Mrs. Vicky Willis Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Wilkinson Ms. Rhonda Wilson Ms. Kelsey Winnett Ms. Amy Womack Ms. Jill Wood Mr. and Mrs. Watson Wright Ms. Lenora Wulfe Mr. Kevin Yamashita Ms. Lynn Yeldell Mr. and Mrs. F. Scott Young Mr. Christopher Zeifert Ms. Kelley Zyniewicz

PAULA & BILL CUTTS

aula and Bill Cutts have made it a habit to stay involved with their children’s education throughout their time in school. When their daughter, Westleigh, decided to attend The University of Alabama far from their home in Houston, Texas, the Cuttses knew volunteer opportunities would be difficult due to distance and they began looking for another way to make a difference at the Capstone. “We wanted to help an area of the University that does not receive much in the way of funding, but is doing work that is both beneficial and needed in the student community,” Paula Cutts said. “This led us to the Women and Gender Resource Center.” While the Cutts had no initial ties to the WGRC, after having the opportunity to visit the Center on a visit to Tuscaloosa, they were moved by the work that was being done. “After visiting with Elle Shaaban-Magaña, the director of the center, and members of the staff, we saw firsthand how passionate they are about the work they do,” Paula said. “The Women and Gender Resource Center staff has such compassion for each client they are dealing with.” That visit reiterated to both Paula and Bill that the Women and Gender Resource Center was where they wanted to help make a difference at UA. “We are proud we can support a group that has such a positive impact on helping and changing lives of those in need,” Paula said.

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness of this list. If we have inadvertently omitted your name or listed you incorrectly, please contact STUDENT AFFAIRS at 205-348-6275 or by email at studentaffairs@ua.edu. SPRING2015 | 27

CAPSTONE

CONNECTIONS The Spring 2015 semester got off to a great start at UA, with outstanding events all across the Division of Student Affairs.

UA LEADS

UA LEADS, a one-day conference, took place on Feb. 28 at the Ferguson Student Center. Hosted by the Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism, the event allowed  students, faculty and staff to unite for a day of educational sessions  and dialogue about leadership and diversity. Keynote speakers included Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon and FOCUS Brands, Inc., and Joshua  Fredenburg, a renowned speaker on leadership development,  diversity and relationship building.

T-TOWN PULL DOWN

On Feb. 14, University Recreation hosted students from around the southeast to compete in a climbing competition at Student Activity Center at Presidential Village. There were two sessions of 40 climbers each, competing in bouldering and top rope climbing. 28 | CAPSTONE MAGAZINE | STUDENT AFFAIRS

Compiled by Morgan Chandler

CAREER FAIRS

From Feb. 17-19, UA’s Career Center welcomed more than 170 different companies to campus for three career fairs. Employers were seeking to fill both internship positions and full-time jobs. There was a communications career fair, a general interest and business career fair and a technical and engineering career fair.

HEART WALK

Five teams from Student Affairs registered for West Alabama’s annual American Heart Association Heart Walk, and 60 staff members participated in the event by donating and/or walking, pledging more than $1,000. The Career Center, External Affairs/First Year Experience and Parent Programs, Housing and Residential Communities, University Recreation and the Counseling Center all had teams in the Feb. 14 event.

ELECT HER

On Jan. 31, Mayor Hollie Cost of Montevallo and Lena Powe from the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce spoke at Elect Her 2015. Elect Her: Campus Women Win is a broad initiative that encourages and trains young women to run for student government. The event, held in conjunction with UA’s Women and Gender Resource Center, was sponsored by the American Association of University Women.

SPRING2015 | 29

Go ahead,

CLIMB!

University Recreation hosts T-Town Pull Down climbing competition

PHOTOS BY DUSTEN BYBEE

STUDENT AFFAIRS Assessment Blackburn Institute

PHOTOS BY EMILY HEATH

Career Center C enter for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism Counseling Center Dean of Students External Affairs Ferguson Student Center F irst Year Experience and Parent Programs

DEFINE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREEK PREVIEW DAY

On Feb. 28, Fraternity and Sorority Life welcomed more than 1,000 incoming UA students amd parents to campus to learn more about the 59 chapters that make up the fraternity and sorority community on campus. The Alabama Panhellenic Association, United Greek Council, Interfraternity Council and National PanHellenic Council all presented information on joining their organizations to incoming students and their family members.

Graduate Student Services Fraternity and Sorority Life H ousing and Residential Communities Student Conduct Student Government Association Student Involvement Student Leadership Student Media University Programs University Recreation Veteran and Military Affairs Women and Gender Resource Center FOLLOW US! #UASTUDENTAFFAIRS

instagram.com/uastudentaffairs twitter.com/uastudents facebook.com/uastudentaffairs SPRING2015 | 31

CRIMSON PROMENADE Continue the tradition, one brick at a time

Consider purchasing a Crimson Promenade brick as a meaningful way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or graduation. The Promenade celebrates your connection to The University of Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and success. Proceeds fund programs that support leadership and career development among students. Visit sa.ua.edu/promenade to learn more.