UA’s Rabel Receives Bickley Innovation, Creativity Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. William H. Rabel, John & Mary Louise Loftis Bickley Endowed Teaching Professor of Insurance & Financial Services at The University of Alabama, has been selected as the first faculty recipient of the John Bickley Innovation and Creativity Award for 2008.

Established by Dr. John S. Bickley, emeritus professor of insurance, the award recognizes a faculty member in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration who has created an idea to enhance the image of the College in the eyes of the education world. The award is given to a faculty member who has instituted courses of study which are creative and for initiatives which are beneficial to students. The recipient is chosen by a faculty committee which is appointed by the dean of the College.

Rabel led a team of professors that developed the new actuarial science program at the university. A cooperative venture between the mathematics department and the business school, the program is designed to attract gifted students with a quantitative bent to The University of Alabama. Initially Rabel will be responsible for administering and marketing the new program.

“I am overwhelmed to receive the award and thank Dr. Bickley, who founded the award, as well as the selection panel,” Rabel said. “I am pleased to accept the award on behalf of all members of the actuarial science task force. Everyone made an important contribution, and the project would have been less successful if any member had been unable to serve.”

Bickley said, “I believe that students’ lives can be changed forever by innovations in teaching and research that enhances teaching, as well as by new programs like the actuarial science program. I hope that in the future the award will encourage innovations in curriculum, teaching and research.”

To obtain additional information about the Actuarial Science Program at The University of Alabama, visit: http://cba.ua.edu/insurance/programs/actuarial/