Acoff Receives UA Engineering’s T. Morris Hackney Leadership Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Engineering announced Dr. Viola Acoff, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering and interim head of chemical and biological engineering, as the 2009 T. Morris Hackney Endowed Faculty Leadership award recipient.

The award honors a faculty member who exemplifies the constant guidance and leadership necessary to make UA’s College of Engineering exceptional.

Acoff began working at The University of Alabama in 1994 as an assistant professor of metallurgical and materials engineering. She was promoted to associate professor in 2000, and then promoted to professor in 2004. In 2008, Acoff was named the interim head of chemical and biological engineering.

Acoff has been active in various areas of research and has been awarded approximately $4.5 million in externally-funded research grants, including a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 1997. She also has been instrumental in developing and leading the Introduction to Science Faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Materials Science and Engineering Program.

This workshop, which introduces faculty to the field of materials science, has been funded by the NSF and recently received a second grant to continue its work. In addition, Acoff has more than 65 reviewed publications and more than 100 conference presentations, including 13 invited talks.

In addition to teaching and research, Acoff is involved with numerous professional organizations. She served as the chair of the ASM International Joining Critical Sector, and she chaired the Birmingham ASM International Chapter. Acoff is a member of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, ASM International, the American Society for Engineering Education and the American Welding Society.

Acoff received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in materials engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1989, 1991 and 1994, respectively.

This award was created as a tribute to T. Morris Hackney and was made possible by the contributions from John H. Josey and his son, Howard Josey.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 2,300 students and over 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.