University of Alabama names Mark Nelson as new dean of communication, information sciences
Tuscaloosa News – June 11
Mark Nelson has been named the next dean of the University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. Nelson’s appointment begins on July 1. He was selected following a national search. Nelson is currently UA’s vice president for student affairs and vice provost, roles he has served in since 2008. Jennifer Greer, professor and journalism department chair, has served as the interim dean since September 2013. Greer followed Dean Loy Singleton, who retired last fall. Nelson joined the UA faculty in 1991 as a member in the communication studies department of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. He served as assistant dean and then associate dean for undergraduate studies in the college from 1996 to 2006. He also served as director of basic courses/coordinator of academic advising in the college from 1991 to 1996 to train and mentor graduate teaching assistants while teaching, recruiting and advising students in the communication studies area.
New cyber-crime lab to open at UA
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – June 11
Assisting in cyber-crime cases will be the main goal of a new crime lab being created in Tuscaloosa. University of Alabama professors are partnering with local law enforcement agencies to create a new cyber-crime lab. The lab will assist with cyber-crime cases like computer hacking and child pornography. Modern day crimes are more complex than they once were which is why Dr. Kate Seigfried-Spellar said a crime lab specifically for cyber-criminals is necessary. The assistant professor said, “Every type of crime is going to have some type of digital evidence involved. This way if we have everybody housed at the same place we can analyze laptops, different types of computers, hardware. We can look at different types of cell phones, tablets. We can look at GPS devices.” Beyond simply electronic data that boldly links someone to a crime; the lab will be able to make connections between suspects. “So if a suspect claims I don’t know that individual, I don’t know that drug deal. Well that’s funny because we pulled data from your cell phone that shows you’ve been texting this person or you’ve called this person. And so that’s the type of evidence that they’re going to be able to use,” Seigfried-Spellar added. The new lab will be filled with as many computers and software as the $60,000 grant the cyber-crime lab was awarded can buy.
AU and UA Professors helping rural Alabama residents receive better healthcare with Telemedicine
WTVM 9 (Columbus, Ga.) – June 11
Technology has become a major form of communication in our society. Business professors at Auburn University and the University of Alabama have joined forces to try and connect residents of rural Alabama to their doctors without having to travel long distances with Telemedicine. “It provides a connection, a remote connection, between a specialist in a city hospital and a patient who lives in a rural community far away from that hospital,” explains Dr. Rafay Isfaq, AU Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management. Ishfaq and his team applied supply chain and business analytics principles in research that introduces telemedicine to the public. Beyond the video link there are now medical devices that are web enabled and can connect the patient to the specialist. “These devices can take your blood pressure, they can take your heart rate, they can do a MRI scan for you and then send the data to this medical specialist without the need of the specialist to drive to the patient,” says Ishfaq. The team identified nine counties in Alabama best suited for telemedicine centers, based on population and distance to larger cities with greater care opportunities.” These counties are St. Clair, Cullman, Dekalb, Walker, Jackson, Marengo, Clarke, Covington and Franklin.
WXTX-Fox (Columbus, Ga.) – June 11
College-, corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners announced
Al.com – June 10
The latest announcements of National Merit Scholarship winners include 11 students from Mobile and Baldwin counties … Here are the winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarships, announced on May 28. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. Additional college-sponsored Merit Scholarships will be announced on July 14 … Reece Bell, Mobile, UMS-Wright Preparatory School. Probable career field: Business. College: University of Alabama; … Katherine B. Jeffries, Mobile, St. Paul’s Episcopal School. Career field: undecided. College: University of Alabama. … Jacob T. Sims, Mobile, Mobile Christian School. Probable career field: Academia. College: University of Alabama.
Fancher more confident heading off to Alabama
Selma Times-Journal – June 11
For Dallas County High School graduate Tayler Fancher, earning the valedictorian title means gaining a newfound confidence. Fancher, who graduated with grade point average of 4.03, said accomplishing the high school goal she has had since the 7th grade makes her less doubtful about performing well academically in college. “I was so excited. It was crazy, because I knew it was close,” Fancher said. Enrolled in the University of Alabama with a $37,800 scholarship, Fancher will major both in marine sciences and biology. “I really like Shark Week, so my main goal is to study the sharks and try to limit human and shark interaction,” Fancher said. “I want to find out where they swim, and get on Shark Week.”
UA’s Bama Dining to take part in Tuscaloosa job fair
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – June 11
New jobs are on the way to Tuscaloosa, and many are in the food industry. A job fair is set for Saturday at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy. The biggest vendor will be the University-of-Alabama’s Bama Dining program. It plans to add nearly 350 jobs by August.