Ex-DOD official to head new Cyber Institute at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 2
The University of Alabama has named a former U.S. Department of Defense official executive director of its new Cyber Institute, an umbrella organization for interdisciplinary research and educational programs on campus related to cyber security and cyber-related technologies. Reginald D. Hyde, former deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security in the U.S. Department of Defense, was announced on Tuesday as the executive director of the institute, having previously served as director of UA’s Cyber Security Initiative that preceded it. “The Cyber Institute and Reg Hyde’s leadership will propel not only the university’s priorities, but our collaborative interactions across our state and nationally,” UA Vice President for Research Carl Pinkert said in comments released by UA. Hyde will report to Pinkert. Hyde’s association with the project began with a visit to his alma mater in 2012. As then-deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, Hyde came to campus to give classroom talks to students during homecoming week.
Washington Times – Sept. 2
University of Alabama unveils its ‘cleanest room’
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 2
The University of Alabama engineering department on Tuesday revealed a new site for its Micro-fabrication Facility, which will be used for research to improve technology by increasing the memory capacity of computer hard drives. The state-of-the-art, 7,111 -square-foot facility was previously housed in two other sites on campus before finding permanent space in the North Engineering Research Center. “What we are doing is making tiny devices, and these can be applied toward solar cells, they can be applied to semi-conductor chips, they can be applied toward the guts of a computer disk drive and other unique and interesting things like that,” said Subhadra Gupta, director of the Microfabrication Facility since 2007. Gupta oversees graduate and undergraduate students. Dubbed the “Cleanest Room” at UA, the facility houses three bays where machines work with ultra-violet light to deposit film and etch out patterns onto silicon wafers. The room is kept at maximum clean-liness to preserve the wafers from corruption from dust particles. Gupta said it’s vital to keep things clean.
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – Sept. 2
Al.com – Sept. 3
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 2
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 2
Author of ‘Baptized in PCBs’ receives award
Anniston Star – Sept. 2
A University of Alabama professor and author of a book about Monsanto’s contamination of western Anniston recently received an honor from a national public health association. Ellen Spears, assistant professor in New College and the department of American studies at UA, has been chosen as the recipient of 2014 Arthur J. Viseltear Prize for outstanding contributions in the history of public health for her recent book, “Baptized in PCBs: Race, Pollution, and Justice in an All-American Town.” The award is presented at the annual American Public Health Association meeting, which will be held Nov. 15-19 in New Orleans. Spears’ book tells of the agri-chemical company’s nine-figure settlement with Anniston residents after the company had been accused of dumping polychlorinated biphenyls — chemical compounds used as insulating and coolant fluids — into surrounding neighborhoods in Anniston. According to a press release from the university, Spears began her interviews in 2003, the same year Monsanto settled the lawsuit with plaintiffs in the city.
Jones wins Built by Bama service award
Franklin County Times – Sept. 2
Russellville native Lindsey Jones, Assistant Director of External Operations/Event Management at the University of Alabama, was named as the recipient of the Built by Bama Service Award. Jones came up through the ranks at Alabama. As a student, she worked with women’s tennis as a manager. After receiving her degree, she moved into her current position within the Event Management operation. During that time, she has always put her best effort and engaging personality into everything she does. “Lindsey has a magnetic personality that is revealed in her dealings with her constituents,” head women’s tennis coach Jenny Mainz said. “She takes so much pride in her position at Alabama and is committed to ensuring our success.” Jones is also known as someone who is more than willing to pitch in and help wherever and whenever she is needed and is willing to work until the job is done right. “Lindsey Jones has a heart of gold. Combine that attribute with the fact that she practically runs everywhere she goes, and this epitomizes what appears to be her life’s M.O. – hurry up and help somebody,” Jill Bender, director of Crimson Tide Hospitality, said.
Volunteers needed for hearing study at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 2
The University of Alabama’s department of communicative disorders is looking for adult volunteers 19 years or older for a research study on hearing. The department will have a testing session from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Speech and Hearing Center at 700 University Blvd. E. on the UA campus. The test lasts about an hour, and participants will receive a $25 gift card. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Marcia Hay-McCutcheon, associate professor of communicative disorders, at cochlea@as.ua.edu or 205-348-4572.
Students find themselves taking shifts after schoolwork
Crimson White – Sept. 3
Ahlaiah Lewis is guaranteed to do two things every week: attend lectures and scoop ice cream. The sophomore spends her time away from school working off-campus at Coldstone Creamery as a shift leader. Lewis said she has been working at the restaurant since freshman year and applied with a friend through the establishment. “I think that it just is going to prepare me and teach me how to work with customers, work with my other employees, manage my time and be more organized, just stuff like that,” Lewis said … “I’ve had a job before, so that first job was my trial and test area where I had to figure out how to balance everything, so now I’m used to it, and I know how to better manage my time so I haven’t really had any problems,” she said. Deciding whether to work during college has always been a personal decision for students. Whether they need a little extra financial footing or just want to gain real-world work experience, both on-and off-campus jobs are available for students of all
majors and interests. “The best way for prospective employers from University departments to reach UA students is through the online student recruitment job site, where hiring managers can post student employment opportunities, customize a job application, track student applicants and review student resumes,” according to the UA Student Employment Office within the department of human resources website.
Schwab brings CIA to UA
Crimson White – Sept. 3
Like many teachers, UA history professor Stephen Schwab brings an experienced and knowledgable background to his classroom. Schwabs, however, is more varied than most. Schwab attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he majored in history. There he also earned his Master of Arts in modern European and Latin American history. He taught for a year afterwards at the Residence Center of Missouri
State University. After spending time in an academic environment, Schwab took a job with the Central Intelligence Agency. He worked mainly as a political/military analyst on Latin American issues and also wrote intelligence papers on international terrorism, nuclear proliferation and counter-narcotics. During his final years working with the CIA, he was assigned to work in Montgomery at Maxwell Air Force Base. Schwab worked as CIA Representative to the Base Commander while he was there and taught some courses at professional military schools. Schwab retired from the CIA in 2000 and went back to the academic world. He moved with his family to Tuscaloosa and began work on his doctorate, which he finished in 2007 and with it after writing a dissertation on the history of Guantanamo Naval Base. His dissertation was later published as a book entitled “Guantanamo, USA: The Untold History of America’s
Cuban Outpost.” Schwab has been teaching at the University since 2001.
Art students find personal expression in sketchbooks (print edition only)
Crimson White – Sept. 3
Athletes lace up their cleats, researchers flip on their microscopes and artists open their sketchbooks. Every discipline has an accessory necessary for success, and for students in The University of Alabama’s art program, sketchbooks can be their most powerful tool. Talia Scarpelli, a senior majoring in art, said her sketchbook allows for creative freedom in a study that continuously relies on criticism.
Class teaches dance in digital media (print edition only)
Crimson White – Sept. 3
Straight from the suburbs of New York City is The University of Alabama’s newest dance faculty member, Rebecca Salzar. Salzar graduated from Yale University with a major in art history. After graduating, she spent 15 years in San Francisco, California, choreographing her own work … She currently teaches Modern Dance Technique 2 and Dance History and is preparing to teach a dance for film class, which will be added to the course listing in fall 2015.
Abby Lutzenkirchen wears #43 to honor her brother
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 2
In June, the Auburn family lost someone near to their heart: former tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. His sister, Abby, now wears his jersey number, 43, when she takes the soccer field at the University of Alabama as just another way to keep his spirit alive. “He definitely inspires me every single day. Especially now that he is gone. Just to know that he had such a physical presence and was so respected on the field by every opponent and his teammates just proved that he treated people right.”