Economic development expert joins University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 17
The former director of the Alabama Development Office has been named the director of the Economic Development Academy at the University of Alabama. Neal Wade’s appointment is effective immediately, according to a Monday news release from UA. “In the expanded responsibilities of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Mr. Wade joins an established economic development organization,” said UA President Judy Bonner in the release. Wade has more than 25 years of experience in economic development at the private, state and local levels. He was the first president/CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and served as the state’s chief economic developer for eight years.
Athens News-Courier – Nov. 18
Erie Times-News (Pa.) – Nov. 18
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Nov. 18
TribTown.com (Seymour, Ind.) – Nov. 18
Daily Journal (Franklin, Ind.) – Nov. 18
University of Alabama scholarship established in late businessman’s honor
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 18
A scholarship in the memory of a University of Alabama alumnus and businessman has been established at the University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences. The scholarship honors the memory of Larry Drummond, the vice chairman of the Drummond Co., who died in 2012. Drummond Co. is a Birmingham-based coal company established in 1935. “Our family is extremely honored to have a scholarship at the University of Alabama endowed in memory of Larry Drummond,” said Patrick and Scott Drummond, sons of Larry Drummond. “Our father had a passion for the university and was dedicated to making our community and state stronger. We trust that this scholarship will represent for generations of deserving students the superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and character that he embodied.” The scholarship was established through a $50,000 donation from the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation. Proceeds from the Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt fundraiser hosted by the foundation earlier this year funded the donation.
University of Alabama student chosen to attend climate meeting
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 14
University of Alabama officials say a senior chemical engineering and chemistry student has been chosen to participate in a conference on climate change being hosted by the United Nations. University officials said in a statement that Catherine King of Huntsville is one of eight students the American Chemical Society selected to attend the UN’s conference in Lima, Peru. The event is expected to include representatives from more than 190 countries. University officials say while in Peru, King will interview world leaders and blog about the discussions she attends during the early December conference.
A new fellow for UA
Crimson White – Nov. 18
The International Road Federation, a nonprofit organization focused on development and maintenance of better, more sustainable roads, has named Samwel Zephaniah, a doctoral student in engineering at University of Alabama, a fellow. Zephaniah will travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the federation’s annual multi-day leadership and orientation program. Zephaniah, a native of Kenya, received his bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from the University of Nairobi. He said he chose to study at The University of Alabama to receive a doctorate degree. “I believe civil engineering in Alabama is one of the best in the United States,” he said. Zephaniah has written three publications on transportation engineering since 2009 and has worked as a transportation consultant for Abdul Mullick Associates Ltd. and as a civil engineer for the United Nations Development Program. He is currently a graduate research and teaching assistant of Steven L. Jones, Jr.
Device offers diet tracking
Crimson White – Nov. 18
Edward Sazonov, an associate professor of electrical and
computer engineering, is part of a collaboration with other professors from Georgia State University and the University of Colorado at Denver that is working together to develop a new, wearable diet tracking device. This device detects food intake through attachment to the jaw and is more accurate than personal record keeping of one’s diet. The sensor is currently in the process of being developed into a Bluetooth headset with a camera that can take images of the food eaten. From there, dietitians can review the images and detect exact portion sizes of each food eaten by their patients. “There are well-known studies out that have huge errors in what well-qualified dietitians have tracked calorie-wise for their patients compared to the actual calories their patients have eaten,” Sazonov said. … Eventually, the goal will be to have all the data analyzed by a computer instead of a health professional. Sazonov said he was inspired to create the device in 2004 when he attended a session at a conference called “Bioengineering Approaches to Obesity.” The seminar was promoted by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health, which provided grant funding for the development of the device.
Bryce revisited: 168-acre acquisition will serve UA student growth
Crimson White – Nov. 17
In the coming years, the historic Bryce Hospital will undergo some changes in its typical residents. The University of Alabama bought the 168 acres surrounding the 150-year-old building in 2010 to make way for the recent influx of students. University of Alabama planner Dan Wolfe said having the land was essential for the size of the University’s student population. “Over time, we’ve acquired some of their outlying land as we continue to grow,” Wolfe said. “But that last 168-acre parcel was really critical to our future expansion needs at the University as we continue to grow in enrollment.” Wolfe said not only will the land serve the University’s current needs, but it also provides potential for continued growth. “From a planning standpoint, having an additional 168 acres to work with is just amazing,” he said. “And as we’ve gone from 19,000 to now over 36,000 students, we have definitely grown and expanded, and that 168 acres is going to give us flexibility for years to come.”
UA hosting discussion on reshaping state’s image
Moulton Advertiser – Nov. 17
The University of Alabama Honors College is hosting a panel discussion on ways to reshape the state’s image. School officials said in a release that the discussion is being held in room 205 of the Gorgas Library Monday at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Organizers say Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, President of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association Jimmy Warren, and Senior Government Relations Analyst for Alabama Power R.B. Walker are among the panelists who are scheduled to speak at the event.
Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive benefit at Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 18
Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q is holding a benefit night Wednesday for the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive. Patrons who bring five cans of food from 5-9 p.m. will be entered to win a backyard barbecue for 12 people catered by Jim ‘N Nicks. Patrons will receive one entry for every five cans donated. Also, Jim ‘N Nicks will donate money to the food drive for each diner who mentions the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger drive Wednesday night. University of Alabama mascot Big Al will make an appearance at the restaurant from 6-7 p.m. The restaurant is at 305 21st Ave. The food drive, which benefits the West Alabama Food Bank, continues through Friday. In its 21st year, the food drive is a six-week competition leading up to the Iron Bowl between UA and Auburn University to see which school can donate the most food.
Paint the town Red (gallery)
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 17
Logan Burton, left, and Taylor Faulk, members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, paint the windows of Steel City Pops on University Boulevard as part of homecoming week festivities with the theme “Tied With the Tide” at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Monday Nov. 17, 2014.
International Education Week celebrates UA programs
Crimson White – Nov. 18
This week marks the 15th International Education Week. The University of Alabama is celebrating the anniversary with several of events, including a film screening and an enhanced version of weekly International Coffee Hour. Charter Morris, director of Capstone International Services, said the week is about celebrating a number of programs at the University. “It was really just a week set aside to focus on everything international,” Morris said. “So not just international students who are here at the institution, but also those who go abroad, those who are learning languages, anything that might fall under that very broad umbrella of
international education.” The Capstone International Center has three main units, the Education Abroad, English Language Institute and Capstone International Services. Though they have events year-round, Morris said the center adds more to this week to showcase the idea of getting involved and thinking internationally and globally.
Hoole welcomes students
Crimson White – Nov. 18
The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library is home to many rare items that are often not readily available to students in a typical library setting. To help students gain access to the many interesting items in Hoole’s collection, which is located in Mary Harmon Bryant hall. Amy Chen, a postdoctoral fellow in the University’s Division of Special Collections, has been running an online blog titled “Cool at Hoole,” which features writing from both students and faculty about their use of items in Hoole. “Cool at Hoole” was created by Chen’s predecessor, Jessica Lacher-Feldman, in 2007 but has taken on various forms since then. Chen said the blog covers a variety of topics from a myriad of sources. “I try as much as possibly to get students and faculty members and other librarians and staff members to write for it, because I want to have as many voices as possible,” Chen said.