MONDAY, NOV. 4 – SUNDAY, NOV. 10
RESEARCH
COMBATING THE OPIOID CRISIS – Two UA faculty members and their teams recently received a combined total of more than $3.8 million to fund their work in fighting opioid use disorder. Dr. Mercy Mumba, UA assistant professor in the Capstone College of Nursing, was awarded more than $2.7 million from the National Institutes of Health’s “Helping to End Addiction Long-Term” initiative. Dr. Rebecca Allen, UA professor of psychology, received more than $1 million through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Graduate Psychology Education Program to educate and train psychologists to combat opioid use disorder in underserved populations. Mumba and Allen are available for interviews Wednesday at 2 p.m. Watch for a news release with more details. For assistance, contact Chris Bryant in communications at 205-348-8323 or chris.bryant@ua.edu.
RESEARCHERS TEST HEMP GROWN IN ALABAMA – Biological research at UA will assist the emerging hemp industry in the state by examining the plant’s chemical make-up. In a recently signed agreement with UA, The Wemp Co. will sponsor Dr. Lukasz M. Ciesla, UA assistant professor of biological sciences, to analyze the hemp the company grows. The company operates a 20-acre hemp farm in Dallas County, and it is one of 200 licensed growers of industrial hemp by the state. For more details, contact Adam Jones in UA communications at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
UA REPS WORKING WITH OB-GYN OFFICES TO ADDRESS INFANT MORTALITY RATES – Women in Alabama face many risks that influence the state’s infant mortality rate, which has been among the highest in the country. These factors include substance abuse, mental health and domestic abuse. UA’s School of Social Work will address these issues by implementing an existing integrated healthcare model into OB-GYN offices in Montgomery, Macon and Russell Counties. The $750,000 state-funded initiative will incorporate alcohol and drug screening, brief interventions and referral to treatment. Contact David Miller for assistance at 205-348-3942 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
STUDENT APPLICATION FEE WAIVED THIS WEEK – UA is waiving its application fee Nov. 4-10 as part of its commitment to finding new and effective ways to support students. During Free App Week, in which all UA colleges are participating, Undergraduate Admissions, the Graduate School and Bama By Distance are working to turn curious prospective students onto their paths to becoming legends. Prospective students must first obtain a code to have the fee waived. For more information, contact UA communications, 205-348-5320.
HEWSON HALL CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING YEAR – Thanks to the generosity of a record-setting 63,277 donors, UA raised $202.7 million during the recently concluded fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Highlighting the successful 2018-19 fiscal year was the $30 million Hewson Hall Building Campaign benefiting the Culverhouse College of Business. That campaign now has the entire $30 million committed for the project. Named in recognition of a $15 million gift from two alumni, Marillyn and James Hewson, Hewson Hall is slated to open August 2021. For more information, contact Deidre Stalnaker at 205-348-8718 or deidre.stalnaker@ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
STUDENTS EXPLAIN RESEARCH IN LIGHTNING ROUND COMPETITION — Fifteen UA graduate students will compete for a chance to win scholarships and monetary awards in the finals of this year’s Three Minute Thesis. The UA Graduate School hosts the competition, and the finals are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the Bryant Conference Center. It is free and open to the public. The competition challenges graduate students to present a compelling talk on their thesis or dissertation topic, explaining its significance in three minutes using lay language. For more information, contact Richard LeComte in UA communications at 205-348-3782 or richard.lecomte@ua.edu.
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