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ANNOUNCEMENT

Department of communications employees continue to work mostly remotely, but they are readily available to assist members of the media. Reporters are encouraged to contact the sources below, to use our experts directory to find contact information for other subject matter experts and to visit the UA News Center.

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LAW PROFESSOR PUBLISHES ARTICLE IN NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, EXPLAINS PROPOSAL FOR REDUCING GUN SUICIDES  A medical journal article authored by Fredrick Vars, professor of law in UA’s School of Law, suggests doctors and mental health professionals could use do-not-sell lists for firearms as a new tool in their suicide prevention toolkit. The article, “Voluntary Do-Not-Sell Lists – An Innovative Approach to Reducing Gun Suicides,” is published in the October issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. For more information, contact Monique Fields, manager of communications in the law school, 205-348-5195 or mfields@law.ua.edu, or contact Vars directly, 773-331-6605 or fvars@law.ua.edu.

UA CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR RANKED NO. 1 IN U.S. University of Alabama criminology and criminal justice instructor Douglas Klutz has been named the No. 1 college professor in the U.S. once again. Both CEOWORLD Magazine and Best Value Schools ranked Klutz as No. 1 in 2020. In 2017, Klutz was rated the No. 1 professor in the country by Forbes. Klutz, who specializes in career building, has been an instructor for a decade. He is also a student advisor and director of the criminal justice internship program. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu.

UA MAKES STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES OPTIONAL FOR ADMISSION IN 2021 – Due to the lack of access to standardized tests around the nation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UA will not require standardized test scores as part of the admissions process in 2021. This new pilot program for admissions will be for potential undergraduate students applying for admission and scholarships for the spring, summer and fall semesters in 2021. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.

UA EXPANDS, STRENGTHENS RESEARCH CAPABILITIES WITH NEW MRI A new MRI scanner at The University of Alabama paves the way for researchers to expand the boundaries of knowledge of the human brain, bringing benefits to the core educational mission of campus. A $1.7 million major research instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation will assist in purchasing a state-of-the-art MRI that will encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and allow for leaps in neuroscience research at UA. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu

FOUR PROFESSOR RECEIVE EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AWARDS Over the summer, four professors at The University of Alabama received national recognition early in their careers for innovative research that will increase understanding of our world while boosting UA’s educational mission. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu

UA DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIP WITH ENERGY-FOCUSED ACCELERATOR A partnership with an organization that supports startups in the area of energy technology will advance The University of Alabama’s educational and research mission. In an agreement with the Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator, UA students will have access to unique opportunities to engage with startups to broaden their own skillsets and help improve Alabama’s economy. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu

UA ART GALLERIES REOPEN FOR IN-PERSON VISITATION – The University of Alabama’s Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, Paul R. Jones Museum of American Art and University of Alabama Gallery have reopened to the campus community and to the public for in-person visitation. All three galleries are free. Social distancing and masks are required. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA Strategic Communications, at jamon.smith@ua.edu

MOUNDVILLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park will conduct the 32nd  annual Moundville Native American Festival online Oct. 5-10. The virtual experience will include Native American performers, demonstrators and living history teachers. Online content will teach and celebrate Native American culture through interactive experiences, livestreams and prerecorded videos. The virtual festival will take place on the Moundville Archaeological Park website. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu

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