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BEST BETS 

UA NAMES BUTLER DEAN OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCESDr. Brian S. Butler has been named the next dean of The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences and will begin his tenure July 1. Butler comes to UA from the University of Maryland where he served as professor and senior associate dean of the College of Information Studies. As senior associate dean, he led the hiring and development of the college’s senior staff; helped create the college’s first undergraduate program, which is now the fourth largest major on campus; and oversaw the design and construction of facilities expansion that doubled the space available to the college. In addition, he served as the college’s interim dean from 2015 to 2016. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.  

UA STUDENTS RECEIVE U.S. FULBRIGHT PROGRAM AWARDS FOR 2022-2023The Fulbright Program has selected 18 UA students for various awards for the 2022-2023 academic year. Five UA students received Fulbright Student Research Awards and 10 won Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Awards. In addition, three students won Fulbright Summer Study Awards to Canada. UA has received national recognition as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students five times in recent years. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. 

UA RESEARCH PROJECTS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS — Several research projects on campus are seeking participants, particularly children, teens and parents, with some offering small payments and leading-edge therapy. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, adam.jones@ua.edu.   

EVENTS   

UA OFFERS VARIETY OF YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS — UA will offer a variety of youth camps on campus and beyond throughout the summer. From music to STEM activities, several colleges and departments will host camps. In addition, UA will offer reading, art and sports camps, among others. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. 

CURRENT COMMENT 

RISING INTEREST RATES SHOULD SLOW, NOT STOP, HOUSING MARKET — Interest rates for home loans are on the rise, which should cool off real estate bidding wars and rising home prices, but it won’t fully stop the momentum, said Stuart Norton, associate director for the Alabama Center for Real Estate. Still, housing inventory is low, so sale prices are likely to continue to rise, just at slower rates, he said. “The market has been in high gear for almost two years now. A slowdown will allow home price growth to readjust towards more sustainable rates, while also encouraging a gradual increase in supply,” Norton said. To schedule an interview, contact Norton at tsnorton@culverhouse.ua.edu.  

MORE COMPANIES FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY — To show they care about more than just profits — and to keep their workforce — many companies are focusing on their impact on the planet, according to Dr. Theresa Welbourne, executive director of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and Will and Maggie Brooke Professor in Entrepreneurship. “Companies that want to recruit employees who care about doing more, have to focus on more than just profit,” Welbourne said. “Given today’s ‘Great Resignation,’ we know that employees are taking their values with them and walking to other jobs if their companies are not doing right by their people and planet. I’ve been very impressed with the many ways companies today are not just saying they care about these goals but are doing something about it.” To schedule an interview, contact Welbourne at twelbourne@cba.ua.edu

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The University of Alabama strives to remain neutral on public policy issues. Strategic Communications may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its leadership, and do not constitute a statement on behalf of the University unless explicitly designated.