📰 BEST BETS
Dr. Robert E. Witt University Fellows Program
The University Fellows Experience at The University of Alabama has been named for its founder and former UA President Dr. Robert E. Witt following a gift from the family of UA alumna Reta Mudd. The naming of the Dr. Robert E. Witt University Fellows Program, approved by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on Feb. 2, celebrates the successes of its students and their community engagement over the program’s 17 years.
Promoting Literacy in Black Belt
The UA Center for Economic Development is set to kick off the 18th annual Books for the Black Belt campaign Feb. 5 inviting UA students, faculty, staff and local residents to donate K-12 books for students in Alabama’s Black Belt region. UACED aims to promote literacy and a love of learning among students in Alabama’s 13 Black Belt counties.
The 11th annual Tuscaloosa Africana Film Festival, co-sponsored by the UA College of Community Health Sciences, will be Feb. 10 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the UA Student Center. The festival will include a viewing of two feature films, both documentaries, as well as four short films by young filmmakers from Ghana and Nigeria.
UA was one of 18 universities from around the nation selected by the United States National Science Foundation for a four-year, $6 million cooperative agreement through the new Accelerating Research Translation, or ART, program. The first-ever investment to accelerate the translation of academic research into solutions with societal and economic impact that grow the nation’s economy.
The Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority and UA are partnering with Techstars, the most active pre-seed investor in the world, to bring first-of-its-kind, hydrologic innovation-focused accelerator and pre-accelerator programs to Tuscaloosa. Techstars WaterTech and Sustainability, an accelerator program for early-stage startups, and Founder Catalyst WaterTech and Sustainability, a pre-accelerator program for idea-stage startups, will create a pathway for founders to progress through their entrepreneurial journey in building water technology companies.
The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention joined local and state leaders to present a check for $1,955,000 to local organizations in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. Of the 18 local organizations, UA received support for programs within Child Development Resources and the UA Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic.
💬 CURRENT COMMENT
Swifties in Super Bowl Era Drive Social Media Engagement
Dr. Jessica Maddox is an expert in social media and can speak about the expected high social media engagement during Super Bowl week.
Advertisers Eyeing Super Bowl Sunday
Dr. Andrew Billings is available to discuss the intersection of sports and mass media.
📅 EVENTS
Feb. 5-11; Allen Bales Theatre
Feb. 6; Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
Feb. 8; Moody Music Building Concert Hall
Feb. 9; Moundville Archaeological Park
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