Energy Engineer Donnie Grill has worked at UA for eight years, but was no stranger to UA and Tuscaloosa when he started. He had attended the Capstone and then lived away for 15 years. But the University called to him, as it has to so many others.
“It means home to me. I went to school here, moved away, then came back. It was homecoming to me to come back to Tuscaloosa and work here.” His daughter has found her own place on campus as a student and member of the women’s softball team.
Grill is a supporter of Alumni Chapter scholarships, the Crimson Tide Foundation and the Bama Softball Walk-Off Club, in addition to volunteering time with various student organizations. His desire to support the University is also why he’s a We Are UA staff ambassador.
We Are UA is the University’s faculty and staff giving campaign to support colleges, schools and programs across our campus through gifts of any size. As an energy engineer, Grill’s job is to continually improve stewardship of energy and water resources on campus.
“My job is to work with the faculty, staff and students to provide the most comfortable environment to do their jobs and study while reducing the consumption of energy per square foot by 2% each year,” he said. “Improving the quality of the campus environment means making little changes each and every day.” That daily, steadfast effort makes UA better all the time.
And that effort is recognized by Grill’s peers. “Annually, we are rated with other schools in the Southeast and always rank No. 1 or No. 2 in energy management.”
Grill sees giving through the We Are UA campaign as another way to keep the Capstone on that upward trajectory. As a goal-oriented professional, he shares that desire for growth and improvement that drives other UA faculty and staff. He does this all while loving his job at UA.
“I’ve loved every bit of it.”
Support We Are UA
To learn more about the We Are UA giving campaign and to support a unique giving opportunity of your choice, visit weareua.ua.edu.