Alabama REACH program manager Shannon Hubbard has been with UA since 2015 when she returned to the Capstone from the Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources. Hubbard earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from UA.
In 2019, she received the Judy Bonner Presidential Medallion, a UA Premier Award. This year, she represents UA staff as a We Are UA ambassador. We Are UA is the University’s annual faculty and staff giving campaign, which supports colleges, schools and programs across campus. This year, the campaign runs from March 25 through April 17.
The REACH program is designed to support and empower disadvantaged students, helping them achieve their higher education goals and graduate from college. It is the only program of its kind in the state of Alabama.
“Everyone at The University of Alabama is committed to student success, and they have a deeper understanding of what student success is,” Hubbard said, adding, “Student success looks different for each student, and I think The University of Alabama does a wonderful job empowering our students where they are and helping them find a brighter future for themselves.”
The national college graduation rate for foster and homeless youth is 2-3%, but the Alabama REACH program graduates 55% of its students. Hubbard says working with these students to help them achieve this graduation rate is one of the most inspiring things she’s been able to do in her 20-plus years as a social worker.
Hubbard, along with a group of social work alumni, created The Social Work Alumni Hall Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded to students with a 2.0 minimum GPA who demonstrate financial need. Special consideration is given to students who have faced hardships in their personal lives or at home, such as foster care or homelessness, and may otherwise not be able to attend college.
“It’s important to me as an adjunct instructor at The University of Alabama to give back to the student population that I work with, working in Alabama REACH,” Hubbard said. “Every dollar given is a step towards breaking cycles of instability and creating resources for long-term success.”
Hubbard believes giving to programs like Alabama REACH and others is more than giving to the institution; it’s giving to an individual who would likely not be here without the support.
The REACH program provides a home on campus for students, offering financial, social and academic support. It is also a community of peers with similar lived experiences, supporting one another during their time at UA.
“Even small donations make the most meaningful impact in the lives of students who are part of the Alabama REACH program.”
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.