Shakeitha Tatum grew up in the Titusville and Ensley neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. Although she often saw the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus, her most vivid memory of the University is attached to a surprising venue: a nearby grocery store.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Computer Science is launching an innovative new program titled, “Bridge to Cyber,” an opportunity to get a head start in cyber security education without prior background.

Oliver Carlisle, an anthropology major with minors in women and gender studies and film, is preparing to graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in December 2024. Throughout their time at UAB, Carlisle embraced opportunities to combine multiple disciplines and apply that interdisciplinary learning into real, tangible outcomes.

That is what University of Alabama at Birmingham alumna Traci Jones is able to provide as Park Ranger for the A.G. Gaston Motel, located within Birmingham’s Civil Rights District. Jones, who graduated with a degree in African American Studies in 2016, offers an informative look into the past through her role with the historic site.

When Kevin McCain, Ph.D., first visited the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus back in 2012, he felt an immediate connection to the city of Birmingham.

Joanna Schmidt likes solving problems. Big, complex, challenging problems. That might explain why she is thriving in her role as an engineer at NASA, a job where she gets to regularly use the problem-solving skills she gained from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Physics.

“I was always an existential-type kid,” said Atkinson. “I enjoyed psychology because it’s essentially the study of humans and human behavior, and how everything interacts with one another from a psychological perspective. I found that fascinating. I wanted to study that and learn more about it, and eventually be able to help people who are going through very difficult times in their life.”

“There was just something about her raw curiosity and desire for knowledge that made teaching something I wanted to pursue,” said Buchwalter, who went on to major in history—with a double minor in philosophy and criminal justice—and later earn a master’s in social science education. “I absolutely fell in love with working with those kids, so I pivoted into education.”

On November 20, 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its first-ever Graduate Research Day at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alumni House.

For Sami Raut, the journey to earning her Ph.D. in the United States required resilience and commitment.

The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 CAS Champions.

The following is a guest piece written by anthropology student Kizzi Frisby. The College of Arts and Sciences occasionally invites students to author reflections on their experiences in the classroom and in the community.

How do you ask somebody questions about the worst experience of their life, all while filming their response? That was the dilemma facing 2014 University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate Zach Moore recently as he created a documentary in his role as Communications Manager of Digital Media for the non-profit Immune Deficiency Foundation.

Kiersten Ratcliff is all-in on mathematics. Since choosing to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her studies, Ratcliff—a sophomore in the Department of Mathematics Fast Track Program—has been exploring the many research and mentorship opportunities the department has to offer.

Earlier this year, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Music announced a new music therapy concentration. The news hit all the right notes for Ja’Bria Barber, Ph.D., so, even though she has no connections to the Birmingham area, she left her home near Charlotte, North Carolina, in August to join UAB as the founding Director of Music Therapy on the university-side of campus.

While growing up in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, Fatoumata Sanogo, Ph.D., did not enjoy school. In fact, she actively disliked it. That all shifted when she enrolled in a boarding school per her parents’ request.

Like many people, Rebecca Boohaker, Ph.D., had a part-time job in high school dealing with dishes. But instead of food dishes in a restaurant, Boohaker was handling petri dishes in the microbiology lab of University of Alabama at Birmingham professor John Kearney, Ph.D.

Meet the student senators representing the College of Arts and Sciences in the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA)!

The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to announce that 20 faculty members across ten departments have been awarded promotions (including one faculty member who also was awarded tenure).

On September 27, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences hosted a half-day Health Humanities Symposium for faculty members and graduate students.

On September 19, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s National Alumni Society hosted its 2024 Alumni Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting at the UAB Alumni House.

Sometimes, a brief conversation can make a big difference.

For Department of Theatre Chair Kelly Allison, a quick chat with Jamie Stephenson, chapter director for the Alabama Educational Theatre Association (aka “Alabama Thespians”), sparked an invitation that will likely benefit hundreds of middle and high school students for years to come.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences has selected five presentations for the 2024-2025 Theodore Haddin Interdisciplinary Forum Series (also known as “Haddin Forums”).

Liza Thomas wants to become a philosopher. She graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from the Department of Philosophy in 2023 and is now applying for graduate philosophy programs to achieve her goal.

University of Alabama at Birmingham students will have even more opportunities to engage with the community and human rights thanks to the new Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights (HRT) launching this fall.

Throughout Summer 2024, faculty, staff, and students across the College of Arts and Sciences facilitated camps and on-campus experiences for middle school, high school, and college students.

“It is never too late to start something new,” said Mollica, a senior earning a B.A. in Computer Science—and a Minor in Business—who will graduate in August 2024. “When you say ‘yes’ …  opportunities open to you that you can’t even imagine in your wildest dreams.”

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Social Work would like to congratulate Mary Jacque Carroll and Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Ph.D., on their successful promotions! During the fall semester of 2024, Carroll will be promoted to associate professor, while Hitchcock will assume the title of professor.

Matthew H. Pangborn, Ph.D., will serve as the next chair of the Department of English in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences.

On June 28, 2024, the University of Alabama at Birmingham broke ground on the new UAB Biomedical Research and Psychology Building.

Some know it as the Humanities Building, others simply refer to it as “Building Three.” Regardless of what you call it, the building has served the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus well for the past five decades.

In March 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences announced its first-ever competition for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Interdisciplinary Team Awards.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Philosophy recently lost one of its longtime faculty members when Dr. Marjorie Price passed away on May 30, 2024. Her final resting place is Temple Sholom Cemetery in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences is home to a wide range of undergraduate degrees and certificates. In fact, the College has been considered the foundation of undergraduate education at UAB for over a decade.

Marshall Abrams, Ph.D., associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Philosophy, teaches about and conducts research on philosophy of science. The College of Arts and Sciences recently sat down with Abrams to discuss philosophy of science, his courses, and his 2023 book titled Evolution and the Machinery of Chance: Philosophy, Probability, and Scientific Practice in Biology.

History students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are helping Alabama Heritage magazine share important stories about Alabama’s history.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham continues to host its long-running National Science Foundation—Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Graphic and digital design are coming into even greater focus at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences.