February 28, 2000
BIRMINGHAM, AL — An AIDS researcher, an administrator, a business officer, a student and a community leader are the winners of the 2000 UAB Outstanding Woman Awards. The group will be honored during a reception, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in the UAB Bartow Arena, Green and Gold Room, 617 13th Street South.
The UAB Outstanding Woman Awards are presented annually by the UAB Women's Center and the UAB Women's Studies Program during Women's History Month. The awards are designed to recognize women faculty, staff, students and community leaders who have served or mentored other women, taken a courageous stance or overcome adversity. Candidates for the award are nominated by Birmingham residents and selected by a 10-member committee.
The 2000 winners are: Susan Allen, M.D., M.P.H., Outstanding UAB Faculty Member; Susan L. McWilliams, Outstanding Woman Administrator; Susan D. Lee, Outstanding Woman Student; Judy C. Smith, Outstanding Woman Staff Member; and Beth Franklin, Outstanding Woman in the Community.
Allen is an AIDS researcher and an associate professor in the UAB School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and International Health. Since 1986 she has lived and worked in Rwanda and Zambia directing AIDS research projects including the UAB AIDS Center International Core[cq]. Allen studies the natural history of HIV in heterosexual, monogamous couples and the effect of voluntary counseling and testing services on reducing HIV transmission in couples. In the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, Allen created a fund to provide school fees for Rwandan orphans.
McWilliams is associate vice president of human resources management at UAB. She directs the human resource functions for more than 15,000 UAB employees. Her responsibilities include the university’s temporary employment services as well as employee relations, benefits, compensation, training, development and information systems. In 1997, she established the Project Learn program at UAB to help men and women on welfare become self-sufficient.
Lee, a senior in early childhood education, developed a respite care program at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia in 1998. The program provides free babysitting services for parents of disabled and terminally ill children and their siblings. Lee maintains a 3.4 G.P.A. and has been named to the Presidential Honors List several times for obtaining a 4.0 grade point average during the quarter. After graduating in March, Lee will seek a master’s degree in early childhood special education.
Smith is the business officer in the UAB School of Engineering. She is responsible for all financial and personnel functions. She also represents the Dean’s office on various school and university-wide committees and oversees the operation of the Dean’s office. She is also credited with providing women engineering students at UAB with advice, encouragement and guidance. Last fall, Smith joined those students when she enrolled as an undergraduate in the mechanical engineering department.
Franklin has been the president and executive director of the Literacy Council of Central Alabama since 1997. She is credited with expanding the Council’s mission from serving adults to serving the entire family. Prior to that, Franklin was executive director of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society from 1991 until 1996. Among her other accomplishments, Franklin founded Hand-in-Paw Inc., a nonprofit organization in which animals and their human teammates assist with emotional and physical rehabilitation at various health care facilities. She also developed the Pawsitive Living program, where teens are taught positive life skills by interacting with animals.