Posted on January 21, 2004 at 10:15 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Michael E. Sloane, Ph.D., has been named director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s nationally recognized Honors Program effective July 1. Sloane is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. He will succeed the retiring Ada Long, Ph.D., founding director of the program.

The UAB Honors program began in 1982 and provides gifted and highly motivated students with an innovative, interdisciplinary course of study. It is limited to 200 students who represent a wide variety of disciplines, backgrounds and interests. Students in the program have won major scholarships and awards, including Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Rotary, Soros, Goldwater and Fulbright, as well as National Science Foundation fellowships. The program is housed in the newly renovated historic Spencer Honors House.

“Under the innovative leadership of Dr. Long, the UAB Honors Program has grown to national prominence,” said UAB President Carol Garrison. “We are very proud of our program and the enthusiasm and talent of its students. I’m delighted that Dr. Sloane, who has been involved with the program for 18 years as both a professor and lecturer, will be succeed Dr. Long. He is an outstanding educator. His background in psychology and cognitive science will add tremendously to the intellectual and educational climate of the program.”

Sloane also is a favorite with students. In 2000 the graduating seniors named him Outstanding Teacher in the UAB Honors Program.

“It is a great honor and challenge to be appointed director of the UAB Honors program,” Sloane said. “The program has been successful in attracting top academic talent. I hope to continue attracting top students by offering a challenging interdisciplinary educational experience both in the classroom and through involvement in research outside of the classroom.”

Sloane was born in Limerick, Ireland, and grew up in Naas, County Kildare. He earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in 1977 from University College, Dublin, where he also earned his master’s degree in experimental psychology in 1980. He also earned a graduate diploma in statistics from Trinity College Dublin in 1979. He earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology specializing in visual perception at Northwestern University in 1983. At UAB he has continued his program of research in the area of visual psychophysics. He also has studied age-related changes in vision and how visual and attentional factors contribute to crash involvement in the elderly. Most recently, Sloane’s research has focused on the connection between perception and cognition.

Since joining the faculty of the Department of Psychology in 1982, Sloane has introduced several new courses to the undergraduate curriculum and conducted numerous specialty seminars. He has been heavily involved in providing opportunities for undergraduates to be involved in research. He started the annual Southeastern Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference in 1985, allowing undergraduate psychology majors from throughout the Southeast to present their research in a professional conference format. He also established the UAB Psychology Club. As director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology, he established a new minor in Cognitive Science. He also actively promoted Psi Chi the National Honor Society for Psychology majors.

“I am deeply excited that Mike Sloane will be taking over as director of the Honors Program,” Long said. “He has been a teacher in the program since 1986 and thus knows our curriculum, our students, and our culture. Students love him. His Irish accent, energetic sense of humor and skills at our pool table will be nice fringe benefits in his direction of the program. I feel totally confident and excited about leaving the wonderful UAB Honors Program in his hands.”

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Image Size: 1,500 pixels by 2,100 pixels (5.0" by 7.0") Resolution: 300 dpi Format: JPEG (RGB) File Size: 1,682 KB Download Now! Caption: Michael E. Sloane, Ph.D. (pictured), has been named director of UAB’s nationally recognized Honors Program effective July 1.