Taylor Stewart (left) pictured with David Butler (right), Cahaba River Coalition Executive Board and Riverkeeper
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Alabama Rivers Alliance presented Taylor Stewart with the 2026 Emerging Leader Award.
The Emerging Leader award recognizes early-career individuals showing exceptional leadership, passion, and commitment to protecting Alabama's water resources and supporting the river movement. This award is presented at the organization’s annual conference, Water Rally. With over 200 participants, it’s the largest convening of river defenders in the state of Alabama.
Today, she serves as the Communications Specialist for the Chair’s Office in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences. In CDS, she’s able to combine her passion for communications and human health. From writing stories about students and faculty, building marketing campaigns for research studies, organizing the department’s annual report publication, to leading the charge to ensure all marketing and web materials are Title II compliant, she weaves her skills as a leader and storyteller throughout her work on campus.
“For me,” Stewart says, “It all comes back to my time at UAB. As a student and as a young professional, Blazers across campus have poured into me their drive, passion, and knowledge.” Stewart completed her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2018 and spent the summer working for the Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop, mentoring high school students. That summer, on one of their many fieldtrips, was the first time she ever set foot in the Cahaba River.
The Cahaba River is one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America, home to over 130 species of fish, dozens of mussel and snail species, and the endangered Cahaba Lily that blooms from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day each year.
Stewart was nominated for her work with Cahaba River Coalition (previously, Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper). She co-founded the organization’s junior board in 2023 and was elected to serve on the Board of Directors in 2025. Of the 15 board members, she was one of the few selected to serve on the merger committee between Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper.
Young professionals of Cahaba River Coalition participating in the Annual Cahaba River Frydown
Cahaba lilies at the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge“It’s important that we invest in young people,” Stewart said, “a strong junior board is what helps to build an even stronger Board of Directors in the future. It’s one of my goals that each young professional member leaves Cahaba River Coalition, not just an advocate for our river, but well-rounded in their knowledge and skills so they can be an advocate for all rivers wherever they go.”
Under her leadership, Young Professionals of Cahaba River Coalition members average 35 volunteer hours per year, and are the non-profit’s strongest volunteer group. Whether they’re frying up fish to raise money for conservation efforts, fishing tires out of the river, or admiring the annual bloom of the endangered Cahaba lilies, the Young Professionals of Cahaba River Coalition are making an impact in protecting and preserving the integrity of the Cahaba River and its watershed for many years to come.
“Our health is so intrinsically tied to our water resources,” said Stewart, “No matter who you are or where you come from, you have the right to swim, fish, paddle, and drink our water without the fear of becoming ill.”
