COVER STORY 4 Division I FEATURES 12 Homecoming Awards 2016 22 For the Anderson Family, Philanthropy Equals Happiness 28 UNA Bridges Gaps with GIS and Caring 34 Harrison and Lions are True Student Athletes OF NOTE 2 President’s Message 8 Around Campus 26 A Letter from Robert Steele 31 Athletics 36 Alumni President’s Message 38 Haley Brink New Alumni Relations Director 40 Class Notes 44 In Memory UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA SPRING­2017­•­VOLUME­25­•­No.­1­• FOR­ALUMNI­AND­FRIENDS­OF­UNA MAGAZINE ADMINISTRATION President Kenneth D. Kitts PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost John Thornell Kenneth D. Kitts Interim Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Evan Thornton ’15 of the season, legendary coach Bobby Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields Wallace announced his retirement. Coach Vice President for University Advancement Wallace’s impressive career at UNA Deborah L. Shaw ’82 led him to 126 wins and four National Championship appearances, making him STAFF PUBLISHER the winningest coach in UNA and Gulf Deborah L. Shaw ’82 South Conference history. After 15 years EDITOR on the UNA coaching staff, Chris Willis Bryan Rachal has stepped into the position of head COPY EDITOR coach. I am confi dent that Coach Willis B.J. Wilson ’80 Kenneth D. Kitts will carry on our tradition of graduating CREATIVE DIRECTOR champions. Dear Lions, Karen Hodges ’84 In December, we announced that our GRAPHIC DESIGNER Welcome to the Spring 2017 athletics program will be transitioning Chuck Craig ’79 University of North Alabama Magazine. Spring to Division I. UNA will continue as a UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER has arrived at UNA, and with it comes member of Division II and the Gulf South Shannon Wells ’05 a season-long fl urry of campus activity. Conference for one more year. In 2018, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Exciting annual programs such as the Amy Bishop ’06 thirteen sports will become a member of Taranae Cooley Miss UNA pageant, Step Sing, and Light the Atlantic Sun Conference. Football Emily Jones the Fountain fi ll our calendars. A host of will move into the Big South conference Joseph Romans Photography conferences, performances, and preview and will begin conference play in 2019. FEATURE WRITERS days keep crowd levels high. And the Shane Herman ’99 I encourage you to read the full article Jeff Hodges ’82 spring athletic teams are working toward about DI in this edition of University of B.J. Keeton ’09 another successful season. North Alabama Magazine to learn more Bryan Rachal B.J. Wilson ’80 The recent months have been about how the DI transition will benefi t eventful ones at UNA. In the fall of 2016, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS the university as a whole. Amy Bishop ’06 our offi cial student headcount was 7,492 On the academic front, we continue Bella Martinez students, the largest total enrollment to see substantial growth and progress. in the school’s 186-year history and a UNA recently entered into a partnership QUESTIONS OR INQUIRIES: 5.8 percent increase over the previous with NASA that will initially include 256-765-4225 or [email protected] year. UNA’s freshmen cohort also broke the College of Business and the College ADDRESS CHANGES AND ALUMNI UPDATES: records. This fall we welcomed 1,177 of Arts and Sciences, and will focus on 256-765-4201 or [email protected] new freshman students, a 1.6 percent attracting high-quality undergraduate STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION increase over fall 2015’s cohort number students majoring in science, technology, It is the policy of the University of North Alabama to afford equal opportunities in education­and­in­employment­to­qualifi­ed­persons­regardless­of­age,­color,­creed,­ and a 26.4 percent increase over fall 2014. engineering, mathematics, management, disability,­national­origin,­race,­religion,­or­sex­in­accordance­with­all­applicable­ federal­and­state­constitutions,­laws,­and­valid­regulations.­The­coordinator­for­ Our spring headcount also represents an marketing, and entrepreneurship nondiscrimination­policies­for­students­is­the­Title­IX­coordinator,­Guillot­University­ Center,­or­256-765-4223­.­The­coordinator­for­employees­is­the­Assistant­Vice­ enrollment record. disciplines. The College of Arts and President­for­Human­Resources­and­Affi­rmative­Action,­Bibb­Graves­Hall,­or­telephone­ 256-765-4291­or­email:­[email protected]. Our football team earned their fourth Sciences is now offering its second Information contained herein is as it currently exists but is subject to change without prior notice. consecutive GSC Championship and a graduate degree in English, an M.A. berth in the DII National Championship in Writing. And we continue to be in Kansas City, Kansas. The leadership proud of our growing list of program and persistence of this team made the accreditations—these accreditations Lion Nation proud. At the conclusion are labor-intensive undertakings and 2 University of North Alabama Magazine $30 million underscore our faculty’s commitment to CAMPAIGN UPDATE FROM THE VP FOR academic excellence. Our Human Environmental Sciences ADVANCEMENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Department has both a new home and a new name. The department has moved OF THE UNA FOUNDATION to the former Keystone building in downtown Florence, and will now be One group who is extremely known as the Connie D. McKinney committed to the success of our Department of Human Sciences, University is our new 2016-17 UNA Hospitality, and Design. This naming Foundation officers. Harry Smith ’64 is was made possible by brothers Chester our new Chair. Originally from Florence, and Joe McKinney in honor of their late Harry has lived in the Memphis area mother, a 1950 alumna. The addition for more than 35 years, and is a retired of 400 parking spots to campus off businessman who is active with numerous of Circular Drive is nearly complete. charitable organizations. Vice-Chair is Demolition of Floyd Hall is slated to Jeff Johnson ’85, who is a resident of begin in late spring. Once the demolition Dr. Deborah Shaw ’82 Florence and is the Owner/President is complete, construction will begin on of Elliott & Associates Insurance. Laura M. Harrison Hall, which will house Fantastic progress is being made Foundation Treasurer is David Sunseri the Anderson College of Nursing. toward our campaign goal of $35 ’98, who is the Vice President of Product We’re still hard at work on our million! We are currently at $30 Development at Berg, LLC, in Nashville, comprehensive campaign. “Build the million, and need everyone’s help Tennessee. I round out the officers as Pride” continues to see much success, and if we are going to Secretary, and along we’re so thankful for the generosity we’ve reach 100% of our with an active board of experienced. For additional information, target. Please, will you volunteer directors we all take a few moments to read Dr. Deborah consider giving? We believe we can help lead Shaw’s campaign update. Please need your support to UNA to new levels of remember that you can always visit una. make UNA one of the greatness. edu/campaign to pledge your support. top regional universities But we can’t do it It is truly a time to “Rise and Roar” in the Southeast. Join alone. Please remember at UNA. I hope that you will come see the thousands who give what your college for yourself the impressive things that are annually, we who give experience meant to happening on your university campus. because we believe. you — how it prepared I’m also excited to share with you We believe we have the best faculty you for a career, how you developed that in the next edition of the University and staff, the best programs, the best friendships you still have to this day, of North Alabama Magazine, we’ll feature a students, the best alumni, the best how it helped you understand the world recently completed economic study that friends of the university, and that we is a bigger place than your hometown. shows UNA has an economic impact in are in the best area — The Shoals. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our excess of $300 million! At a time of continued decreased alma mater. Please consider giving to our state funding, we must rely on private campaign (una.edu/campaign). Roar Lions! donations to not only operate, but to Roar Lions! Ken Kitts excel. And we believe we can reach Debbie Shaw ‘82 our highest potential with your help. Spring 2017 3 Division I I It’s a Monday afternoon in February still surround UNA’s future with Braly 2017. University of North Alabama Stadium, home of the football program. Director of Athletics Mark Linder is in his An addition to the athletics staff with office and a lot is on his plate. academic experience at the Division I With the athletic department’s level will also soon be sought. impending move to NCAA Division I While preparations are being made status, several changes are expected to be for the move, however, several UNA made in the next five years. Renovations teams still have their full attention and are being planned for Flowers Hall, focus on Gulf South Conference races home of the Lions volleyball, men’s, and and competing at the Division II level. women’s basketball programs. Questions The men’s and women’s basketball teams “The move to Division I will help sustain enrollment, expand our fan base, and bring much-needed visibility for this wonderful institution.” ­— Ken Kitts, President 4 University of North Alabama Magazine | FEATURE Division each qualified for the GSC Tournament. to continue to compete for GSC and Spring sports have also begun, including Division II championships.