UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM Commencement FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021 AND SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 1 ORDER OF EXERCISES (Friday, August 13, 2021 - 6:00 p.m. Graduate Ceremony) National Anthem .........................................................Lauren Tinsley, BA, Music (Singer) Zoë Willis, BA, Music (Pianist) “The Star-Spangled Banner” President’s Message ............................................................................. Ray L. Watts, M.D. President Graduate Dean Message ....................................................................Lori McMahon, Ph.D. Dean, Graduate School Academic Mace Message .................................................................. Jamey Worrell, Ph.D. Professor, Collat School of Business Presentation of Students Congratulatory Messages ......................................... School Deans and Department Chairs Alumni Message ............................................................................................ Ryan Robinett President, UAB National Alumni Society Closing Remarks ................................................................................ Pamela Benoit, Ph.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost UAB Alma Mater .... UAB Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Dr. Brian Kittredge, Director UAB Gospel Choir, Dr. Reginald Jackson, Director 2 ORDER OF EXERCISES (Saturday, August 14, 2021 - 9:30 a.m. Nursing Ceremony) National Anthem .........................................................Lauren Tinsley, BA, Music (Singer) Zoë Willis, BA, Music (Pianist) “The Star-Spangled Banner” President’s Message ............................................................................. Ray L. Watts, M.D. President Academic Mace Message .................................................................. Jamey Worrell, Ph.D. Professor, Collat School of Business Presentation of Students Congratulatory Messages ......................................... School Deans and Department Chairs Alumni Message ............................................................................................ Ryan Robinett President, UAB National Alumni Society Closing Remarks ................................................................................ Pamela Benoit, Ph.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost UAB Alma Mater .... UAB Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Dr. Brian Kittredge, Director UAB Gospel Choir, Dr. Reginald Jackson, Director 3 ORDER OF EXERCISES (Saturday, August 14, 2021 – 2:00 p.m. Undergraduate Ceremony) National Anthem .........................................................Lauren Tinsley, BA, Music (Singer) Zoë Willis, BA, Music (Pianist) “The Star-Spangled Banner” President’s Message ............................................................................. Ray L. Watts, M.D. President Academic Mace Message .................................................................. Jamey Worrell, Ph.D. Professor, Collat School of Business Presentation of Students Congratulatory Messages ......................................... School Deans and Department Chairs Alumni Message ............................................................................................ Ryan Robinett President, UAB National Alumni Society Closing Remarks ................................................................................ Pamela Benoit, Ph.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost UAB Alma Mater .... UAB Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Dr. Brian Kittredge, Director UAB Gospel Choir, Dr. Reginald Jackson, Director 4 The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama The Honorable Kay Ivey Governor of Alabama President ex officio TRUSTEES (by Congressional District) First District Fifth District Harris V. Morrissette, Mobile Ronald W. Gray, Huntsville Marietta M. Urquhart, Mobile William B. Sexton, Decatur Second District Sixth District Mike Brock, Montgomery Vanessa Leonard, Rockford W. Davis Malone, III, Dothan W. Stancil Starnes, Birmingham* Third District Seventh District Kenneth L. Vandervoort, M.D., Anniston Karen Phifer Brooks, Tuscaloosa James W. Wilson, III, Montgomery John H. England, Jr., Tuscaloosa Fourth District Barbara Humphrey, Birmingham Evelyn VanSant Mauldin, Florence Scott M. Phelps, Tuscaloosa TRUSTEES EMERITI Paul W. Bryant, Jr., Tuscaloosa John D. Johns, Birmingham Angus R. Cooper, II, Mobile Peter L. Lowe, Huntsville Joseph C. Espy, III, Montgomery John J. McMahon, Jr., Birmingham Joseph L. Fine, Montgomery John T. Oliver, Jr., Jasper Sandral Hullett, M.D., Eutaw Joe H. Ritch, Huntsville Andria S. Hurst, Birmingham Cleophus Thomas, Jr., Anniston Finis E. St. John, IV, Cullman John Russell Thomas, Alexander City CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SYSTEM Finis E. St. John, IV *President pro tempore 5 THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM Senior Administration Ray L. Watts, M.D. Paulette Patterson Dilworth, Ph.D. President Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pam Benoit, Ph.D. Senior Vice President for William Ferniany, Ph.D. Academic Affairs and Provost CEO, UAB Health System Thomas I. Brannan John R. Jones, III, Ph.D. Vice President for Advancement Vice President for Student Affairs Christopher S. Brown, Ph.D. Reid F. Jones Vice President for Research CEO, UAB Medicine Brian D. Burnett, Ph.D. Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., F.A.C.S. Senior Vice President for Finance Senior Vice President and Dean, and Administration School of Medicine Curtis A. Carver, Jr., Ph.D. Jim Bakken Vice President for Information Chief Communications Officer Technology and Chief Information Officer Bradley Barnes, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Deans Shannon Blanton, Ph.D. Lori L. McMahon, Ph.D. Dean, UAB Honors College Dean, Graduate School Andrew J. Butler, MPT, MBA, Ph.D. Kelly K. Nichols, O.D., MPH, Ph.D., FAAO Dean, School of Health Professions Dean, School of Optometry Paul C. Erwin, M.D., DrPH Dean, School of Public Health Michelle Robinson, D.M.D. Interim Dean, School of Education Kasia Gonnerman Kecia M. Thomas, Ph.D. Dean, UAB Libraries Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Doreen C. Harper, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN Dean, School of Nursing Russell Taichman, D.M.D., DMSc Dean, School of Dentistry Jeffrey W. Holmes, M.D. Dean, School of Engineering Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dean, School of Medicine Eric P. Jack, Ph.D. Dean, Collat School of Business 6 2020 CAROLINE P. AND CHARLES W. IRELAND PRIZE FOR SCHOLARLY DISTINCTION Steven N. Austad, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Chair Department of Biology College of Arts and Sciences 2021 CAROLINE P. AND CHARLES W. IRELAND PRIZE FOR SCHOLARLY DISTINCTION Sylvie Mrug, Ph.D., University Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts and Sciences 2019 DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURER Gregg H. Gilbert, DDS, MBA, Distinguished Professor and Chair Department of Clinical and Community Science School of Dentistry 2020 DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURER Robert M. Centor, M.D. Professor Emeritus Huntsville Medicine-Internal Medicine Program 2020 ELLEN GREGG INGALLS/UAB NATIONAL ALUMNI SOCIETY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN TEACHING Jennifer Kilgo, Ph.D., Professor School of Education 2021 PRESIDENT'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Rama Kiran Chavali, M.S., Associate Professor School of Dentistry Robin Ennis, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Education Leann Long, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Public Health Carmel McNicholas-Benvensee, Ph.D., Associate Professor Joint Health Sciences Shahid Mukhtar, Ph.D., Associate Professor College of Arts and Sciences Selvum Brian Pillay, Ph.D., Professor School of Engineering Summer Langston Powers, DNP, Assistant Professor School of Nursing Arline Savage, Ph.D., Professor Collat School of Business Diane Tucker, Ph.D., Professor Honors College Candice Turner, O.D., Assistant Professor School of Optometry Laura Vogtle, Ph.D., Professor School of Health Professions 7 2021 PRESIDENT'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING James Willig, M.D., Professor School of Medicine 2021 ODESSA WOOLFOLK COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Janene Sims, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Optometry 2020 SAM BROWN BRIDGE BUILDER AWARD Jeffrey T. Walker, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Criminal Justice College of Arts and Sciences 2021 PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORT OF UAB & SHARED GOVERNANCE Kristine “Ria” Hearld, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Health Professions 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM Over the five decades since its founding in 1969, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has earned international renown for its innovative academic programs, groundbreaking research and scholarship, and leading-edge patient care. In 2020-21, UAB has played a leading role in combatting COVID-19 nationally and globally, treating more than 4,400 COVID patients, administering over 200,000 vaccinations, and participating in a number of clinical trials for potential treatments and vaccines. At the same time, the University has continued making record-breaking strides in all pillars of its mission, despite the pandemic. Last fall UAB achieved a fifth straight year of record enrollment (22,563) as well as record retention (86.4 percent), and a freshman class that was the most academically prepared ever, with an average ACT of 25.9 and an average high school GPA of 3.83. The student body is 64 percent female and 43 percent underrepresented, and 21 percent of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Insight into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity magazine and website