After more than 40 years at UAB, Vice President of Equity and Diversity Louis Dale, Ph.D., has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 31, 2015.
Dale came to UAB with a newly minted doctorate in mathematics in 1971 and leaves vice president of an institution that is consistently recognized by “Princeton Review” as one of the most diverse college campuses in the country.
“Dr. Dale’s presence at UAB for more than four decades has touched many lives and contributed greatly to our culture,” said UAB President Ray Watts. “He has contributed to our campus and community through his many actions on behalf of our students, faculty and staff, and he has provided invaluable counsel to countless members of the UAB family. Dr. Dale has cemented a legacy we will work to honor by following his example every day.”
As vice president of Equity and Diversity, Dale was instrumental in establishing the Commission on the Status of Women to advise the president on issues, policies and practices that affect women at UAB. A Diversity Awareness Education program, African American Faculty Association, Hispanic Latino Faculty Association and the UAB Diversity Council also are among the many programs implemented during his tenure.
“I will leave UAB as the most diverse and forward-thinking university in the Southeast,” Dale said. “UAB is certainly a university of opportunity. It has been and always will be one of the great privileges of my life to have contributed to the success of an institution that educates, discovers, saves lives and makes such a difference in our city, state and world.”
Dale joined the UAB faculty in 1971after earning his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Alabama. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977 and to full professor in 1980. He was interim chair of the Department of Mathematics from 1982-84 and associate dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics from 1981-91. From 1991-95 he was associate vice president for Academic Affairs before assuming the role of associate vice provost for Minority and Special Programs. He was appointed to the new position of vice president for Equity and Diversity in 2003.
Though the accolades and accomplishments throughout his time at UAB are numerous, Dale says the most exciting aspect of the position he leaves behind is getting scholarship and fellowship support for minority students to obtain graduate degrees.
During the course of 25 years, Dale secured more than $40 million through the National Science Foundation to help with recruitment and retention of science, mathematics and engineering students in Alabama institutions of higher learning.
“I have enjoyed working with a tremendous team to help meet UAB’s commendable goals and objectives, and I will appreciate each day between now and my last day at UAB on Jan. 31 as we work together to ensure continued progress,” Dale said.
Dale hopes the Office of Equity and Diversity continues to build on the accomplishments from the past 10 years to make UAB an even more diverse university.
Co-chairs who will lead the search for Dale’s replacement are Collat School of Business Dean Eric Jack, Ph.D., and Mona Fouad, M.D., director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and UAB’s Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center.
