This year, Dr. Mark Hickson celebrates 50 years in teaching, nearly 30 of which have been in the Department of Communication Studies. Over the course of almost three decades, he has taught over 10,000 students—many of whom he still remembers and who certainly haven’t forgotten him.
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“He is an outstanding person as well as a wonderful leader and teacher,” says Padgett-Greely. “He is a true scholar.”
Padgett-Greely’s observation about Dr. Hickson’s scholarship is accurate. He received his B.S. and M.A. from Auburn University, then a second master’s degree from Mississippi State University. He received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and went on to complete his J.D. at the Birmingham School of Law. An expert in non-verbal communication, Dr. Hickson received the Gerald M. Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship from the National Communication Association in 2014. In addition, Dr. Hickson has written numerous, well-regarded books, including “Talking Sports,” published in 2015.
Dr. Hickson has also been recognized for the quality of his teaching. He received the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994.
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As an alumna and colleague, Padgett-Greely remembers Dr. Hickson’s commitment to making this dream a reality. “During the time I worked there, he was working on getting the graduate program approved through the state. I saw him diligently work on that and balance teaching and the success of that program,” she says.
Long after their time working together, Padgett-Greely has not forgotten the impact Dr. Hickson has made on her as a student, colleague and friend. She has designated a significant gift from her estate to support the graduate program in his honor, and will provide financial support to deserving graduate students pursuing training and a career in Communication Management.
Padgett-Greely says the scholarship is in keeping with Dr. Hickson’s support of students. “He has an ability to see what people are capable of doing and opening doors for them,” she says. “With this scholarship, someone who would otherwise hit a wall after completing their undergraduate [degree] would have the opportunity to pursue their passions in graduate study.”