Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, departments across the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences submitted nominations for the Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Students and Outstanding Graduate Students. The awards are given to exceptional undergraduate and graduate students in CAS who have made significant contributions to the UAB community.
The dean’s selection committee recently reviewed the nominations and have selected three undergraduate students and four graduate students to receive the awards. Congratulations to the award winners:
2024 Undergraduate Dean’s Awards
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Christian Brown – Political Science
“After 3.5 years of working with Christian in a variety of settings, I can attest that he is intelligent, dedicated, and unwaveringly committed to pursuing a life of academic excellence and integrity. He has made UAB better both in and out of the classroom, and he is highly deserving of this award.” – Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Claire Greenstein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration
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Logan Burnett – Physics
“He has superb interdisciplinary experience, with advanced courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and mechanical engineering: Logan is the kind of 21st century STEM professional that is needed to address the growing technical challenges in the energy/data/environment nexus that are critical for human society.” — Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Renato Camata, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Physics
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Marci Hall – Psychology
“Marci is highly talented, has excellent potential, and is sure to become a star in whatever career she pursues. She is a thoughtful, engaging individual who is devoted to behavioral science research but also highly involved in other activities, including sorority leadership and community service.” - Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by David Schwebel, Ph.D., University Professor of Psychology and Associate Vice President for Research Facilities and Infrastructure
2024 Graduate Dean’s Awards
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Teresa Epstein – Social Work
“Teresa's engagement in community service is noteworthy, as seen in her 100 hours at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, addressing food insecurity through resource provision and intake assessments. Additionally, her volunteer work with organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Pathways Women and Children Shelter, and Children's Hospital of Alabama underscores her commitment to community well-being.”
Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Jacqueline Jones, MSW, Assistant Professor of Field Education/MSW Field Coordinator
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Clifford Ross – Medical Sociology (Doctoral)
“What sets Cliff apart is his ability to identify and operationalize sociological factors and their impact on health, making his research invaluable in today's ever-evolving landscape of healthcare and social policy.” - Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Joseph D. Wolfe, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology
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Adam Smith – Physics (Doctoral)
“I believe [Adam] has all the ingredients – skill, independence, persistence, and personality – that will ensure his productivity and success in his future career. I believe that Adam will make substantial scientific contributions, and I also believe he will be an ideal award recipient.” - Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Cheng-Chien Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Physics
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Riley Yager – Physics
“Riley is well known among her peers and the faculty as being intensely devoted to her research goals. As a result of her perseverance, she was awarded as a NASA NSTGRO graduate fellow. She is the first recipient of this prestigious fellowship at UAB since the program’s inception in 2011 (only 60 students are selected across the US). She also received a Fulbright graduate research scholarship and did research in nanocatalysis in Poland for 9 months.” - Excerpt from letter of recommendation authored by Shane Catledge, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Physics
