Community support is critical to helping UAB fulfill its mission of discovering, teaching and applying knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state and beyond. Young professionals play important roles throughout the university, lending their talents and expertise to boards and committees in areas of interest to them. We hope this page will help you find your niche as a supporter of UAB. Please feel free to contact the coordinators listed below or any of the Leadership UAB Steering Committee members for more information.
Thank you for your interest and support!
Junior Boards
ASC Junior Patrons Board
Leadership UAB Alumni Council
School of Nursing Junior Board of Visitors
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporters Board
UAB Minority Health Young Supporters Board
UAB National Alumni Society Junior Alumni Board
WBHM Junior Advisors
Other Boards and Committees
Blazer BEST Robotics Program
Blazer Rep Program
Friends of WBHM Advisory Board
UAB Career & Professional Development
UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care Community Advisory Board
UAB School of Business Information Systems Advisory Council
UAB School of Optometry Dean’s Community Advisory Committee
UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging Board of Advocacy
ASC Junior Patrons Board
Contact: Jennifer Holcomb, jhholcomb@uab.edu, (205) 996-6113
The Alys Stephens Center Junior Patrons Board brings young professionals together to experience live performances and social gatherings presented in our state-of-the-art performance venue right here on UAB’s campus. The mission of the organization is to inspire a lifelong love of the performing arts in the young professional community as well as encourage and promote the arts throughout the area. Junior Patron Board Members have the opportunity to volunteer and fundraise to support ArtPlay, the education and outreach arm of the Alys Stephens Center, in addition to hosting social events and fostering the arts community in Birmingham.
Those not interested in serving on the Board but who want to join the ASC Junior Patrons can join online here. Junior Patrons enjoy discounts to ASC-presented performances as well as invitations to special events and meet-the-artist opportunities.
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Leadership UAB Alumni Council
Contact: Rachel Fornest, blazeray@uab.edu or (205) 975-5559
The Leadership UAB Alumni Council consists of alumni of the Leadership UAB program representing graduates from the various alumni classes. The purpose of the Council is to provide feedback, guidance, and support to the Leadership UAB Steering Committee in order to further the program’s growth and development. Alumni Council members will help build awareness of the Leadership UAB program in the community and may assist with recruitment activities, event planning, and brainstorming sessions in order to ensure the program remains engaged with alumni through reunion events and other endeavors. The efforts of the Alumni Council will ensure the Leadership UAB program is able to continue to recruit outstanding members and build and maintain strong ties with alumni.
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School of Nursing Junior Board of Visitors
Contact: Andrea Cofield, acofield@uab.edu or (205) 996-7453
The Junior Board of Visitors (JBOV) of the UAB School of Nursing was established in 2006. The purpose of the Junior Board is to build awareness about the School of Nursing in the community in order to raise funds for scholarships and programs, thus enabling the School of Nursing to recruit outstanding students and faculty.
The Junior Board is composed of young community leaders who are passionate about supporting nursing education and the nursing profession. Some current members have family members on the School’s Board of Visitors or are Leadership UAB members. Others have or know of children who have been affected by illnesses requiring hospitalization and understand the need for educated nurses at the bedside. We welcome anyone who is willing to join us in raising awareness and scholarships for nursing education; ultimately, improving health care for patients and their families.
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UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporters Board
Contact: Ashley Foster, afoster3@uab.edu or (205) 934-0034
The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporters Board was established in 2006 to introduce the next generation of Alabamians to the importance of cancer research and awareness. The board is made up of approximately 40 professionals and community leaders under 40 years of age who are passionate about funding cancer research and supporting patients and their families. Nearly all of the Young Supporters have been personally affected by cancer, and many are cancer survivors themselves.
Young Supporters work throughout the year to provide services and activities to cancer patients and their families in University Hospital’s inpatient units and in the nearby Hope Lodge. Additionally, they raise money to fund the work of young cancer researchers through their signature event, Fiesta Ball. The annual Cinco de Mayo celebration is attended by over 400 young professionals each year and has grown to raise over $50,000 annually for the competitive Young Investigator Grant.
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UAB Minority Health Young Professionals Board
Contact: Susan J. Driggers, sdriggers@uabmc.eduor (205) 975-1093
TheUAB Minority Health Young Professionals Board, composed of young professionals ages 25 to 40 who represent diverse professions and ethnicities, supports the community outreach initiatives of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC). The MHRC works to eliminate health disparities through research, bring more minorities into careers in medicine and science, and empower communities and individuals to take charge of their health by promoting healthy habits for adults and children.
The Young Professionals Board has a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on preventative minority health efforts through their support of the programs and services of MHRC.
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National Alumni Society Junior Alumni Board
Contact: Sarah Salzmann, ssalzman@uab.edu or 205-934-3555
The National Alumni Society (NAS) Junior Alumni Board will be made up of eighteen UAB graduates between the ages of 24 and 34 that represent a diverse cross section of graduates from the nine schools across campus. Members may be nominated through an open nomination process and must be selected and approved by the NAS Senior Alumni Board. Each member that is selected by the selection committee will be asked to fulfill a two year term that is renewable for an additional two years, as long as the member continues to meet the age requirements and has fulfilled his or her responsibility to the board. Junior Board members are required to attend quarterly meetings as well as committee meetings in Birmingham on a regular basis.
The mission of the UAB National Alumni Society Junior Board is to support the University in its pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and public service and to create, foster, and nurture a mutually beneficial relationship between the University, its students, and its alumni. Goals of the Junior Board include supporting the mission of the NAS by encouraging membership in the NAS and participating in the organization’s events and activities, building a strong network of young alumni that will serve as future leaders of the organization and remain engaged with UAB as ambassadors for the NAS, and advancing the NAS through various fundraising initiatives that will maintain current and create new scholarship opportunities for UAB students.
Specific responsibilities of the Junior Board include developing and implementing activities that will reconnect UAB young alumni with UAB and the NAS in an effort to grow the Young Alumni Chapter, planning and hosting one NAS fundraising event each year that provides a minimum of $20,000 for the NAS Scholarship Fund, and assisting with other NAS activities and events throughout the year by providing volunteer support.
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WBHM Junior Advisors
Contact: Audrey Atkins, audrey@wbhm.org or (205) 934-0130
Through the WBHM Junior Advisors, WBHM Public Radio offers service, learning, cultural and social opportunities for those committed supporters in the 21-40 age range. The WBHM Junior Advisors serve under the guidance of the station’s senior Friends of WBHM Advisory Board, which gives WBHM a voice in the community promoting public radio and its mission in North Central Alabama.
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Blazer BEST Robotics Program
Contact : Leann Neal, lneal@uab.edu or (205) 934-8526
BEST Robotics is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to engage, excite, and inspire middle and high school students! Our goal is to encourage them to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics‐related careers through participation in a competitive robotics competition. Because there is no fee for students or schools to participate in the program, the Blazer BEST program is able to reach out to schools that otherwise would not be able to participate in such an activity due to lack of funding – particularly those located in low-income neighborhoods in the greater Birmingham area.
Using only the materials in the provided kits, student teams have six weeks to design, develop, and test a robot that can outperform their competitors. Technical and engineering mentors from local companies and organizations volunteer to help coach students through the process. Through their participation in the program and the competition, students have an opportunity to develop their problem-solving and decision-making skills, work as a team, and practice time management. Perhaps most importantly, students increase their confidence and competence through self‐directed learning and abstract thinking. One out of two students surveyed stated that their experience in BEST has influenced their career plans after high school.
Click here to watch a video about the BEST Robotics Program and see how it makes a difference in the lives of students who participate.
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Blazer Rep Program
Contact: Jay Anderson, jasona@uab.edu or (205) 996-5994
Blazer Boosters and UAB Athletics are inviting all Blazer fans to participate in the Blazer Rep Referral Program and be a part of the greatest fundraising effort in UAB Athletics history! The Blazer Boosters office is seeking passionate fans to serve as Blazer Reps in order to help generate financial commitments through their own referrals during the UAB Athletics Campaign. Blazer Reps will receive benchmark rewards from each of the categories for which they qualify.
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Friends of WBHM Advisory Board
Contact: Audrey Atkins, audrey@wbhm.org or (205) 934-0130
The primary purpose of the Friends of WBHM Advisory Board is to support the station, both monetarily and in the community. The Friends of WBHM encourage and generate support for WBHM Public Radio in the form of memberships, gifts, grants, and services for the station and for special projects. This includes helping staff during pledge drives, as well as working with staff to plan special events such as the semi-annual performance of The Capitol Steps; receptions for visiting NPR reporters, commentators, or executives; and major donor receptions.
The Friends also assist with identifying and cultivating potential major donors, both from within WBHM’s membership and from within the community. They meet approximately four times per year with committee meetings as needed.
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UAB Career & Professional Development
Contact: Suzanne Scott Trammell, sstrammell@uab.edu or (205) 934-4324
Partner with UAB Career & Professional Development to shape and develop tomorrow’s leaders – today! The mission of the office is to engage students in exploring career options, gaining experience in a chosen field, preparing for the job / graduate school search, and succeeding in their career goals. A partnership with Leadership UAB provides a collaboration in shaping the professionalism and knowledge necessary for the success of tomorrow’s leaders. As young professionals yourselves, students value your insights. By sharing your personal leadership development and career journeys, you will impact the way they view and approach opportunities, helping them embrace possibilities and effect change for a brighter tomorrow.
Please fill out this Partnership Form so we can reach out to discuss ways this will link to your interests and student needs.
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UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care Community Advisory Board
Contact: Mallie Hale, mshale@uab.edu or (205) 975-5661.
The UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care Community Advisory Board was established in 2005 to provide a vital voice for palliative care within the community and an essential outsider’s perspective to the work of the Center. Comprised of a diverse set of community members, the group provides leadership and guidance in outreach and education efforts, as well as strategic planning, advocacy, and development.
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UAB School of Business Information Systems Advisory Council
Contact: Brad Whisenant, bhwhis@uab.edu or (205) 996-9453
The IS program is fortunate to have an elite and involved group of IS professionals on its Advisory Council . The Advisory Council consists mostly of CIO's from businesses in the Birmingham area, most of whom are UAB alumni. They represent the biggest employers in Birmingham and especially the largest users of IS professionals. The Council provides advice on a wide range of issues such as curriculum development, student employment, internships, scholarships, and general fundraising.
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UAB School of Optometry Dean’s Community Advisory Committee
Contact : Peggy Striplin, striplin@uab.eduor (205) 934-9838
The UAB School of Optometry Dean’s Community Advisory Committee (DCAC) consists of corporate and civic leaders from Birmingham and surrounding areas who act as advocates for the enhancement of the profession of optometry to the community. The Committee also offers advice to the Dean on corporate and civic matters. In order for the School to maintain its measure of excellence, committee members may also advise the Dean regarding prospective donors and assist in raising funds for the School by making personal gifts as well as seeking additional funding from individuals, corporations, and foundations for initiatives such as the DCAC annual golf tournament.
The Committee meets with the Dean three times annually and is kept informed of events within the School on a regular basis. The purpose of the Committee is to raise funds for the School, raise awareness and visibility of the School in the community, advocate for the School within the community, advise the Dean from a community perspective, and encourage the Dean, faculty, and staff.
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UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging Board of Advocacy
Contact: Christian Smith, cnsmith@uab.edu or (205) 943-1974
The Board of Advocacy assists the UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, providing leadership for the annual fund campaign and plans other development initiatives. The Board meets with the Center leadership throughout the year to focus on community outreach and fundraising activities.
People who are interested in the UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging and its programs can volunteer for a potential appointment on the Board of Advocacy or make suggestions to the board regarding new ideas for generating community support for the Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging. The board will select new members to complement the skills and abilities of other board members.