The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) School of Education and Human Sciences (SEHS) has unveiled a new mural by Amanda Viikinsalo, a graduate student in educational leadership. This mural is the third in Live HealthSmart Alabama’s Stairway to Wellness project. 

The first two murals are located in the Susan Mott Webb Nutrition Sciences Building. The campus-wide program is led by Holly Wyatt, M.D., professor, and Michele Gould, M.P.H., program manager, who are both in the Department of Nutrition Sciences. Live HealthSmart Alabama is a UAB initiative to promote physical activity, good nutrition, education, and prevention and wellness across the UAB campus and the larger community.

Viikinsalo’s mural, which is located in SEHS’s main stairwell, features a phoenix rising in green and gold and is titled “Non Sum Qualis Eram,” or “I am not who I used to be.” Viikinsalo said the phoenix symbol resonated with her personal evolution and the transformative nature of education. “It captures me and how I’ve changed since I first came to UAB. I’m constantly evolving.”

Viikinsalo earned her undergraduate degree in finance and then worked as a high school teacher for three years, during which time she discovered she had a passion for education. She left the classroom in 2020 to accept the role of director of client relations at College Prep Alabama, where she works with schools across southeast Alabama to prepare students for college and careers.

Though she had never painted a mural before, Viikinsalo embraced the project. Viikinsalo used AI to generate designs, which she refined into her final phoenix motif using an art app on her tablet. She then projected the outline onto the wall in the stairwell and began painting.

From choosing a phoenix instead of UAB’s dragon mascot, Blaze, to using a Latin title, Viikinsalo aimed to inspire curiosity and prompt viewers to explore the meaning of the symbolism of the phoenix.

“Education should challenge existing notions and encourage growth. With each new thing you learn, you question more. Education is transformative,” Viikinsalo said. “Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, students rise above challenges and setbacks through learning, continuously reinventing themselves and their futures. This mural represents the resilience and growth fostered by a quality education. I hope this phoenix inspires people to embrace life’s challenges and view failures as an opportunity for growth.” 

The themes of transformation, rebirth, and resurrection reflect SEHS’s recent path. The school’s former building, a UAB landmark for 50 years, was demolished in 2021, marking the end of an era. Now, like the phoenix, SEHS has metaphorically risen from the ashes in its new home.

Interested in creating a mural on campus? Submit your request here.