Campus & Community

Search committee formed to find next UAB athletic director

Group of 19 will hold its first meeting in February to launch a national search for UAB’s next athletic director.

Written by: Tiffany Westry

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Blazer shield logoA committee that will spearhead the national search for the next University of Alabama at Birmingham athletic director has been finalized. The group of 19 represents constituency groups on and off campus, including faculty, staff, students and athletes, alumni, community leaders, and other supporters.

Harold Jones, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Professions, will chair the committee. Jones, who has a long history of working with UAB Athletics, chaired the 2008 NCAA Recertification Self-Study Committee and is a member of the newly established UAB Athletics Assessment Task Force.

Committee members are:

 

  • Jacob Armstrong – UAB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • Anita Bonasera – Executive Director, UAB Human Resources
  • Trey Cummings – Managing Broker, Omega Realty Group, UAB National Alumni Society Board of Directors and Past President
  • Becky Gordon – Associate Vice President for Development
  • Don Hire ­– UAB Champions Club Member
  • Harold Jones, Ph.D., Dean, UAB School of Health Professions
  • Jimbo Lee – Chairman and CEO, Buffalo Rock Company
  • Andy Marsch – Assistant Vice President for Student Life
  • Joe Van Matre, Ph.D. – Professor, UAB Collat School of Business
  • Frank Messina, DBA – Professor, UAB Collat School of Business, Faculty Athletic Representative
  • Craft O’Neal – Chairman, O’Neal Industries, UAB Champions Club Member
  • Pam Paustian, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, UAB School of Health Professions
  • Catherine Ragon – UAB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • Patrick Ritter – Undergraduate Student
  • Oliver Robinson – Alabama State Representative, 58th District, Former UAB Athlete
  • Melissa Sammy – Graduate Student
  • Evan Smith – Undergraduate Student
  • Janice Ward – Manager, UAB Faculty Affairs, UAB National Alumni Society Past President
  • Becky Watson – Associate Vice President for Alumni and Annual Giving

 

“Each member of this committee represents an important voice within the university,” Jones said. “In the end, such a large group will give us a stronger candidate and engender the support of the community. It is really meaningful to me that we get this right.”

The committee will begin work as soon as possible and hold its first meeting in early February. An independent search firm selected by the committee will help identify potential candidates and perform background checks. At its conclusion, the committee will recommend three unranked, viable candidates.

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