by Bria Morgan
Left to right: Paulette Patterson Dilworth, Ph.D., vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Amanda Watts; Mitzi Swift; Jewell Dickson-Clayton, OTD; Grace Jepkemboi Komol, Ph.D.; and Donna Williamson, chair of the Commission on the Status of Women. Not pictured: Jesse Rattan, Ph.D.Five individuals were honored with the 2024 Padma Awards during a ceremony on March 21.
The Padma Awards, sponsored by the UAB Commission on the Status of Women and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, shine a light on those who go above and beyond to persevere in support of representation across populations and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions, and accomplishments of UAB’s community.
The 2024 recipients include:
- Jesse Rattan, Ph.D., 2024 Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award. Rattan is a postdoctoral fellow in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Mitzi Swift, 2024 Outstanding Staff Member Award. Swift is a clinical research coordinator in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
- Grace Jepkemboi Komol, Ph.D., 2024 Becky Trigg Outstanding Faculty Member Award. Komol is a professor in the UAB School of Education.
- Amanda Watts, 2024 Susan D. Marchase Outstanding Administrator Award. Watts is the director of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee in the UAB Office of Research.
- Jewell Dickson-Clayton, OTD, 2024 Outstanding Community Impact Award. Dickson-Clayton is an associate professor and program director in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Each year, the award recognizes those who embody excellence in their areas and pave the way for positive change. “These individuals are so much more than the professional faces you see daily,” said Donna Williamson, chair of the Commission on the Status of Women. “What they bring to UAB, builds UAB. They embody the characteristics that make me proud to be a Blazer.” The honorees' contributions advanced the issues of representation across populations to make professional success easier. Recipients exemplified courage in the face of adversity and provided significant service to communities at UAB and beyond.
“The extraordinary work of the commission serves the needs of our students, faculty and staff, and advances our goal to create a fair-minded community at UAB,” said Paulette Patterson Dilworth, Ph.D., vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “We are pleased to honor these individuals and recognize their commitment to inspiring excellence across the campus and community.”
The Commission on the Status of Women is dedicated to advancing UAB’s richly diverse community by supporting all at every stage of their education and career. CSW members support work-life balance initiatives, professional development for emerging leaders, and community outreach to improve the academic climate and work environment at UAB.
