Cora Brasfield Causey, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Sciences, is the recipient of the 2024 Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award. Cora Brasfield Causey, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Sciences, is the recipient of the 2024 Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award. This prestigious award, hosted by the UAB Office of the Provost, recognizes a UAB faculty member who has rendered outstanding service to the Birmingham community.
Causey has a long history of serving underserved populations in Birmingham through education and literacy initiatives designed for early learners.
“Dr. Causey truly embodies the persona of ‘servant leader,’” said Kathleen Clark, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “Her service to the community is extensive and is focused on the youngest of the city’s residents—which truly impacts transformation across generations.”
In her faculty role, Causey, who joined UAB in 2014, designs and delivers professional early literacy, math, and science learning for practicing and preservice early childhood educators. She seeks to provide opportunities for future teachers to further connect with and understand their community and its members.
"I am committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, recognizing that a well-rounded education, grounded in strong literacy and reasoning skills, is the foundation for a brighter future." — Cora Brasfield Causey, Ph.D.
Causey also serves as the field coordinator for Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR), a regional, evidence-based tutoring program that partners with UAB and focuses on individualized reading instruction for young students in greater Birmingham.
Causey’s work first started with STAIR in 2021. After serving as a tutor herself, she went on to work with STAIR to create a service-learning opportunity for the UAB School of Education and Human Sciences, where UAB teacher candidates and STAIR students both can benefit from this type of tutoring. Causey’s impact in the STAIR program ripples throughout the greater Birmingham community and has left a legacy of expertise and community service.
Causey also partnered with the Children’s Policy of Jefferson County to provide two children’s book vending machines in the family waiting areas of Jefferson County and Bessemer Family Courts. Caregivers at Family Court sign up for a free token, and children can use the token to select a book to take home from the vending machine. Causey engaged teacher candidates in selecting book titles and additional evidence-based family resources to support reading. The first vending machine provided 2,000 books to children in the greater Birmingham community.
In 2023, Causey launched the childhood summer enrichment program, Use Your Noodle, which is in collaboration with the non-profit Avondale Samaritan’s Place. Use Your Noodle seeks to empower children ages 4-10 from underserved schools by nurturing their enthusiasm for learning and by asking questions and solving problems using literacy, numeracy, and science. In the program’s first year, 40 children from 10 schools were served, and 89% of those students were from underserved schools in the Avondale area. In the same year, all students demonstrated increased oral language and literacy skills and were able to ask quality questions with the assistance of the program.
"Dr. Causey truly embodies the persona of ‘servant leader,’” said Kathleen Clark, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “Her service to the community is extensive and is focused on the youngest of the city’s residents—which truly impacts transformation across generations."
Causey also serves as a peer reviewer for National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs and NAEYC National Recognition and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. She also is a guest reviewer for the Early Childhood Education Research Journal and has been part of the UAB Early Head Start Governing Body since 2019.
“I firmly believe that early and lifelong literacy is essential for a healthy child. Literacy opens doors to knowledge and opportunities, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To serve the Birmingham community through literacy, collaboration is key. By working together, we can pool resources, share best practices, and create a supportive environment that nurtures children’s growth. This collective effort can significantly impact children’s lives, equipping them with the tools they need to navigate and improve society. I am committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, recognizing that a well-rounded education, grounded in strong literacy and reasoning skills, is the foundation for a brighter future.”
