The November Employees of the Month are David Dada, Coordinator of Leadership and Service for UAB Student Involvement and Leadership, and April Coleman, Counseling Intake and Referral Coordinator for Student Counseling Services. Their exemplary work ethic and commitment to the mission of the Division of Student Affairs makes them staffers to be revered.
David Dada: “David just completed the second installment of Birmingham 101. These are a series of panel discussions from alumni of local high schools to highlight the history of neighborhoods in Birmingham through the lens of high schools. It is a truly innovative and educational program that David has spent months in planning and preparation. He also is working to better the university through his pos
ition on the staff council.”
April Coleman: "April Coleman is above and beyond deserving of the Student Affairs Employee of the Month award. April acts as the Intake Coordinator for Student Counseling Services, and is an incredible representative of the Student Affairs team. April is the first line of contact for faculty, staff, and other partners working directly with students and is the point of contact during crisis or urgent care issues that arise within our student population.
April is incredibly organized, calm in crisis situations (which is a developed skill!) and imparts hope to the students she meets with. April's role often goes unnoticed in the division, but based on my previous work experience and knowledge of how difficult it is to act in a triage/crisis role, while scheduling all intake appointments for students, conducting initial screenings, and then being out in the UAB community doing program outreach and presentations to classes - it's a list of responsibilities that April performs with ease and poise.
Our partners across the division (Housing/Residential Life, SARC, DSS, Student Health) all reach out to Counseling Services in a crisis and out of concern for our UAB students - it is an incredibly positive reflection of the division of Student Affairs at UAB that April is the first person most people interact with. The field of mental health is often where we see students on really difficult and emotionally chaotic days in their lives - and sometimes, same for our partners across campus. April puts people at ease, provides direction and information in a crisis, and encourages students who struggle with mental illness to find hope wherever it can be found. I am deeply grateful for April's significant contribution to Student Health and Wellness, and believe she is a well-deserved candidate for the Student Affairs Employee of the Month."