Accolades for May 11, 2009

May 11th, 2009 - Filed under: Accolades

Watters Named Winner of 2009 Miles Excellence Award

Annette Watters

Annette Watters

Annette Watters, project manager for UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research and manager of the Alabama State Data Center, has been awarded the 2009 Dr. Minnie C. Miles Endowed Excellence Award.

Miles, who died in 2001, was professor emerita in UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce. She established the award in 1995 to promote and recognize administrative excellence. The award is given annually to a non-faculty, administrative staff member who has performed in an exemplary manner to further the mission of the university.

“The committee made an excellent choice,” said Dr. J. Michael Hardin, senior associate dean of the business school. “Annette’s professionalism and her dedication to serving the community is a model of excellence and should serve as an example for all of us.”

“Annette’s work with CBER has been exemplary,” said Hardin. “Her work with the Alabama Entrepreneurial Research Network has resulted in an incredible resurgence in the economies of several of the state’s economically distressed counties. She is dedicated to making the lives of Alabamians better and her work is a credit to the University, to CBER and to the business school.”

Watters has worked for UA for since 1977. In addition to her work with AERN, she manages the State Data Center and is the liaison between the center and the U.S. Census Bureau. She is frequently called on by the media for explanations and comments about the state’s population trends.

Moore Honored With Sayers Award

Mal Moore

Mal Moore

UA athletics director Mal Moore was honored recently with the University’s prestigious E. Roger Sayers Distinguished Service Award.

“This is an amazing honor and something that is truly meaningful to me in so many ways,” Moore said. “Having been a friend and admirer of Dr. Sayers for so many years, this has special meaning to me. Also, for the University to have honored me in this way is very humbling. I have always been proud to be a part of the University and to have had the privilege of working to forward the University’s mission in Athletics.”

A native of Dozier, Ala., Moore—a scholarship football player under Coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant and a member of the 1961 national championship team—graduated from UA in 1963 with an undergraduate degree in sociology. He also earned a master’s degree in secondary education from the University in 1964.

Moore served as football coach for 31 years, 22 of those at Alabama. He was named assistant director of athletics in 1993 and associate director for external affairs in 1994, and assumed his current role as athletics director in 1999.

In 2007, UA’s football building was officially named the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility to honor Moore’s outstanding record of service to the Capstone.

In his nomination letter, UA head football coach Nick Saban commended Moore for his far-reaching vision, leadership and tireless efforts to further the Capstone athletics programs.

President Robert E. Witt wrote in his letter of support: “Coach Moore’s commitment to Crimson Tide athletics, as well as the University’s alumni and fans, is unsurpassed. He is a key ambassador for the University throughout the state and beyond.”

The E. Roger Sayers Distinguished Service Award was created in 1996 by members of the President’s Cabinet and the National Alumni Association to recognize faculty and exempt administrative personnel who have performed in an exemplary manner to further the mission of the University. The award is named in honor of Dr. E. Roger Sayers, UA president from 1988-1996.

Reddy Receives Two Metallurgical Awards

Dr. Ramana G. Reddy

Dr. Ramana G. Reddy

Dr. Ramana G. Reddy, ACIPCO Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at UA, was recently named the recipient of two awards from The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society for his outstanding accomplishments.

Reddy received the Extraction and Processing Distinguished Service Award and the Extraction and Processing Science Award.

The Extraction and Processing Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding long-term service to industries by consistently providing technical and/or operating knowledge that enhances the industry’s competitiveness.

Reddy received the Extraction and Processing Award for his paper, “Thermodynamic Studies on the System Nb-Al.” This award recognizes a paper that represents notable contributions to the scientific understanding of the extraction and processing of nonferrous metals.

Reddy has published more than 325 research papers and 22 books and has presented more than 200 invited lectures and research presentations in 23 nations.

TMS is the professional organization encompassing the entire range of materials science and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced applications of materials. Included among its professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators and administrators from more than 70 countries on six continents.

Houston, Oakley, Zheng Earn Knox Hagood Awards

Dr. Marsha Houston

Dr. Marsha Houston

Dr. Marsha Houston, Jim Oakley and Lu Zheng received the Knox Hagood Awards for faculty, staff and doctoral student, respectively, from the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

Knox Hagood Awards are given annually to those who go beyond typical responsibilities of their positions. There must be demonstrated evidence of providing a quality education and contributing to the development of the College’s academic and professional image.

Houston, professor of communication studies, joined UA in 1999 as chair of the department of communication studies. Her research explores the intersection among gender, ethnicity, language and interpersonal communication. She is the 2002 recipient of the Southern States Communication Association Outreach Award for outstanding contributions to the academic lives of members of underrepresented groups.

Jim Oakley

Jim Oakley

Oakley, placement director for the College, joined the University staff in 1985. He assists students with their career plans and helps them find internships and jobs. A 1958 graduate of UA, he spent more than 30 years as publisher of the Centreville Press. In 2006, the Alabama Press Association honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lu Zheng is a third-year doctoral student in mass communication. During the 2008 Olympics, she worked in Beijing as a trilingual (English, French and Chinese) reporter for Village Life, the official daily publication circulated inside the Olympic Village.

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