The UAB Office of the Provost has recognized four faculty across the university for excellence in service learning, undergraduate research, education abroad and core teaching.
The faculty excellence awards, supported by the UAB Office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research, Office of Education Abroad, and Office of the Blazer Core Curriculum, acknowledge extraordinary commitment to engaging UAB’s undergraduate students in research, creative activities, service learning and core teaching experiences. Faculty may be nominated by any UAB student, faculty, staff or community member.
Faculty awardees will be honored at the UAB Faculty Recognition Reception held in October at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB. Others recognized at the reception include recipients of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as awardees for three named provost awards.
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Service Learning
Stacy Moak, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences
“Dr. Moak is a passionate and transformative educator whose commitment to service learning has had a profound impact on her students and the broader community,” a nominator wrote. “Through hands-on projects, real-world case studies and deep engagement with local issues, Dr. Moak challenged us to critically examine structures of power and envision policy solutions grounded in justice. Her classroom is a space where ideas ignite, identities are affirmed and students are empowered to become agents of change. Dr. Moak leads with both intellect and heart. She invests deeply in her students’ growth, meeting us where we are and guiding us with honesty, empathy and rigor.”
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research
Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Heersink School of Medicine
“Entering Dr. Sewell-Loftin’s lab, I felt nothing but welcomed and supported,” one nominee said. “In addition to encouraging my research interests, Dr. Sewell-Loftin’s support has had a direct impact on my academic success and, more personally, my confidence in my ability to achieve my professional goals. She is a stellar faculty member at UAB and an incredible mentor. I know from others in my cohort that I am just one of many students who she has positively impacted.”
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Education Abroad
Sarah Culver, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Marketing, Industrial Distribution and Economics, Collat School of Business
“Professor Culver exemplifies the highest standards of commitment to education abroad, transforming our Copenhagen program into a life-changing academic and cultural experience,” one nominee said. “While abroad, she masterfully integrated site visits, lectures and cultural excursions with real-world applications of zero-carbon initiatives and public infrastructure. Her ability to make complex topics engaging and accessible empowered students to deeply engage with global challenges.”
The Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Core Teaching
Samiksha Raut, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences; Co-Director, Genetics and Genomic Sciences Undergraduate Program
“Dr. Raut’s lectures were so engaging and practically grounded that students consistently attended voluntarily, something nearly unheard of in high-enrollment core classes,” one nominee said. “In BY124, she implemented a unique peer-supported model involving Biology Learning Assistants. She also introduced a ‘Science Spotlight’ assignment for BY101 that connected course content to real-world biological research and made foundational biology deeply relevant to today’s societal challenges. Her teaching style turns complex content into something students genuinely want to understand, not just memorize. That kind of impact doesn’t end after the semester. It carries forward, shaping how we approach every academic and personal challenge.”