Congratulations to the 19 faculty and staff leaders who became the latest graduating class of the Blaze Leadership Academy this month. The leadership development program combines team projects, case studies, skill-building, expert speakers and panels, peer-to-peer consultation, and networking opportunities.
At a capstone presentation May 2, members of the class shared some of the leadership lessons that most impacted them.
“Blaze Leadership Academy has been an amazing experience that has shown me that a strong leader must listen, build relationships, have empathy and sometimes demonstrate radical candor when leading their team,” said Gordon Fisher, Ph.D., professor and assistant dean for Research in the School of Education and Human Sciences.
For Alice Harding, J.D., associate director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, a key lesson was the “importance of developing a growth mindset, which encourages the development of new skills and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation,” she said. “This is critical in our constantly changing research environment.”
“Blaze Leadership Academy is a fertile training ground for growing leaders of people and for people,” said Jay Anderson, senior director of Development for UAB Athletics. “I am grateful for the reminder that true leadership says, ‘It’s not about me — what can I do to help you be at your best?’”
2025-2026 class nominations open in June
Nominations for the 2025-2026 Blaze Leadership Academy class will open in June. Blaze Leadership Academy is designed for faculty and staff who have been at UAB for a minimum of one year and are experienced senior managers, functional directors or chairs possessing the potential for more demanding leadership positions within the next two to four years. Candidates are nominated by their senior leader (deans in schools, vice presidents in administrative units). Learn more about the nomination process, selection criteria and the time commitment involved.
Blaze Leadership Academy 2024-2025 cohort
Jacqueline Alexander
Director of Student Media
UAB Student Affairs
Jason Anderson
Senior Development Director
UAB Athletics
Jeff Bridges
Facility Manager, Department of Medicine
Heersink School of Medicine
Kimberly Carr, DMD
Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry
School of Dentistry
Edith Castleberry
HRP Manager
College of Arts and Sciences
Amy Dean
Program Director III
School of Public Health
Randall Fields, J.D.
Grants and Contracts Officer Senior
UAB Research
Gordon Fisher, Ph.D.
Professor, Assistant Dean for Research
School of Education and Human Sciences
Shemeka Gillespie
Operations Manager, Survey Research Unit
School of Public Health
Alice Harding, J.D.
Associate Director, Grants and Contracts Administration
UAB Research
Jeff Jessee
Director, Server and Systems Support, Enterprise
UAB Information Technology
Maree Jones
Director, Social Media Strategy
UAB Marketing and Communications
Peter Jones, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
College of Arts and Sciences
Rajesh Kana, Ph.D.
Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Continuing Education
College of Arts and Sciences
Carmel McNicholas-Bevensee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
Heersink School of Medicine
Andrea Osborne, DVM
Assistant Director, Animal Research Program
UAB Research
Monique Silas
Director, Administration and Fiscal Affairs
School of Education and Human Studies
John Updegraff
Director of Student Success
School of Nursing
Charles White
Director of Telecommunications Services, Enterprise
UAB Information Technology