Phil Cendoma, Ph.D., MSHA, MBA, assistant professor in our Department of Health Services Administration, has been selected as a 2025-2026 Honors Faculty Fellow in the UAB Honors College.

Cendoma will deliver a seminar series to provide students with a foundational understanding of personal finance and practical strategies for financial management.

“This is crucial for all college students,” said Cendoma. “By equipping our students with the knowledge and skills they need to make sound financial decisions, we can empower them to achieve financial stability and success in their academic and professional endeavors for the rest of their lives.”

The academic enrichment seminar consists of three events per semester during the next academic year. Cendoma has designed them to be interactive, engaging, and tailored to the needs and interests of college-aged students. The topics include: Budgeting Basics, Building Credit, Managing Debt, Saving for the Future, Financial Fraud Awareness, and Financial Planning beyond College.

Cendoma plans to cover additional topics across the series including understanding health insurance plans – deductibles, copays, co-insurance, HSA/FSA accounts, etc. And he will introduce them to the mental health aspects of personal finance – overcoming stress, managing anxieties and seeking support when needed.

The UAB Honors Faculty Fellows Program is a one-year fellowship designed to facilitate faculty involvement with honors students through creating and executing extracurricular events during the academic year.