UAB Briefs: Former UAB president remembered, theatre and language professors win awards
In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
We also provide updates regarding UAB’s efforts to cope with the COVID-19.
Let us know about people, events and programs on campus that deserve a mention in UAB Briefs. Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.
And remember that the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Continue to follow all of the usual protocols and stay safe.
FORMER UAB PRESIDENT REMEMBERED
Dr. Charles A. “Scotty” McCallum Jr., the third president of UAB, died Jan. 16. McCallum, 96, became UAB president in 1987 and served until 1993, according to UAB News.
“Our university family and the Birmingham community have lost a fierce advocate and a wonderful friend,” UAB President Ray L. Watts said.
“Without his visionary leadership and dedication, UAB would not be the world-class institution it is today,” Watts said.
Before becoming UAB president, McCallum served as vice president for health affairs, dean of the School of Dentistry and chair of the Department of Oral Surgery.
The McCallum Basic Health Sciences Building was named in his honor in 1996, and a sculpture of McCallum statue was installed at the UAB Mini Park in 2006.
After he retired from UAB, McCallum served two terms as mayor of Vestavia Hills, from 2000 to 2008.
Current Mayor Ashley Curry said that McCallum’s “impact on the city of Vestavia Hills will be felt for many, many years” and that he “leaves a tremendous legacy.”
AWARD-WINNING WRITER
Lee Shackleford, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre, was honored recently in the 15th annual AVA Digital Awards when his sci-fi audio drama serial, “Relativity,” was named a Platinum Winner in the podcast category, according to UAB News.
Shackleford also plays the lead acting role in the serial.
”Relativity” is an adventure story about a man who finds himself alone on a damaged spaceship hurtling toward another planet and a woman at mission control who fights to keep him alive.
There are 60 episodes, which are about 10-15 minutes long. The final episode was released in September.
The AVA Digital Awards are given by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The winners were announced Jan. 13.
A writer for stage, screen and radio, Shackleford teaches a variety of creative writing courses.
“Apparently a lot of people are now bingeing the whole thing and loving it,” Shackleford told UAB News. “I didn’t write the scripts with that in mind, so I am delighted that the show still works that way.”
“Relativity” can be heard on all major podcast platforms and on the web at relativitypodcast.com.
For more about the awards, go to avaawards.com.
AWARD-WINNING TEACHER
Erika Hille Rinker, an associate professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, was recently awarded the 2020 Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Teacher Award by the American Association of Teachers of German.
Rinker oversees all sections of German offered at UAB and advises all German minors.
The Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Teacher Award recognizes outstanding teachers of German in the United States who were not born and raised in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
“I think one of the strengths of my nomination dossier was my description of our spring 2020 FLL 121 course and how it motivated me to want to know firsthand more about the period of German history I presented to our students,” Rinker told UAB News.
The award includes a stipend for travel to Berlin to participate in the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Enrichment Educational Program.
Her trip is intended for June, but travel plans remain uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.