In 1976, The University of Alabama National Alumni Association began an innovative program designed to annually recognize four faculty members at the Capstone who demonstrate “Outstanding Commitment to Teaching.” The awards are based on the faculty members’ commitment to teaching and the impact they have had on students through the teaching and learning process. An attractive plaque and a cash stipend are presented to the recipients. All full-time faculty are eligible. Nominations are accepted from alumni, faculty and students, with the selection committee composed of the same. Presentation of the awards is made at the Fall General Faculty Meeting.
2024 Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Awards Recipients
Professor Mark Barry
Mark Barry is an associate professor in the department of advertising and public relations at The University of Alabama. He leads the creative advertising concentration, Minerva,
in the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
Barry started his professional career as an art director at J. Walter Thompson in New York before going to the client side as an art director for United Healthcare in Salt Lake City. He established his own agency, Subata Corporation, before moving with his family to Tuscaloosa.
After more than a decade making creative work for brands like American Express, Nestle and the NBA, Barry took a break from the advertising world to go back to school. In 2014, he walked across the stage in Coleman Coliseum having earned an MFA in painting and gained an unexpected interest in teaching.
Barry is dedicated to helping students develop universally applicable creative problem-solving skills by emphasizing a human-first perspective within a practical experiential learning environment.
Minerva is widely regarded by industry professionals as one of the top advertising portfolio programs in the country. During his eight years of leadership, Minerva students have won hundreds of local, regional, national and international advertising awards. His students are heavily recruited across campus to fill creative roles in group project courses and organizations. Former students create engaging, impactful and culture-driving work for some of the most respected agencies in the world.
EDUCATION: Barry completed his BFA in advertising and graphic design from Sam Houston State University in 1999 and later earned his MFA in painting from The University of Alabama in 2014.
RECOGNITION: Barry was awarded the Donald G. Hileman Educator of the Year Award in 2020 from the American Advertising Federation.
COURSES: Barry teaches the Concepting, Portfolio I, II and III Minerva classes. He also teaches Pitch, Please! and Creativity & American Culture for C&IS.
SERVICE: Barry is an active member on the board of directors for the Tuscaloosa Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, a faculty member of C&IS’s CAMP summer program and a member of multiple departmental and college committees.
Dr. Sherwood Burns-Nader
Dr. Sherwood Burns-Nader is an associate professor in the department of human development and family studies. She serves as the coordinator of the child life undergraduate and graduate programs, teaches foundational courses in child life and supervises child life clinical experiences. She joined The University of Alabama in 2012.
Burns-Nader’s research interests include examining psychosocial issues impacting children and families in healthcare settings, the benefits of child life interventions during healthcare procedures, the experiences of child life professionals and emerging professionals, the role of interprofessional simulation in students pursuing healthcare careers. Burns-Nader values the ability to foster a passion for research in both students and child life professionals.
EDUCATION: Burns-Nader completed her BS and MS in human development and family studies with a concentration in child life at the University of Alabama in 2005 and 2006. She went on to get her PhD in educational psychology from The University of Alabama in 2011.
RECOGNITION: Burns-Nader was selected by her peers to serve as the lead fellow for the Association of Child Life Professionals’ Research Fellows for the 2023-2026 term. She received the 2021 URCA Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award from The University of Alabama for excellence in mentoring undergraduate research students. Burns-Nader has been nominated for the Academic Affairs and UA-Academic Advising Association’s Outstanding Commitment to Advising Award in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
COURSES: Burns-Nader teaches Assessment and Plan of Care, Child Life Internship, Child Life Practicum, Creative and Conceptual Experiences for Young Children II, Early Childhood and Middle Childhood Development, Hospitalized Children and Youth, Infant and Toddler Development, Introduction to Child Life, Lifespan Development, Medical Terminology and Play in Child Development.
SERVICE: Burns-Nader has served as the faculty advisor for the Association of Child Life since 2012. She has served on five committees within the Child Life Certification Commission since 2013 and is chair of its ethics committee. She is a charter member of the Southeast Association of Child Life Professionals, previously served as its chair and currently leads its Academic and Clinical Work Group.
Dr. Carol Donovan
Dr. Carol Donovan is a professor of literacy education in the College of Education where she has taught and developed courses in the department of special education and the department of curriculum and instruction. She teaches undergraduate and graduate students in reading and language arts education. Donovan’s research has centered on teachers’ selections and read alouds of trade books for science instruction, preservice reading teacher development and children’s selections of informational books on science topics.
She has published her scholarly work in Reading Research Quarterly, Research in the Teaching of English, Elementary School Journal and Journal of Science Education. In addition, her work has been published in practitioner journals including The Reading Teacher, Language Arts, Young Children and Action in Teacher Education. She is working with colleagues on a book project exploring developmentally appropriate practice and the science of reading.
EDUCATION: Donovan received undergraduate and master’s degrees in elementary education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction in multicultural teacher education.
RECOGNITION: Donovan has received the Distinguished Community Engaged Scholar Award from the Council on Community Based Partnerships, the Nellie Rose McCrory Faculty Excellence Award from the College of Education, Jerry Johns Teacher Educator of Reading Award from the International Literacy Association and the Paul Bryant Teaching Award from the College of Education.
COURSES: Donovan’s graduate courses include Teacher Consultant Models in Special Education, Seminar in Special Education, Foundations of Reading, Teaching Beginning Reading, Practicum in Reading, Expanding Reading Instruction, Advanced Practicum and Reading Intervention.
SERVICE: Donovan coordinates the UA CALT Dyslexia Therapist program. She coordinates a reading clinic which serves children with persistent reading difficulties and provides professional development for teachers in schools on topics related to reading and writing instruction. She co-founded and directed the Longleaf Writing Project, served as director of the Belser-Parton Literacy Center and served on editorial boards, including Reading Research Quarterly and Language Arts.
Dr. Todd Freeborn
Dr. Todd Freeborn is an associate professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, where he teaches courses ranging from first-year undergraduate to senior graduate levels. Before joining UA in 2015, Freeborn spent time in the industry supporting product development for education technologies, industrial tools and medical devices.
After joining UA, Freeborn’s research has explored topics ranging from the design of precision circuitry and systems for biomedical and industrial measurements to assessing active learning in engineering education. He is also passionate about introducing students at all levels to research and coordinates multiple programs to provide research experiences to students at UA and internationally.
EDUCATION: Freeborn completed his BS in electrical engineering in 2008, his MS in electrical engineering in 2010 and his PhD in electrical engineering in 2014 from the University of Calgary in Canada.
RECOGNITION: He has been awarded the Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding Instructor Award from the UA department of electrical and computer engineering, the Educator of the Year Award from the Engineering Council of Birmingham and the Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award from the UA College of Engineering.
COURSES: He teaches Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Circuit Analysis, Electric Networks, Fractional-Order Circuits & Systems, Microcomputers, Advanced Circuits for Signal Processing, Analog Circuits and Interfacing to Embedded Systems and Analog Instrumentation and Measurement.
SERVICE: Freeborn is active in coordinating programs for students to experience research and success in their engineering studies and careers. In support of this mission, Freeborn has been the principal investigator of a Research Experience for Undergraduates site, an International Experiences for Students site, a Research Experiences for Teachers site, an Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Award and a Scholarships in STEM program. Each of these were funded by the National Science Foundation.
Previous OCTA Recipients
1976
Dr. Milan S. Djordjevic, Engineering
Prof. M. Leigh Harrison, Law
Dr. Bernerd C. Weber, A&S
Prof. Larry W. Yackle, Law
1977
Dr. Miriam A. Locke, A&S
Dr. Morris L. Mayer, C&BA
Dr. Minnie C. Miles, C&BA
Dr. John F. Ramsey, A&S
1978
Dr. Adolph B. Crew, Education
Dr. Robert W. Halli Jr., A&S
Dr. Erwin A. Reinhard, Engineering
Dr. Charles G. Summersell, A&S
1979
Dr. Tom M. Graham, A&S
Dr. Tommy Russell, Education
Dr. A.J. Strickland III, C&BA
Dr. Philip M. Turner, Library Sciences
1980
Dr. Barbara M. Barker, Education
Dr. O.B. Emerson, A&S
Dr. B.W. Ponder, A&S
Dr. Frederick B. Prentice, A&S
1981
Dr. Jonathan J. Davies, C&BA
Prof. Camille M. Elebash, Communication
Prof. Wilma S. Greene, CHES
Dr. Donald Hugh McLean, Engineering
1982
Dr. Michael Dinoff, A&S
Prof. Nathaniel Hansford, Law
Prof. J. Warren Hutton, A&S
Prof. Carolyn Liles, Education
1983
Dr. John S. Bickley, C&BA
Dr. John Burke, A&S
Prof. Doris Burton, CHES
Dr. J. Barry Mason, C&BA
1984
Dr. Joseph S. Bolt, A&S
Dr. Jack C. Brown, Engineering
Dr. William Gary Hooks, A&S
Dr. Richard Thigpen, Law
1985
Prof. Richard B. Brough, A&S
Dr. Barbara Chotiner, A&S
Dr. Hazel F. Ezell, C&BA
Prof. Geraldine B. Skipper, Nursing
1986
Dr. J. Vernon Blackburn, Education
Prof. Annabel Hagood, C&IS
Prof. Ernestine Jackson, CHES
Dr. John S. Pancake, A&S
1987
Dr. D. Joe Benson, A&S
Dr. Linda Olivet, Nursing
Dr. Ronald R. Robel, A&S
Dr. Paul S. Siegel, A&S
1988
Dr. Dwight L. Eddins, A&S
Dr. Harry J. Knopke, CCHS
Prof. Gene A. Marsh, Law, C&BA
Prof. Amanda W. Penick, A&S
1989
Prof. Joan L. Atkinson, Library Sciences
Dr. Michael T. Dugan, C&BA
Dr. Odis P. McDuff, Engineering
Dr. William W. Winternitz, CCHS
1990
Prof. Camille Wright Cook, Law
Dr. John Patrick Hermann, A&S
Dr. Robert W. Ingram, C&BA
Dr. Robert T. Sigler, A&S
1991
Dr. R. Reid Badger, A&S
Dr. Kathleen B. Randall, C&BA
Dr. Tommie J. Hammer, CHES
Dr. James E. McLean, Education
1992
Prof. John P. Formby, C&BA
Prof. Charles W. Gimbale, Law
Dr. David B. McElroy, A&S
Prof. Barbara S. Rountree, Education
1993
Dr. William Dean Barnard, A&S
Dr. Brad S. Chilcote, Education
Dr. Neal A. Lester, A&S
Prof. S. J. Schmitz, A&S
1994
Dr. Milla D. Boschung, CHES
Prof. James H. Hornsby IV, A&S
Dr. Edward R. Mansfield, C&BA
Prof. Mark T. Thompson Jr., C&IS
1995
Dr. Jackson Barnette, Education
Dr. Russell Bryant, A&S
Dr. Stanley P. Jones, A&S
Prof. James D. Leeper, CCHS
1996
Dr. Marsha Howell Adams, Nursing
Dr. James D. Bryce, Law
Dr. William A. Ulmer, A&S
Dr. Edmond Williams, A&S
1997
Dr. Thomas Bauman, A&S
Dr. Steven Prentice-Dunn, A&S
Dr. Carol L. Schlichter, Education
Dr. Shane Sharpe, C&BA
1998
Dr. Jenna Clayton Barrett, Nursing
Dr. Daniel M. Dulek, C&BA
Dr. James M. Salem, A&S
Dr. Harold P. Stern, Engineering
1999
Dr. James P. Beeler, A&S
Dr. Edgar P. St. Clair, A&S
Dr. Mary S. Stone, C&BA
Dr. John B. Vincent, A&S
2000
Prof. Pamela H. Bucy, Law
Dr. Melodie Carter, Nursing
Dr. Elizabeth Cockrum, CCHS
Dr. Nick Stinnett, CHES
2001
Dr. Silas C. Blackstock, A&S
Prof. Cornelius Carter, A&S
Dr. Wythe W. Holt Jr., Law
Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, A&S
2002
Dr. Joseph Neggers, A&S
Dr. Robert E. Pieroni, CCHS
Dr. Leon V. Sadler III, Engineering
Dr. Raymond B. White III, A&S
2003
Dr. Matthew Curtner-Smith, Education
Dr. Donna J. Henson, A&S
Prof. Jerome A. Hoffman, Law
Dr. Gary K. Taylor, C&BA
2004
Dr. James Bindon, A&S
Prof. Bryan Fair, Law
Dr. Ann Sherrer, Nursing
Prof. William C. Teague, A&S
2005
Dr. Tom Albright, C&BA
Dr. Joanne Hale, C&BA
Dr. Stanley E. Jones, Engineering
Dr. Marcia M. Lambert, Nursing
2006
Dr. Brian Gray, C&BA
Dr. Rick Meyers, A&S
Dr. Mark D. Nelson, C&IS
Dr. Lucinda Lee Roff, Social Work
2007
Dr. John Baker, Engineering
Dr. Beth S. Bennett, C&IS
Dr. Jim Cashman, C&BA
Dr. Kevin H. Shaughnessy, A&S
2008
Dr. Christopher S. Brazel, Engineering
Dr. Ian W. Brown, A&S
Dr. David Hale, C&BA
Prof. Susan Randall, Law
2009
Prof. Carol Andrews, Law
Dr. William H. Rabel, C&BA
Prof. Craig R. Wedderspoon, A&S
Dr. Vivian H. Wright, Education
2010
Dr. Bruce K. Berger, C&IS
Dr. Gary A. Copeland, C&IS
Dr. Philip W. Johnson, Engineering
Dr. Pauline D. Johnson, Engineering
Dr. Emily O. Wittman, A&S
2011
Prof. Jannis L. Brakefield, CHES
Dr. Lawrence F. Kohl, A&S
Dr. Patrick R. LeClair, A&S
Prof. Seth Panitch, A&S
2012
Dr. Jason Edward Black, C&IS
Dr. Ryan L. Earley, A&S
Dr. Robert Glenn Richey Jr., C&BA
Dr. Elizabeth K. Wilson, Education
2013
Dr. Sarah M. Barry, A&S
Dr. Teri K. Henley, C&IS
Dr. James McNaughton, A&S
Dr. Joanne Terrell, Social Work
2014
Dr. Viola L. Acoff, Engineering
Dr. Robert E. Brooks, C&BA
Dr. James C. Hall, A&S
Dr. Kathryn S. Oths, A&S
2015
Dr. Mark E. Barkey, Engineering
Prof. Kimberly K. Boone, Law
Dr. Paul Houghtaling, A&S
Dr. Timothy S. Snowden, A&S
2016
Dr. W. Edward Back, Engineering
Dr. Cameron H. Lacquement, A&S
Dr. James D. Mixson, A&S
Dr. Mark Richardson, Education
2017
Dr. Daniel G. Bachrach, C&BA
Dr. James Paul Hubner, Engineering
Dr. Kenneth G. Ricks, Engineering
Dr. Heather M. Taylor, CCHS
2018
Prof. Stacy Latham Alley, A&S
Dr. Rich Houston, C&BA
Dr. Mary M. Meares, C&IS
Nathan James Parker, A&S
2019
Dr. Julianne M. Coleman, Education
Dr. Allen E. Linken, A&S
Dr. Steven W. Ramey, A&S
Dr. Edward J. Schnee, C&BA
2020
Prof. Heather Elliott, Law
Prof. John Heins, CCB
Dr. Louis Marino, CCB
Prof. Charles “Skip” Snead, Music
2021
Dr. Natalie Adams, A&S and Education
Dr. Luke Brewer, Engineering
Dr. Lawrence Cappello, A&S
Dr. Katherine Chiou, A&S
2022
Dr. Chandra Clark, C&IS
Dr. Kyungyong Lee, A&S
Dr. Michael McKain, A&S
Prof. Dominic Yeager, A&S
2023
Dr. Ana Corbalan, A&S
Dr. Lucy Kaufman, A&S
Dr. Yolanda Manora, A&S
Dr. Jonathan Wingo, Education
2024
Prof. Mark Barry, C&IS
Dr. Sherwood Burns-Nader, CHES
Dr. Carol Donovan, Education
Dr. Todd Freeborn, Engineering