- April 22nd, 2025
- in News
The University of Alabama National Alumni Association celebrated A-Day on April 12, 2025, honoring outstanding students and alumni and selecting seven new vice presidents to serve on the NAA’s executive committee.
The 2025 Outstanding Alumni are Jody Singer and Haig Wright II.
Singer’s faithful commitment to the state of Alabama and to its space program has made great leaps in space exploration. She serves on the University of Alabama President’s Cabinet and has supported the College of Engineering in various other ways. She grew up in Hartselle, Alabama, then earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from The University of Alabama in 1983. She began her 38-year career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1985. She served as the 14th and first female director for the Marshall Space Flight Center. Singer now resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, Chris. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
Wright showed profound dedication to The University of Alabama and the National Alumni Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from UA in 1982. He worked in insurance, eventually becoming the president and later CEO of Byars Wright Insurance. He was named CEO of the Year by Birmingham Business Journal due to the growth of the company under his leadership. From 2019-2020, he served as president of the National Alumni Association. While residing in Walker County with his wife Robin and four children, he was also a faithful member and Sunday School teacher at his church, Jasper First Methodist. He had “a million-dollar heart, smile and laugh” and was a distinguished member of the Alabama community due to his faithful leadership and generosity.
The 2025 Outstanding Students are Joe Clark and Hannah Adams.
Clark, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, will graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, finance and economics. He has served as a research lead in the Departments of Economics and Management through the Randall Research Scholars Program, the director of academics for Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and an associate justice for the Student Judiciary on campus.
Adams, from Birmingham, Alabama, will graduate in May 2025 with her bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science. During her time at the Capstone, she served as a Blackburn Institute recruitment team member, Student Government Association’s presidential director of programming, president of the Carl A. Elliott Society and Alpha Gamma Delta Psi Chapter director of involvement. Additionally, Hannah and her family launched a nonprofit called H.U.G.S. 4 Childhood Cancer that targets legislative awareness, community awareness and family support for those affected by childhood cancer.
The 2025 Alumni Senior Award winners are Chandni Bhat from Kingsport, Tennessee, majoring in chemistry and mathematics; Preston Ewing from Memphis, Tennessee, majoring in operations management; Averi Goecks from Austin, Texas, majoring in business management and psychology; Jane “Rolland” Grady from Metairie, Louisiana, majoring in political science; Kate Herndon from Newburyport, Massachusetts, majoring in criminal justice and history; Yonathan Janka from Kingsport, Tennessee, majoring in microbiology; Kenneth Kelly from McDonough, Georgia, majoring in news media; Teegan Mathey from Oswego, Illinois, majoring in environmental science; Matt Savas from Elgin, Illinois, majoring in political science; and Christian Stephens from Arlington, Tennessee, majoring in psychology and criminal justice.
The new Executive Committee members are Marianne Russell, NAA President; Carol Sprayberry, President-Elect; Stephen Eberhart, District 2 Vice President; Amy Grice, District 3 Vice President; William “Zac” Riddle, District 4 Vice President; Jonathan Garner, District 6 Vice President; Allyson Outlaw, District 14 Vice President; Alan Johnston, Region 3 Vice President; and Ann Kaesermann, Region 5 Vice President.
The University of Alabama National Alumni Association Executive Committee is made up of the president, president-elect, past president, executive secretary, treasurer, 16 district vice presidents within the state of Alabama and six regional vice presidents across the country. The officers on the executive committee are elected for three-year terms during Alumni Weekend every year. The executive committee works with the Alumni Office to approve the operating budget and carry out the programming and policies of the Alumni Association. The executive committee plays a vital role in ensuring the success of the association across the country, and members dedicate considerable amounts of time and effort to its initiatives.