- November 5th, 2025
- in News
National Alumni Association celebrates 2025 Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Awards
[TUSCALOOSA, Ala.] — The University of Alabama National Alumni Association recognized the recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Awards at a reception at the University Club on Nov. 4, 2025. The 2025 OCTA recipients are Dr. Sriram Aaleti, Dr. Patrick A. Frantom, Dr. Heather Ashley Hayes and Dr. Kagendo Mutua.
Dr. Sriram Aaleti is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering at UA. He earned his BTech in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, followed by MS and PhD degrees in civil engineering from Iowa State University. Dr. Aaleti’s research addresses the durability and safety of structures under natural hazards, contributing to U.S. building codes and improving industry practices. He has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Faculty Excellence Award for Undergraduate Education from UA’s College of Engineering, two Faculty Excellence in Graduate Education Awards in 2022 and 2025, and the 2024 Donald H. McLean Civil Engineering Professor of the Year Award.
Dr. Patrick Frantom is a professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at The University of Alabama. He earned a BS in biochemistry from Louisiana State University in 1999 and a PhD in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University in 2005, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Dr. Frantom’s unique approach to teaching and research helps students better understand health and disease at the molecular level. Since arriving at UA, he has secured more than $3.5 million in external research funding. His contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the UA Provost’s Assessment Award for Outstanding Program Assessment in 2017 and selection as a Distinguished Teaching with Technology Fellow in 2014.
Dr. Heather Ashley Hayes is an associate professor at The University of Alabama, where she directs the University’s largest PhD program in the College of Communication and Information Sciences. She holds a PhD in communication studies from the University of Minnesota and a graduate degree in neuroscience from Harvard University. Her work deepens understanding of how the brain shapes learning and how accessibility drives innovation. Dr. Hayes is the recipient of the 2023 National Communication Association Donald Ecroyd Award for Outstanding Teaching in Higher Education and the 2024 Southern States Communication Association John I. Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award. She is a finalist for the 2025 National Brain Tumor Society Quality of Life Research grant.
Dr. Kagendo Mutua is a professor of special education, co-founder and executive director of the nationally accredited CrossingPoints Program, and director of the office of international programs in the College of Education. She earned her PhD in special education from Kent State University, an MS in special education from Clarion University, and a BEd in secondary education from Kenyatta University. Since joining The University of Alabama in 2001, she has led transformative efforts to strengthen teacher preparation for serving youth with significant disabilities. Dr. Mutua’s contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the E. Rogers Sayers Distinguished Service Award and the McCrory Faculty Excellence Award for Service. Her work embodies UA’s enduring commitment to transforming lives through education.
The NAA honors four exceptional faculty members each year with the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. It is the Capstone’s highest honor for excellence in 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. Nominations are accepted from alumni, faculty and students, with the selection committee composed of the same.
The photo attached is from the OCTA reception on Nov. 4, 2025, with recipients left to right: Dr. Patrick A. Frantom, Dr. Sriram Aaleti, Dr. Heather Ashley Hayes and Dr. Kagendo Mutua.
The National Alumni Association is a self-governed, nonprofit membership-based organization that serves The University of Alabama and its many alumni, students, parents, friends and fans.