TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences presented the annual Jack Davis Professional Achievement Awards during recent homecoming activities on campus.
This year’s honorees include Erika Baranek, Matthew Barber, Emily Wilson Barton, Brandon Booth, Michelle Carney, Kira Goodwin, Ellen Hunter, Cherie Moman, Ambre Rypien, Justin Smith and Jeffery Sumter.
The Jack Davis awards are presented to outstanding CHES alumni for their professional accomplishments. The awards have been given out since 1986, and are named to honor the first man to graduate from the College with a degree in nutrition, Dr. Lewis Clifton “Jack” Davis, Jr.
Honored for outstanding professional achievement in sports business management, Erika Baranek, of Atlanta, Ga., serves as the event producer for Arthur M. Blank Sports + Entertainment. She collaborates all game day operations and events for Atlanta United Football Club soccer and Atlanta Falcons football teams. Baranek earned a B.A. in Communication & Information Sciences in 2012 and an M.S. in Sport Management in 2014 from The University of Alabama.
Matthew Barber, of Huntsville, Ala., works as the Estee Lauder portfolio field executive for Northwest Alabama. He oversees the financial plan of a $13 million business where he recruits, develops and coaches talent for the company. Barber earned his B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences from The University of Alabama in 2006, majoring in apparel and textiles. Barber was honored for success in the area of fashion retailing.
Emily Wilson Barton, of Birmingham, Ala., holds degrees in both the undergraduate and graduate hospitality management programs at The University of Alabama. She serves as corporate sales manager for The Winfrey Hotel. In her role with the hotel, she is tasked with creating high level guest satisfaction, generating revenue and room nights, and networking in the Birmingham community. Barton was honored for outstanding achievement in hospitality management.
Brandon Booth, of Birmingham, Ala., is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), personal trainer, founder of Benchmark Nutrition and co-owner Helena Health Club. Through Benchmark Nutrition, Brandon and his team counsel clients on nutrition for sports performance and health. Brandon received his B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from The University of Alabama and went on to earn his M.S. in Sports/Clinical Nutrition from Florida State University. Booth was honored for his achievements in the field of nutrition.
Michelle Carney, of Birmingham, Ala., has worked for the accounting firm of Kassouf & Co. for 18 years where she specializes in investments and education, insurance, retirement and estate planning. In 1999, she was awarded a B.S. in Accounting and the following year, she earned a B.S. in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning, both from The University of Alabama. Carney was honored for outstanding professional achievement in consumer sciences.
Kira Goodwin, of Birmingham, Ala., is a CIDA-accredited interior designer and serves as the senior hospitality interior designer for Peggy Dye & Associates. She works on multimillion-dollar new construction and renovation projects with hotel owners, property management groups and others. Goodwin completed her B.S. in Interior Design at The University of Alabama in 2011. Goodwin was honored for her achievements in the field of interior design.
Ellen Hunter, of New York, NY, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2003 with a B.S in Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design. An entrepreneur with her own company since 2010, Ellen Hunter NYC, features an eclectic selection of handmade headpieces that have been worn by celebrities including Beyoncé and Ariana Grande. Hunter was recognized for her success in apparel design.
Cherie Moman, of Tuscaloosa, is a two-time graduate of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, holding a B.S. in Consumer Affairs and an M.S. in Interactive Technology. She is the director of education, marketing & communications for the Alabama Center for Real Estate. In addition, Moman teaches the technology course for the Graduate REALTOR Institute. Moman was honored for outstanding achievements in interactive technology.
Ambre Rypien, of Baltimore, Md., is a 2011 graduate of The University of Alabama, who serves as senior manager of corporate social responsibility for T. Rowe Price. Rypien develops strategic relationships with community partners and works to engage corporate partners and business units in promoting programs that make an impact on a regional level. She was recognized for professional achievement in the area of human development and family studies.
Justin Smith, of Raleigh, N.C, has served as the head football athletic trainer at North Carolina State University since 2014 where he manages sports medicine operations for a 115 player NCAA Division I football program. He earned a B.S. in Biology in 1998 and an M.A. in Health Studies with a concentration in Sport Medicine Health Care in 2002 from The University of Alabama. Smith was honored for professional achievement in athletic training.
Jeffery Sumter, of College Park, Md., serves as a health services officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) and holds the rank of lieutenant commander. Dr. Sumter received awards for his role in leading an investigative effort to determine if a food additive was the causative agent of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. His efforts contributed to saving countless babies. Sumter earned his B.S. in Kinesiology from Georgia State University in 2002, an M.A. in Health Studies from The University of Alabama in 2009, and his Doctor of Public Health from the University of South Florida in 2018. He was honored for outstanding professional achievement in the area of health science.
This year’s honorees include Erika Baranek, Matthew Barber, Emily Wilson Barton, Brandon Booth, Michelle Carney, Kira Goodwin, Ellen Hunter, Cherie Moman, Ambre Rypien, Justin Smith and Jeffery Sumter.
The Jack Davis awards are presented to outstanding CHES alumni for their professional accomplishments. The awards have been given out since 1986, and are named to honor the first man to graduate from the College with a degree in nutrition, Dr. Lewis Clifton “Jack” Davis, Jr.
Honored for outstanding professional achievement in sports business management, Erika Baranek, of Atlanta, Ga., serves as the event producer for Arthur M. Blank Sports + Entertainment. She collaborates all game day operations and events for Atlanta United Football Club soccer and Atlanta Falcons football teams. Baranek earned a B.A. in Communication & Information Sciences in 2012 and an M.S. in Sport Management in 2014 from The University of Alabama.
Matthew Barber, of Huntsville, Ala., works as the Estee Lauder portfolio field executive for Northwest Alabama. He oversees the financial plan of a $13 million business where he recruits, develops and coaches talent for the company. Barber earned his B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences from The University of Alabama in 2006, majoring in apparel and textiles. Barber was honored for success in the area of fashion retailing.
Emily Wilson Barton, of Birmingham, Ala., holds degrees in both the undergraduate and graduate hospitality management programs at The University of Alabama. She serves as corporate sales manager for The Winfrey Hotel. In her role with the hotel, she is tasked with creating high level guest satisfaction, generating revenue and room nights, and networking in the Birmingham community. Barton was honored for outstanding achievement in hospitality management.
Brandon Booth, of Birmingham, Ala., is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), personal trainer, founder of Benchmark Nutrition and co-owner Helena Health Club. Through Benchmark Nutrition, Brandon and his team counsel clients on nutrition for sports performance and health. Brandon received his B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from The University of Alabama and went on to earn his M.S. in Sports/Clinical Nutrition from Florida State University. Booth was honored for his achievements in the field of nutrition.
Michelle Carney, of Birmingham, Ala., has worked for the accounting firm of Kassouf & Co. for 18 years where she specializes in investments and education, insurance, retirement and estate planning. In 1999, she was awarded a B.S. in Accounting and the following year, she earned a B.S. in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning, both from The University of Alabama. Carney was honored for outstanding professional achievement in consumer sciences.
Kira Goodwin, of Birmingham, Ala., is a CIDA-accredited interior designer and serves as the senior hospitality interior designer for Peggy Dye & Associates. She works on multimillion-dollar new construction and renovation projects with hotel owners, property management groups and others. Goodwin completed her B.S. in Interior Design at The University of Alabama in 2011. Goodwin was honored for her achievements in the field of interior design.
Ellen Hunter, of New York, NY, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2003 with a B.S in Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design. An entrepreneur with her own company since 2010, Ellen Hunter NYC, features an eclectic selection of handmade headpieces that have been worn by celebrities including Beyoncé and Ariana Grande. Hunter was recognized for her success in apparel design.
Cherie Moman, of Tuscaloosa, is a two-time graduate of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, holding a B.S. in Consumer Affairs and an M.S. in Interactive Technology. She is the director of education, marketing & communications for the Alabama Center for Real Estate. In addition, Moman teaches the technology course for the Graduate REALTOR Institute. Moman was honored for outstanding achievements in interactive technology.
Ambre Rypien, of Baltimore, Md., is a 2011 graduate of The University of Alabama, who serves as senior manager of corporate social responsibility for T. Rowe Price. Rypien develops strategic relationships with community partners and works to engage corporate partners and business units in promoting programs that make an impact on a regional level. She was recognized for professional achievement in the area of human development and family studies.
Justin Smith, of Raleigh, N.C, has served as the head football athletic trainer at North Carolina State University since 2014 where he manages sports medicine operations for a 115 player NCAA Division I football program. He earned a B.S. in Biology in 1998 and an M.A. in Health Studies with a concentration in Sport Medicine Health Care in 2002 from The University of Alabama. Smith was honored for professional achievement in athletic training.
Jeffery Sumter, of College Park, Md., serves as a health services officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) and holds the rank of lieutenant commander. Dr. Sumter received awards for his role in leading an investigative effort to determine if a food additive was the causative agent of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. His efforts contributed to saving countless babies. Sumter earned his B.S. in Kinesiology from Georgia State University in 2002, an M.A. in Health Studies from The University of Alabama in 2009, and his Doctor of Public Health from the University of South Florida in 2018. He was honored for outstanding professional achievement in the area of health science.
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