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REcognizing Excellence

3/4/2021

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees has endorsed the appointment of two CHES faculty, Dr. Lizzie Elder and Dr. Robert Nielsen, to named professorships for their excellence in scholarship, research and teaching.

Nielsen, Chair of the Department of Consumer Sciences, has been appointed the inaugural Helen M. Goetz Endowed Professor. This professorship was made possible by the generosity of the late Lieutenant Colonel Marwood H. Goetz and the late Professor Emeritus Helen M. Goetz. Its purpose is to attract or retain a nationally recognized scholar in the Department of Consumer Sciences who will make a difference in the quality of teaching and research in the College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Elder, director of the Athletic Training Program, will become the first Dr. A.E. Maumenee, Jr., Endowed Professor in Athletic Training. Named for the fund donor, this professorship provides support funds to promote faculty excellence in the area of Athletic Training.
The appointments will strengthen the teaching and research efforts of Dr. Elder, Dr. Nielsen and faculty in their respective programs.

Endowed professorships recognize excellence among our individual faculty members but also enhance the quality and reputation of our academic programs. Faculty scholars make significant contributions to the research and teaching missions of the University, and they increase national visibility of our College, which aids in attracting high-caliber faculty, excellent students and external research funding opportunities.

Congratulations to these two deserving faculty members who have excelled in fulfilling the CHES mission of improving lives.

UA HONORS CHES STAFF MEMBER WITH PRESTIGIOUS CAMPUS-WIDE AWARD

10/12/2020

Karen Carpenter, Academic Advisor in Student Services, has been awarded the Dr. Minnie C. Miles Endowed Excellence Award by The University of Alabama. The award, established in 1995, honors non-faculty administrative employees. To be considered for this university-wide award, nominees must have performed in an exemplary manner, above and beyond their normal duties, to further the mission of The University of Alabama. Carpenter fits that bill and this isn’t the first time that she has been recognized for going above and beyond. Last year, she received the CHES Staff Professional Excellence Award for exempt employees.

Carpenter serves the students of CHES as an advisor, but she also works closely with the faculty and their academic departments. As Coordinator of Bama Bound Orientation, she does an outstanding job of collaborating with academic departments to ensure that prospective students are receiving accurate information and personal attention. She also provides training and important information to Avanti students, faculty, and advisors in preparation for the very busy orientation season.

Carpenter voluntarily assumed responsibility to serve at-risk populations of newly admitted students to ensure that they received specialized advising and resources throughout their college career. Although CHES no longer oversees this group, she continues to assist these students in whatever way possible.
Her knowledge and experience regarding registration issues, degree requirements, course offerings, and the graduation process are vital to the College’s success. She has developed a keen understanding of the importance of various policies and procedures. Carpenter also serves as an active member of UA-AAA, an organization that strives to enhance communication to properly support the academic advising community within our University.

For these reasons and many more, The University of Alabama singled out Karen Carpenter for her exemplary service. Those who nominated her for the 2020 Minnie Miles Award said it best.

“Karen works diligently to ensure that students are meeting all program requirements to graduate with their desired major in a timely manner. Most of all, Karen displays a stellar example of what it means to fulfill the CHES mission and ‘empower individuals with knowledge and skills to bring about positive change in our world.’ She continuously strives to improve the lives of others through acts of kindness and practicing a keen work ethic,” said Dr. Jennifer Humber, Director of CHES Student Services.

“Karen is a colleague that is always willing to help out. She goes above and beyond to help her college, other staff members, students, or faculty. As a faculty member, I cannot tell you how many times I have called Karen with a simple question. I can guarantee that at the moment of that call she is swamped. However, Karen is always willing to stop what she is doing and answer my question. She does it because she is a kind person but mostly because she is a staff member who embodies a desire to serve her university and its students,” said Dr. Sherwood Burns-Nader, HDFS faculty.
“She has been a great asset to the University for many years now and continues to exceed expectations on a daily basis. Because of her dedicated work ethic and thoughtful personality, Karen deserves recognition of our sincere appreciation for her continued service to our students, faculty, and staff,” continued Humber.

The award is named for the late Dr. Minnie C. Miles, a long-time professor in the College of Business who served The University of Alabama from 1942 until her retirement in 1978. Miles left a legacy of leadership, civil service, and activism that lives on at the University and beyond.
In 1962, she traveled to Los Angeles where she became president of the Federation of Business and Professional Women, and when President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, Miles stood at his left shoulder. That same year U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara appointed her to the Defense Committee on Women in the Services, and during her tenure on the committee, a bill removing restrictions on promoting women in the military was approved by Congress.

In 2000, The University of Alabama's Board of Trustees issued a resolution on the occasion of Miles’ 90th birthday stating, “. . .this soft-spoken, determined, influential leader, humanitarian, and teacher has affected the lives of decades of students, citizens, and women nationally and internationally. . ."
Like Miles, Karen Carpenter has influenced the lives of students and colleagues in positive ways and she has done so for more than 15 years. CHES is proud to have her on our team, we appreciate her exemplary service and look forward her continuing and dedicated service to the College and its students.

UA’S CHES HONORS ALUMNI WITH JACK DAVIS AWARDS

10/22/2018

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.

Homecoming 2018

10/9/2018

HES DESIGNERS HAD THE EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION AT STATE-WIDE ASID STUDENT CONTEST

9/10/2018

Four interior design students from UA stole the show at the 2018 Daisy Bond Student Design Awards on Friday, Sept.7. Claire Gustafson, Sara Onks, Carly Roberts and Logan Glover won 12 of the coveted awards at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Alabama chapter Impact Celebration in Birmingham.

The celebration was the culmination of a day-long conference that included a product exhibition, educational CEUs in which students participated, a keynote address by Jennifer Quail, Editor-in-Chief of i+D Magazine and a social media talk for students and emerging professionals. Students also had portfolio time to meet with professionals and receive feedback. ASID student chapter faculty advisor, John Peaslee, and instructor, Casey Faulkner, shared the conference experience with HES students.

Congratulations to our hard-working, talented students!

Claire Gustafson (graduate)
- Best of Show
- 1st Place – Design Concept Residential
- 1st Place – Rendering Computer Generated
- 1st Place – Rendering Hand Drawn
- 2nd Place – 3-D Visualization
Sarah Onks (graduate)
- 1st Place – 3-D Visualization
- 3rd Place – Rendering Computer Generated
Carly Roberts (senior)
- 1st Place – Design Concept Commercial
- 3rd Place – Product Design
Logan Glover (junior)
- 3rd Place – Rendering Hand Drawn
- 3rd Place – Design Concept Commercial
- 3rd Place – Design Concept Residential