USA National Alumni Association Recognizes Outstanding Faculty

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Posted on August 27, 2021

Julie Jackson

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The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association presented its Faculty Excellence Awards and Young Alumni Award during its annual membership meeting on Aug. 26. Five USA faculty members were recognized for their achievements as well as one young alumnus. Additionally, three alumni were elected as new members of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“Each year we have the honor of selecting and recognizing our incredible faculty who are making a positive impact at the University, as well as an alumnus who is emerging as a leader in his or her career and community,” said National Alumni Association Board of Directors President, Jim Moore. 

Newly-elected board members include John Galanos, Mary Beth Massey and Mike Odair. Galanos graduated from South in 1980 and is the chief financial officer at Joe Bullard Automotive Group in Mobile. Massey received a bachelor’s degree from South in 2013 and a masters in 2015. She is the marketing director for SoHo Events and Rentals in Fairhope. Odair earned his degree in 2004 and serves as senior vice president of creative for Superjacket Productions in Los Angeles.

The 2021 Faculty Excellence Awards and Young Alumni Award recipients:

Andy and Carol Denny National Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award acknowledges the central role of teaching at USA by recognizing faculty for their outstanding teaching contributions. This year’s recipient is Dr. Stephanie Smallegan, assistant professor, civil, coastal, and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering.

Beth and Don Davis National Alumni Association Excellence in Advising Award acknowledges the importance of advising at USA by annually recognizing faculty and staff for their outstanding advising contributions. This year’s recipient is Nan Young Perez Uribe, director of student services and advising in the College of Engineering. She received a bachelor's degree in 2012 and a master's degree in 2015, both from USA's College of Arts and Sciences.

Olivia Rambo McGlothren National Alumni Outstanding Scholar Award honors faculty for high achievements in the realm of scholarship as appropriate to his or her discipline. This year’s recipient is Dr. Bret Webb, professor of civil, coastal and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering. 

Semoon and Youngshin Chang Endowed Award for Humanitarian Services recognizes outstanding service by a faculty member. This year’s recipient is FeAunté Preyear, Title IX coordinator in the division of student affairs.

National Alumni Association Endowed Award for Faculty Innovation recognizes USA faculty for outstanding achievement in research. This year’s recipient is Dr. Kevin White, professor and chair of the department of civil, coastal and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering.

The Lisa Bethea Kavanagh Young Alumni Award recognizes outstanding achievement for an alumnus age 40 or younger. This year’s recipient is Nicholas Brownlee, a 2012 graduate from the department of music in the College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor of music in voice performance. After graduation Brownlee’s opera career skyrocketed him to stages in some of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Montreal Symphony, the Houston Symphony and the Barbican Center in London. He is currently part of the Badisches Staatstheter Karlsruhe, a theater and opera house in Germany. This summer, Brownlee served a residency with the Sante Fe Opera where he sang Figaro in their production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” 

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