Author: Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and "playing with words" to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.

All-Steinway Concert Set for March 10 at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile will celebrate its 6th anniversary as an All-Steinway School with a concert featuring students performing on the celebrated pianos.

The All-Steinway Concert program includes classical, romantic and contemporary music performed by undergraduate and graduate students majoring in piano performance. The free concert will be held Thursday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at Moorer Auditorium in Thomas T. Martin Hall on campus.

Steinway Artist Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva, director of piano studies and professor of music, said the concert is an opportunity for audience members to experience the exceptional sound that talented students can create using pianos widely considered to be among the best in the world.

“Being an official All-Steinway School is not only a dedication to a commitment of excellence, but it provides the world’s best instruments for student and faculty. Our All-Steinway Concert is a celebration of our students and a thank you to donors who helped make this evening possible,” Onalbayeva said.

The University of Mobile earned the All-Steinway designation in 2016 after the “All Steinway, All Together” campaign raised funds to update the university’s inventory of aging pianos. Now, 90 percent of the university’s pianos, from practice room to recital hall, are designed by Steinway & Sons.

Works by Haydn, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Chopin and Babajanian will be performed. Pianists include freshmen Lauren Stanford and Marc Marquis, sophomores William Farris and Lily Caswell, juniors Luke Killam and Rebecca Reed, senior Conrad Erskine and Master of Music student Gaukhar Kenessova.

For a list of upcoming concerts and theatrical performances in the Performing Arts Series, go to umobile.edu/pas. To learn about bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in the Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile, visit umobile.edu/asota or call 251.442.2383.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with UM Biology Professor Randy Craig

by Kathy Dean

Dr. Randy Craig is passionate about passing on the knowledge and experience he gained from over three decades in the medical field. As director of the University of Mobile’s nationally accredited gross anatomy lab, he says there’s no substitute for the hands-on learning it provides the pre-med students he mentors.

He says UM’s cadaver lab one of less than 10 in the nation where undergraduate students can train on actual human specimens – something most students must wait until medical school to experience.

Craig’s years in veterinary medicine help him prepare students for the challenges they will face in medical school and, later, in practice. He knows you have to be smart and tough to succeed in medicine – something this certified private pilot experienced in his first careers as a thoroughbred jockey and champion bull-rider and steer-roper.

Q: What is your medical background?

A: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Science in General Medicine, in private practice for 30 years and an orthopedic surgeon for 25 years. My particular area of interest and special training was in veterinary orthopedic surgery and equine nutrition.

Q: Why did you decide to become a veterinarian?

A: I grew up in rural farm and ranch areas of Texas and have been involved extensively with animals my entire life. After high school, I was on the rodeo circuit, then rode thoroughbreds. After getting banged up a lot – I went to the hospital to see my daughter being born and had both arms taped to my body because of two broken shoulder blades – I decided it was time to do something different.

Q: What courses do you typically teach in the College of Arts and Sciences?

A; My favorite to teach is anatomy and physiology. I also teach genetics, microbiology, general physiology and human gross anatomy.

Q: How does UM’s pre-med program prepare students for medical school?

A: Whether pre-med students are aimed at careers as physicians, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians or researchers, our faculty and curriculum will prepare them accordingly. Medicine is medicine. Whichever way you then specialize it on the other end is where it changes.

Q: UM offers “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.” What does that mean to you?

A: We all are gifted by God with special or particular talents. We are to use those talents or skills for God’s purposes.

Q: What is something your students might be surprised to know about you?

A: I was on the rodeo circuit awhile after high school. I won the All-Around award several times for bull riding and steer roping. Later I got into riding thoroughbreds, starting out as a warm-up rider, then became a jockey. I could wear a helmet and hold my saddle and weigh less than 120 pounds back then. I traveled around riding for various owners and earned my pilot’s license to make traveling quicker. After I won the Raton Thoroughbred Derby in New Mexico, I decided to change course and started college.

Historian Jonathan Bass to Deliver 17th Hinson Lecture at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – Dr. Jonathan Bass, professor of history and university historian at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, will deliver a lecture titled “Because Injustice is Here: Martin Luther King and the Letter from Birmingham Jail” as this year’s installment of the University of Mobile’s Billy G. Hinson Lecture Series.

Bass will discuss his re-released book, “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Martin Luther King, Jr., Eight White Religious Leaders and the ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail,’” that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

The talk will be held Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in Dorsett Auditorium on the University of Mobile campus as part of the university’s observance of Black History Month. The program is free and open to the public.

Bass received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham as well as a Ph.D. in history from the University of Tennessee.

In addition to his nominated book, Bass is the author of the New York Times-featured “He Calls Me by Lightning: A Saga of Jim Crow, Southern Justice, and the Death Penalty.”  His forthcoming book, “From Every Stormy Wind That Blows: The Idea of Howard College and the Origins of Samford University,” will be published by LSU Press in 2023.

Reared in Birmingham’s industrial suburb of Fairfield, Alabama, Bass is a frequent speaker on race, religion and culture and was recognized by the National Urban League with an Interracial Friendship Award. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, three children, and a dog named Ham.

The Billy G. Hinson Series was established by the University of Mobile College of Arts and Sciences to present academic programs dealing with major topics in American history. The series is named in honor of the late Dr. Billy Hinson who was a history professor at the university. For more information, contact Dr. Matthew Downs, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at 251.442.2588 or mdowns@umobile.edu.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in over 90 areas of study. Founded in 1961, University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with UM School of Nursing Professor Jessica Garner

by Kathy Dean

There is an “aha!” moment that graduate students experience in the University of Mobile’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, says School of Nursing assistant professor and clinical coordinator Dr. Jessica Garner, DNP, FNP-C, CNE.

“At some point in each student’s trajectory, they have that ‘aha!’ moment where they realize what it means to step out of their role as nurse and into their new role of provider. Watching those moments is my favorite part of teaching,” she says.

Garner teaches in the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, with tracks for BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner and Post-Master’s to DNP.

Both online graduate programs in the College of Health Professions begin each fall semester and include on-campus intensives using cutting-edge technology in UM’s Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice.

We spoke with Garner about her own journey from nurse to nurse educator, and what it means to teach nursing at this Christ-centered university.

Q. What is your background?

A. My background consists of inpatient care within local hospitals in my hometown of Mobile. I began my nursing career in the neurological intensive care unit after graduating with my BSN from Springhill College in 2010. I worked in other critical care units prior to graduating from University of Alabama at Birmingham with my MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner degree in 2014. I continued to work in the inpatient setting as a nurse practitioner for a pulmonary and critical care group as I worked to complete my doctorate degree. My doctoral research was focused on evaluating approaches to transitional care in an effort to reduce rehospitalizations. I completed by Doctor of Nursing Practice degree along with graduate courses in nursing education in 2018 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with the goal of pursuing a career in academia post-graduation.

Q. What do you enjoy about teaching?

A. I teach many courses in both the Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. My greatest joy and privilege is in serving my Family Nurse Practitioner students. I teach these students in each semester they are in the program, and watching them grow and evolve into competent and confident providers is truly rewarding.

Q. Why should someone choose a graduate nursing program at UM?

A. Choosing a graduate program in nursing is an opportunity to find an institution, program and faculty that can help the individual student achieve his or her specific advanced career goals. The University of Mobile graduate nursing programs offer didactic and clinical preparation to serve as an advanced practice provider, while also instilling Christian values and morals that aid students in navigating the complex health care landscape.

Q&A with UM Philosophy Professor T. J. Mashburn

by Kathy Dean

The most important reason one should study philosophy is this: it asks all of the big questions and even attempts to provide answers. Answers, however, are not its strength, says Dr. Ted Mashburn, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Mobile.

“A great question is better than a great answer because questions keep thinking going, while answers tend to mitigate thinking. Thinking provides food for the mind,” Mashburn says.

From “Introduction to Philosophy” to “God, Evil, and Suffering,” Dr. Mashburn’s classes challenge students to ask the big questions. It makes for a high-energy environment – “I love all my classes because I love great books, great ideas and non-comatose students,” Mashburn says with a smile.

We asked UM’s popular humanities professor why he has taught at this Christ-centered university over 36 years, and how the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy prepares graduates to succeed anywhere.

Q: Why should someone choose to study Philosophy?

A: The study of philosophy is about thinking…critical thinking, thinking that continues to question until answers are found or it is found that answers elude us…for the present. Critical thinking is a major component of our modern world. Companies will hire employees and will train them to do certain jobs. What companies can’t or seldom are able to do is to teach employees how to think…think critically, creatively, and comprehensively. That is what college, in general, and philosophy, in particular, are designed to do. So, if you are interested in a job/career, philosophy can help prepare you.

Q: What do you like most about the University of Mobile?

A: The people. People who work at UM love to help others; they go out of their way to do that very thing. I have been the recipient of such help on many, many occasions. I would like to think that I offer it also. That is the culture of this institution.

Q: We say UM is a place where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you?

A: Knowing, to me, is about coming to understand who we are in relation to God, others and the world. This “self-knowledge” is fundamental, because knowing our strengths, weaknesses, aspirations and faith prepares us for life.

Q: What does “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose” mean to you?

A: At UM, we attempt to address the whole person, the mental, physical and spiritual elements that make up human nature. Our mission is not just about academic and professional preparation, it is also about addressing the spiritual “itch” that is within us all.

Q: What is something you are passionate about?

A: I’m passionate about life…and not just my life; I’m really interested in the lives of others…what people think, believe and are doing with their lives. One of my greatest joys is to see students develop. I want them all to find themselves and their callings in life. That is not easy and sometimes wrong turns are taken, failure happens and revision is required. That, by the way, is not necessarily bad…it is life. I’m happy to be a part of that and to engage students on that journey. 

Q: Outside of class, what are some of your interests?

A: Tennis, basketball, football…I’m a sports nut. I learned discipline from sports and that discipline carried over to the classroom and took me through graduate school.

Q: You mentioned grad school. What is your educational background?

A: Oxford University, Doctor of Philosophy; Edinburgh University, Master of Theology; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity; and Livingston University (now University of West Alabama) Bachelor of Arts. I stayed in academics as a student for a long time. Why? Because I love it!!!……still do. That is why I never left.

Q: Any final thoughts?

A. Try harder things…and go easy on yourself. We are not as bad as we think and probably not as good as we hope. God loves and accepts us even before we love and accept God. That, by the way, is my understanding of the gospel.

The Remembrance Christmas Tree Tradition Tells UM Stories

by Kathy Dean

The Christmas tree in the foyer of Weaver Hall is more than a sign of the season at the University of Mobile.  This tree tells a story – many stories – about the University of Mobile and the men and women whose commitment and dedication to thousands of students have made this university great.

The Remembrance Tree was first introduced to campus in 1966 by Mrs. Annie Boyd Parker Weaver, wife of founding president Dr. William K. Weaver Jr. The university, then called Mobile College, was only three years old, and Mrs. Weaver felt something was needed to bring the young campus together. That idea becomes The Remembrance Tree. This Christmas symbol would be decorated with ornaments placed there by members of the college faculty and administrative staff. Over the years, additional ornaments were added to mark events in the lives of faculty and staff such as the birth of a child, the completion of a degree, an honor bestowed, or a special achievement. With Dr. Weaver’s retirement in 1984, the tradition ended.

The Remembrance Tree tradition was revived in 1989 by Dr. Audrey Eubanks, then vice president for academic affairs. Over the years, unique ornaments have made their appearance on The Remembrance Tree as faculty and staff continue to find creative ways to mark their area of expertise or service at the Christian university.

The annual Remembrance Tree lighting occurs just before students leave campus for the Thanksgiving break. Christmas music and Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits add to the festive atmosphere as students, joined by faculty and staff, decorate the tree.

The individual ornaments placed on The Remembrance Tree symbolize the individual beauty of each person created by God. When these ornaments are gathered together on a simple tree, the result is a reminder of the impact that can be made when God’s people join together for a common purpose – Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.

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60 Things We Love About the University of Mobile (Part 1)

by Kathy Dean

Why do students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of UM love the University of Mobile?

To celebrate our Diamond Anniversary (that’s 60 years since our founding as Mobile College on Dec. 12, 1961!) we asked a few of our 14,000+ graduates, over 1,500 students, and faculty/staff past and present, to help us compile a list of 60 things they love about this Christ-centered university. That’s a long list, so we divided it up into three parts.

Here’s Part 1 – what they said, in no particular order, with a few links to related stories. What would you add to the list?

  1. Focus Fridays (classes Mondays – Thursdays only)
  2. Intentional faculty who care about you https://umobile.edu/news/university-of-mobile-student-shout-outs-show-strength-of-campus-community/
  3. 1 hour to the beach!
  4. Project Serve brings the whole campus together to serve our community https://umobile.edu/news/project-serve-brings-people-together/
  5. Our mascot, Mac the Ram, is the best! https://umobile.edu/news/why-a-ram-the-story-behind-ums-mascot/
  6. Disc golf course on campus
  7. Small classes where professors know you
  8. Student/Faculty ratio of 13:1
  9. Practical experiences in my major like the Good Work Agency https://umobile.edu/news/good-work-agency-offers-university-of-mobile-students-real-world-marketing-experience/
  10. I love my dorm! https://umobile.edu/news/university-of-mobile-ranks-1-best-college-dorms-in-alabama-top-20-in-nation/
  11. “I cherish the environment that the University of Mobile has and the ability for students to come together from around the world to gain a Christ-centered education. It not only brings light to the purpose God has for us individually, but it also connects us with others that have the same goal of spreading the gospel.” Tye Jordan, senior, Grace Pilot School of Business https://umobile.edu/academics/school-of-business/
  12. President’s Commissioning ceremony for new students https://umobile.edu/news/university-of-mobile-welcomes-students-with-presidents-commissioning/
  13. UM is missions-focused https://umobile.edu/giving/university-of-mobile-renovates-missionary-house-to-serve-foreign-missionaries/
  14. New online degree programs make it easier to get my degree https://umobile.edu/education/university-of-mobile-online-programs-accepting-applications-for-flexible-and-convenient-degrees/
  15. “I am so thankful to have faculty at my school who are so genuine.” Maddie Bergeron, senior, School of Health and Sports Science https://umobile.edu/news/know-and-be-known-is-real-to-me/
  16. Our new strength training building https://umobile.edu/news/j-l-bedsole-sports-performance-center-opens-at-university-of-mobile/
  17. 5-year master’s degree programs https://umobile.edu/academics/areas-study/
  18. “I love working with faculty, staff and students who profess faith in Christ and strive to know Him more.” Dr. Troy Henderson, mathematics professor, College of Arts and Sciences https://umobile.edu/news/qa-with-um-mathematics-professor-troy-henderson/
  19. The Alabama School of the Arts (ASOTA!) https://asota.umobile.edu/
  20. “We want every student to understand that each job is a sacred calling from God and that He is to be glorified in our work!” Dr. Bob Olsen, director of Intercultural Studies, Center for Christian Calling https://umobile.edu/news/qa-with-um-intercultural-studies-director-bob-olsen/

Q&A with UM School of Education Professor Karen Dennis

by Kathy Dean

A little Mouse was the first of many children’s book characters to come alive that day in the University of Mobile’s Dorsett Auditorium. Mother Goose was there, along with the Big Bad Wolf, the Grumpy Monkey, Obi wan Kenobi and the Cat in the Hat, among many others. It was the UM School of Education’s “Book Talk,” where faculty and students dress as favorite children’s book characters to inspire elementary school children to develop a joy of reading.

UM Associate Professor of Education Karen Dennis, who played the part of the Mouse from the book “If You Give a Mouse a Brownie,” is passionate about early literacy. She encourages her UM School of Education students to develop creative ways to make learning fun for the children they will one day teach.

“Our hope is that the students who watch these book characters come alive are enticed to go find that book to discover for themselves how that character solved their particular dilemma,” Dennis explains. It’s just one of the ways the Christian university provides School of Education students with experiences they can take into their future classrooms.

Dennis also serves as co-director of UM’s Center for Collaborative Teaching and Learning. We asked her what she loves about teaching at the University of Mobile.

Q: How does UM prepare the next generation of teachers?

A: I love the way we in the School of Education have structured our programs. We all keep current with what new trends or initiatives are taking place in the various education classrooms. Whether it is Pre-K, elementary or secondary, we all strive to keep our course content and field experiences relevant and up-to-date with current research. In my literacy courses, the content is all focused around the science of reading, making our future teachers the most prepared they can be to be effective teachers of all things literacy!

Q: What is your background?

A: I graduated from University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 1991. After teaching first grade a few years, I decided to pursue a master’s degree. I earned my master’s at Harding University in 1999. It wasn’t until 2011 that I decided I wanted to continue my education, so I chose to pursue a PhD in Cognition and Instruction.

Q: What was your dissertation topic?

A: My dissertation is about a topic I am truly passionate about – early literacy. Specifically, I researched kindergarten teachers’ perspectives on keeping developmentally appropriate practices of literacy instruction in kindergarten while complying with Common Core State Standards implementation. I try to infuse some of what I discovered about how children learn into all of the courses I teach. 

Q: We say UM is a place where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you? 

A: There is no better mantra for our students than “Know and Be Known.” First, we work diligently to ensure our students know all there is to know about their chosen field of study, and how to apply that knowledge, which leads to the second part – Be Known. Our goal is for our students to be known for excellence in their field. But we don’t stop there. Our students are also known for their integrity, work ethic and compassionate hearts. Even those who don’t label what they see as “Christian” see something special in our students. To me, that’s what it means to Know and Be Known.

Q&A with UM School of Education Dean Dr. Ashley Milner

by Kathy Dean

During the first four years of life, a child’s brain develops faster than at any other time in their life. That’s why teaching young children, beginning with birth, is the most important thing we can do as parents and teachers, says Dr. Ashley Milner, associate professor of education and dean of the School of Education at the University of Mobile.

“We must educate society on the value of caregivers and teachers who work with young children and elevate these careers,” Milner says. She does this by preparing college students at the University of Mobile to become the teachers that young children need in order to thrive.

She teaches courses that focus on child and social development, along with courses on methods of teaching math, science and social studies in the elementary school. We asked Milner what it means to teach at a Christian university where students can “Know and Be Known.”

Q: We say UM offers “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose” where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you? 

A:  This means the University of Mobile offers students a comprehensive education that prepares them to serve others as Christ serves us. We encourage all students to be confident in themselves and spread their light to all they encounter. This also means that students are known for their unique personalities and gifts at UM due to our small, family-like campus.

Q: What is your background?

A: I served 27 years with the Baldwin County Public School System in different capacities – first grade teacher, third grade teacher, gifted education specialist and school psychometrist. My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood & Elementary Education from Charleston Southern University. My master’s degree is in Elementary Education from UM. My specialist degree is in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida and my doctorate is in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of West Florida. I also hold certification in Gifted Education and School Psychometry from the University of South Alabama.

Q: What was your dissertation topic?

A: My dissertation focused on the role and responsibilities of school psychologists and psychometrists in the special education identification process. This topic drew my interest because school psychologists and psychometrists play a critical role in the identifying students who are in need of special education services.

Q: What are some benefits of UM’s School of Education programs?

A: Our degree programs in Early Childhood and Elementary Education provide students with hands-on opportunities to work with children in a variety of school settings, beginning in their sophomore year of coursework. Small classes allow professors and instructors to provide students with individual support and mentorship. 

Q: What do you like most about UM?

A: I love that I know my students and have time to mentor them individually as they complete their coursework.

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