MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile proudly announces Dr. Veronica Smith Hudson as the recipient of the 2025 Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence, a prestigious award established in 2019 to honor the legacy of Samuel M. Boykin, the university’s first African American graduate. This medal recognizes outstanding African American alumni who exemplify the ideals of virtuosity, faith, and charity that Boykin demonstrated throughout his life.
Hudson, a two-time graduate of the University of Mobile, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1984 and returned to complete her Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2003. Her lifelong dedication to healthcare, education and civic leadership has made a lasting impact on the Mobile community and beyond.
University of Mobile President Charles Smith presented the award.
“All of us here at the University of Mobile are proud to celebrate Dr. Hudson. She has accomplished so much academically, professionally and locally as a member of Saraland’s city council. It is a joy to recognize these accomplishments ,and in doing so, to remind our students of what they can achieve,” Smith said.
A Leader in Nursing
Currently serving as the nurse manager of workforce development at the University of South Alabama University Hospital, Hudson has built an extensive career in nursing leadership, faculty mentorship and community engagement. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice focused on community health, she has dedicated her career to advancing patient care, developing healthcare professionals and improving health outcomes.
A Community Leader
Beyond her professional contributions, Hudson has been an active leader in her community. She has served on the Saraland City Council since 2009 and held leadership roles in the Saraland Chamber of Commerce, Mobile County Municipality Association and Keep Saraland Beautiful. She is deeply involved in church ministries and volunteer initiatives, reinforcing her commitment to service.
Reflecting on this honor, Hudson said, “I am truly humbled to receive the Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence. The University of Mobile played a pivotal role in my personal and professional journey, from my time as a student living on campus to my return for graduate studies. To be recognized by my alma mater in this way is both an honor and a reminder of the incredible mentors, colleagues and students who have shaped my life.”
Click the link to hear what UM and the Boykin Award mean to Dr. Veronica Smith Hudson.
Previous Recipients
Previous recipients of the Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence include:
- 2024: Ronald G. Moore ’02
- 2023: Ira Bates Jr. ’04
- 2022: Treii Pace ’11
- 2021: Dr. Tracey Henry ’02
- 2019: Samuel M. Boykin ’67 (posthumously), accepted by his wife, Ellen Hardiman Boykin
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university with a vision of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,” founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The University of Mobile was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu/um-info, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
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.