She is active in her community, serving as a member of both the Montgomery Alabama Public Schools Official Site Board and on the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club. Jannah is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Alabama, and was selected as the Girl Scouts Leading Woman in 2018.

Jannah and her husband, retired Family Court Judge Bob Bailey, reside in Montgomery and have two sons and five grandchildren.

Dr. Whatley specializes in medieval art and architecture, and has a particular interest in crusade and pilgrimage visual culture in Gothic England. Early in her academic career, she realized what a large role international travel would play in her research. In 2017, she was able to return to one of her favorite destinations in the UK with a group of AUM students. Whatley reflected on the trip, “I had the unique opportunity to introduce them to all my favorite medieval sites from York Minster to King’s College Chapel and even managed to get them punting on the River Cam!”

Dr. Whatley earned a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University where she focused on Greek Art; a Masters degree in Art History with a focus on Medieval and Islamic art from University of Toronto; and a PhD from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Art History with a focus on Byzantine and Medieval art.

As part of the workshop, Hard presented information about working with LGBTQ clients regarding disaster intervention.

“I was delighted to receive this award under my professional division,” said Hard, who is president of ALGBTICAL. “The pandemic workshop offered by ALGBTICAL was a highly timely and significant contribution to the counseling field. Being able to provide this training during such trying times is an honor.”

The Alabama Counseling Association Program Award is given annually to recognize an ALCA chapter, division or affiliate that provides an outstanding, “unique and/or superior program(s) for its members.” ALCA presents the award to the chapter, division or affiliate president.

Hard said his group’s workshop was originally envisioned to address the needs for community and support of LGBTQ clients in the isolation of the pandemic, as well as addressing the traumatic echoes of the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s within the community. However, due to the more recent unfolding spectacle of violence against the black community, the workshop’s subject was broadened to encompass the impact of racial injustice, violence, and social justice, he said.

“Despite the stress of our current times, relatively few workshops have been offered through Alabama Counseling Association divisions that are particular to the pandemic and to the recent racial violence and unrest,” he said.

ALGBTICAL’s summer workshop featured internationally known speakers, including Physician Nick Van Wagoner, a specialist in infectious diseases who presented on the historic impact of both AIDS and the current pandemic on the LGBTQ community.

Workshop attendees included counseling professionals from Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia and California, as well as graduate and post-graduate students to encourage professional involvement and growth.

“This virtual program was offered to counselors at the height of both the COVID pandemic and also the fight for racial justice during the past year,” Hard said. “The pandemic has particular resonance with the LGBT community in light of the historic AIDS epidemic. Likewise, the fight for social justice has a long history with the community. Offering this training to provide tools for counselors and opening insights was tremendously important. “

Original: AUM Newsroom

Miller said the university’s mission and vision appealed to him and thanked the president, search committee, cabinet and Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve as the enrollment vice president.

“Winthrop has an inspiring past, a dynamic present, and is poised for a prosperous future,” he said. “I am excited to be a new campus partner and join the creative and talented team of colleagues at the university.”

Miller brings to Winthrop more than 18 years of knowledge in strategic enrollment management, admissions, recruitment and marketing, and financial aid awarding and leveraging strategies in regional higher education. He has led enrollment and marketing plans that have grown undergraduate enrollment by over 15 percent at LaGrange College with growth in graduate programs exceeding 80 percent.

Miller has been LaGrange’s enrollment vice president since 2016. He oversees the offices of College Access & Admissions, and Financial Aid & Affordability. From 2012 to 2016 he was the institution’s dean of enrollment. He also previously served at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a regular presenter, contributor, and researcher to articles and workshops on enrollment management and involving partnerships in student recruitment and retention.

Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Austin Peay State University and a master of liberal arts from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2011. He is currently enrolled in Vanderbilt’s Peabody College doctoral program in leadership and learning in organizations.

The university conducted a national search for the vice president, choosing Miller from a broad applicant pool that the search committee narrowed to three finalists. Each finalist interviewed on campus with board members, faculty, staff, students, and administrators from across the university.

Miller will lead the offices of admissions and financial aid, as well as work closely with the academic colleges, communications and marketing, the Graduate School and University College’s retention efforts, among other areas of the university. He will join the president’s cabinet and executive staff.

Original: Winthrop University Newsroom

Keynote speaker: Tim Ragland ’17

Timothy L. Ragland became mayor of the City of Talladega in a history-making runoff election on November 4, 2019. Mayor Ragland defeated the incumbent mayor by a margin of just 23 votes, making him the first African – American and youngest mayor in Talladega in the last century at 29 years old.

A native of Talladega, Alabama, Mayor Ragland is a graduate of Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, Auburn University at Montgomery, and Marion Military Institute. Mayor Ragland served for eight years in the United States Army Reserve as a military policeman.

In his first year in office, Mayor Ragland has successfully led Talladega during the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, an economic crisis, catastrophic weather, and vitriolic political discourse. Despite these unique trials, Mayor Ragland advances a community-centered plan that addresses the city’s most urgent issues and puts Talladega on course to reach its fullest potential.

He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mayor Ragland and his life partner Chelsea are the proud parents of one daughter.

When was the last time you updated your estate plans? You can protect your loved ones and have a lasting impact on future generations by including Auburn University at Montgomery in your estate plans.

A gift through your will or living trust is one of the easiest ways to create a legacy at AUM. It can help you save taxes while also accomplishing your philanthropic goals and enhancing the mission of AUM.

For additional information about making a planned gift or to notify Auburn University at Montgomery that you have included the university in your will or estate plan, contact the Office of Advancement by emailing [email protected] or calling (334) 244-3560.

Jennifer Williamson ’14

Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Jennifer Williamson to the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee. The committee assists in the state’s economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investments in Texas.

Williamson of Southlake is General Counsel at Textron Systems. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and a volunteer for George W. Bush Presidential Center Military Service Initiative and North Texas Nadadores. Additionally, she served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. Williamson received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver College of Law, and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Jason Deluca ’08

Jason Deluca was named a 2021 Top 40 Under 40 by the Birmingham Business Journal.

Deluca is a hotelier and currently serves as general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn & Home2 Suites by Hilton Hotels in downtown Birmingham. He joined LBA Hospitality in 2007. Since then, he has assisted in opening multiple hotels, stabilized staffing across the company, and collaborated on community initiatives.

Nour ElBadawy ’20

Nour ElBadawy was just named a young Alabama entrepreneur to watch by the Birmingham Business Journal in its Alabama Inno Inaugural Under 25 Class.

ElBadawy is 2020 graduate of AUM’s graphic design program. She has sought out freelance design and fundraising opportunities in Egypt, Mexico, Spain and the U.S. and is fluent in Arabic, French, Spanish and English. In Egypt, ElBadawy engaged with a client in her graduation final project to create a new identity and a multidimensional campaign for an eyewear company.