March 2025 Newsletter

March 2025 Alumni Newsletter

AUM opens $36 million Science and Technology Complex

Chancellor Stockton and several AU Board of Trustees cut the ribbon in front of the Science and Technology Complex.

Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) celebrated the opening of its new Science & Technology Complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony and guided tours of the 57,000-square-foot facility on Friday, Feb. 7.

The ribbon cutting event was attended by more than 100 faculty members, community leaders, project officials, AUM administrators, and members of the Auburn University (AU) Board of Trustees. The Science & Technology Complex opened to the campus community on the first day of spring classes in January.

“Our new Science & Technology Complex will reshape STEM education for current and future students and significantly enhance AUM’s teaching, research, and outreach capabilities in scientific disciplines,” said AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton.

“We look forward to using spaces in the Science & Technology Complex to support STEM professional development for K-12 educators and to also foster research collaboration between AUM and Auburn University faculty. We now have a top-flight facility for teaching and research.”

Formerly the site of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s State Forensic Lab for over four decades, the new Science & Technology Complex features modern and adaptable classroom, laboratory, and collaborative spaces.

“It’s wonderful to see the vision for this complex come to reality, said Stephen Allen, president of Williams Blackstock Architects of Birmingham, during the ribbon cutting. Allen’s firm also served as the architect for AU’s Horton-Hardgrave Hall graduate business building and AU’s Mell Classroom Building.

“When designing a building of this age, there are a lot of unique spaces that we had to work with that ultimately ended up driving design decisions,” Allen said of AUM’s new Science & Technology Complex. “It’s almost a process of turning lemons into lemonade, but we’re pleased with how this facility turned out.”

Immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony, an open house was held for members of the community, trustees and faculty. Among the stops were new computer labs and classrooms, collaborative workspaces, and laboratories for organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and biochemistry and molecular biology. The tour also included stops in a large research laboratory, where faculty members and students are pursuing research opportunities ranging from cancer to biofuel.

Community members and AUM's faculty and staff gathered for the Science and Technology Complex ribbon cutting ceremony.

The new complex will play a critical role in helping with the recruitment and retention of talented AUM undergraduate and graduate students who will ultimately help meet local, state and regional needs for doctors, researchers, and STEM educators, said AU Trustee At-Large Zeke Smith.

“Those efforts align with the shared vision of Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery to lead and shape the future of higher education,” he said.

The new complex also serves as a reminder of the progression of AUM’s campus over the years.

“When I graduated from Auburn University in 1968, Auburn University at Montgomery’s existence as a campus was still largely conceptual,” said James “Jimmy” Sanford, who serves as Vice President Pro Tempore of the AU Board of Trustees. “The opening of the new Science & Technology Complex represents a game-changer for students and faculty engaged in STEM-focused scholarship and research. More broadly, it builds momentum in strengthening AUM’s role as a leading talent developer and solutions provider for Alabama’s River Region.”

Original article from the AUM News.

Theatre AUM announces production of Blood at the Root

Theatre AUM (Auburn University at Montgomery) announces the production of Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau, directed by award-winning student director Tiara Staples. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays to Saturdays, April 3 to 5 and April 10 to 12, with a final closing performance at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Tiara Staples, the director of Blood at the Root, earned first place for the National Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Directing Initiative at the 2024 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). She was awarded travel support, an invitation to the national festival workshops and performances, and a one-year SDC associate membership. To learn more about her thoughts on directing and production, watch the interview video at Interview with Tiara.

Blood at the Root follows six high school students as they navigate the eruption of prejudice, homophobia, and institutional racism in rural Louisiana. Each character contends with a different aspect of prejudice as they witness a historic injustice in their community.

This production contains mature subject material and language. The play will be performed in the Taylor Center Theatre at AUM. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of OLLI will have FREE admission with presentation of ID. The cost of attendance is as follows:

$5.00: Military & Senior Citizens
$10.00: General Public
Cash or check is accepted

For additional information, contact Faith Roberts at [email protected] or (334)244-3632. Showtimes and dates will be available at www.aum.edu.

About Theatre AUM: By nurturing the art of live theatre, the mission of Theatre AUM is to provide access to comprehensive training in all areas of theatre artistry and to develop a well-rounded, engaged ensemble of emerging arts by developing skills in the classroom and offering an annual season of diverse classical and contemporary productions.

Mike Harner - Executive Director of Lionheart Classical Academy

Mike Harner named new executive director at Lionheart Classical Academy

Mike Harner was named the new executive director of Lionheart Classical Academy charter school in Peterborough, effective November 1, 2024

According to a release from the school’s board of trustees, Harner will serve part-time through the remainder of the academic year before starting full time on July 1, 2025.

Harner has spent nearly 20 years as chief staff officer and assistant to the president at Hillsdale College in Michigan, which licenses Lionheart’s program guide. Referring to the program guide on its website, Lionheart refers to a “classical curriculum is content-rich, balanced, and strong, with emphasis upon the four core disciplines of math, science, literature and history and with attention to music, art, physical education and foreign languages.”

In the role, he coordinated strategic planning, project development and staff development for the college. He also served as a project lead in the creation of the Barney Charter School Initiative, Hillsdale’s K-12 outreach effort of which Lionheart Classical Academy is a curriculum school.

“From the beginning of our search, our board was looking for a leader who embraced LCA’s family-centered culture, had experience leading classical charter educational initiatives and could relate easily and effectively to all within the Lionheart community,” the statement from the board reads. “We were excited when Mike showed interest in the position and came away that much more convinced that he was the ideal candidate after he and his wife visited the school. He’s incredibly well-positioned to help build Lionheart Classical Academy into a thriving K-12 classical public charter school.”

Harner graduated from Hillsdale in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a minor in history. He received a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1996. He served in the Navy from 1982 to 2002 as an aviator flying helicopters and multi-engine transports, reaching the rank of commander. He and his wife Carin, also a 1982 Hillsdale College graduate, are parents of three adult sons and grandparents of five.

“I am incredibly excited to get to work at Lionheart. The school has a dedicated board and group of supporters, a talented faculty and administrative staff, and a keen desire to become a renowned classical charter school in the New England area and nationally. I look forward to partnering with all involved to achieve this goal,” stated Harner.

Save-the-date: Alumni Night at ASF featuring The Wizard of Oz

Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale, in which young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, is a thrill for audiences of all ages.

Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 7:00pm

Email invitation to follow.

AUM Career Development Center offers two Industry-focused Career Fairs

Spring Career Fair - Day One

Come join the Career Development Center on March 12 for our 2025 spring career fairs where employers from the Healthcare, Government, Public Safety & Communications sectors will join us on campus for an industry-focused career fair.

Register for the March 12 career fair.

Wednesday, March 12
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Taylor Center 221 – 223

Spring Career Fair - Day Two

Come join the Career Development Center on April 2 for our 2025 spring career fairs where employers from the Business Administration, Finance, STEM, & Education sectors will join us on campus for an industry-focused career fair.

Register for the April 2 career fair.

Wednesday, April 2
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Taylor Center 221 – 223

Shalom Kim (right) smiles with her sister, Selah Kim (left).

First-year UAB SOD student Shalom Kim is following the example set by her mom and sister

Shalom Kim watched in wonder as her mother, Sophie Kim, completed the American Dream. Sophie Kim immigrated to the United States from her home of South Korea, graduated from dental school in New Jersey, and then opened her own dental practice in Montgomery, Alabama in 2014.

So when it came time for Shalom and her sister, Selah, to pursue their own careers, they both decided to follow their mother’s lead into dentistry. Selah started the D.M.D. program in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (SOD) last year, and Shalom joined her this year after graduating from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2021 with a degree in Biology and Pre-Health Sciences.

“I saw my mom build her own practice from the ground up, and I can’t let that effort go to waste,” Shalom Kim says. “I feel incredibly privileged to have all these opportunities, and I really want to make the most of it.”

Even though she grew up with dentistry all around her, Kim says she initially wasn’t certain whether it would be the best profession for her as well. Over time, however, she says she began to realize how comfortable she is with various facets of the dental field.

“Dentistry combines all my interests into one profession,” Kim says. “I like being able to use my hands and manual dexterity, so it’s within my skillset. I like the social aspect of working directly with patients. And I like being able to do something that helps give back to the community. Dentistry is within my passions and my values in terms of what I want to do with my life.”

Once she determined that dentistry was indeed a profession she wanted to pursue, Kim says it made sense for her to come to UAB, especially after her sister enrolled in the SOD last year.

“Being here allows me to share this journey with her, and my family is nearby in Montgomery,” Kim says. “Plus, every UAB dental student and graduate who I’ve met has spoken so highly about this school. It is a combination of a good education, family and the student atmosphere, which ultimately lead to friends. All that made it a very easy decision to come here.”

Upon her arrival at UAB, Kim quickly integrated herself into campus life by joining several SOD student groups. In addition to being the communications liaison for her SOD Class of 2028, she has similar communications roles for the SOD Student Government Association (SGA), the Asian Dental Student Organization, and the Periodontics Student Interest Group.

“I’ve always had a passion for content creation,” Kim says. “It’s my hobby, so it doesn’t feel like work. I used to run a jewelry business on social media, and I wanted to keep that passion going into dental school. That’s why I decided to apply for these roles.”

“UAB’s highly collaborative atmosphere makes it easy to stay involved in these hobbies. I have plenty of opportunities to design materials for events, support initiatives, and document a lot of these memories that we have. And it’s even better because I get to do it with other students. It’s not like I just go home and do my hobby. This is something that I really enjoy doing anyway, and it’s an opportunity to help students connect and grow together.”

That type of effort is similar to what Kim hopes to do one day as a UAB School of Dentistry graduate. It is, in a way, her version of the American Dream.

“I was born in a position where so much was provided to me, and I’m very thankful for that,” Kim says. “So I don’t want dentistry to be just a career for me. Dentistry is the vessel I want to use to serve the community and contribute to humanitarian efforts. I want it to be bigger than just a career.”

AUM Earns $400,000 National Science Foundation Grant to Strengthen AI Research, Infrastructure

Stock photo of AI inside a lightbulb connected to a power grid.

With the touch of a button, facial recognition, or a voice command, artificial intelligence (AI) can instantly deliver information to a smartphone or detect fraud on a bank account.

As AI continues to transform our tech-driven world, Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) is taking steps to ensure its students are prepared to meet evolving workforce needs by positioning itself at the forefront of AI education and research.

With a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), AUM plans to enhance its AI infrastructure and expand its curriculum and research to meet the growing demand for AI expertise across such disciplines as sciences, engineering, education, environmental science, and health, said Olcay Kursun, assistant professor of computer science and the grant’s principal investigator.

“In light of the growing demand for AI skills across industries, AUM is working to strengthen its AI programming to ensure that its graduates are prepared to thrive in a technology-driven world,” said Kursun, an AI researcher and expert in the Department of Computer Science. “These developments align with the university’s commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding access to AI education for a diverse student body.”

AUM has already built a strong foundation in AI research within the College of Sciences, where faculty and students are using machine learning (ML) and deep learning — two AI areas of study — to conduct research and projects across fields such as bioinformatics, structural biology, neuroscience, environmental science, mathematics, and cybersecurity.

“As part of this new NSF grant, AUM will establish a dedicated ML-Lab that will be designed with student-friendly setups to provide hands-on experience with AI tools to foster learning across multiple disciplines,” Kursun said. “In doing so, it will augment and expand upon our existing AI capabilities on campus, such as an AI lab that was previously developed in the College of Business.”

The two-year, NSF grant will support the integration and application of AI across AUM’s five colleges — Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Sciences, Education, and Nursing and Health Sciences — with the goal of providing more students with a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience in AI. AUM faculty members Sutanu Bhattacharya, Benedict Okeke and Randy Russell will serve as co-principal investigators, collaborating with undergraduate and graduate student researchers to support grant activities and research across the colleges.

“The university’s AI initiatives are designed to not only advance knowledge in these areas, but also ensure that groups currently underrepresented in computer science fields, including African American and female students, are at the forefront of this critical research,” Kursun said.

Original article from the AUM News.

Greater East Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair

STEM alumni are invited to judge the third annual Greater East Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (GEARSEF) at Auburn University at Montgomery! This year’s fair is March 14^th. We are expecting another amazing group of scientists to share what they have learned. GEARSEF is always a busy but fulfilling morning. Please consider helping us by evaluating the amazing science. Not only will you get to meet some amazing scientists, but we will also provide you with lunch.

You can sign up to be a judge here: https://gearsef.stemwizard.com/

If you have NOT judged before, please choose register in the upper right-hand corner and choose judge. If you have joined us before, choose log in.

If you have any questions about judging or registering, please email Chelsea Ward.

Spotlight on Chambers & Tallapoosa: Movers & Shapers

Steven Arnberg - VP Real Estate Sales for Russell Lands

Steven Arnberg is vice president of real estate sales for Russell Lands on Lake Martin, one of the largest waterfront developers in the South. He has been with the company for more than 20 years, overseeing new development sales for Russell Lands and managing Lake Martin Realty. Sales for the combined companies exceeded $400 million in the recently completed fiscal year. He holds a 1981 undergraduate degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and a master’s in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serves on the advisory board for the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama.

DeAnna Hand is executive director of LaFayette Main Street. She is a native and resident of LaFayette and Chambers County. She is a 2001 communication graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery with a master’s degree from the University of Alabama. Prior to joining LaFayette Main Street in 2022, she served as state director for Alabama Mentor for 12 years and earlier worked for the state as a social worker advocating for social services and child welfare resources. She is a licensed master social worker and serves on the board of Integrea Community Mental Health System. She is active with the Rotary Club of LaFayette.

DeAnna Hand - Executive Director of LaFayette Main Street

Denise Walls - Executive Director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance

Denise Walls is executive director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, which is the lead industrial development arm for Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. She is a 1998 graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery, with additional economic development credentials from Auburn University. A native of Tallapoosa County, she serves as an ex officio member of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and is a representative on the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission board.

Graduate Studies Preview Night

If you’re ready to start building the next phase of your career or considering changing careers, it’s time to begin a master’s degree.

Auburn University at Montgomery’s Grad School Preview event gives you the opportunity to identify the best graduate program for your field and your future — and for your professional timeline.

Please register online by Monday, March 31, 2025.

Tuesday, April 1
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Taylor Center 221 – 223

AUM Alumni had a great time dressing up in their 80's themed outfits for homecoming.

Alumni Homecoming Celebration features 80’s Night

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our AUM Alumni Homecoming Celebration, featuring 80’s Night! We loved the arcade games, outfits, and music! We’re already excited about your suggestions for next year’s theme!

Class Notes

Joseph Ernest Taff ’89

Taff has been reappointed by Governor Kay Ivey, to serve a three-year appointment to the State Rehabilitation Council, and appointed as the Legislative Chairman to the Legislative Sub-Committee. Taff is also the immediate Past President of the AUM Alumni Association Board of Directors. He completed a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1989.

Christopher Shane Moye ’18

Prattville Christian Academy (PCA) has hired Lowndes Academy’s Shane Moye as its new head football coach. Moye spent 13 years at Lowndes Academy, seven of them as the head coach. He won three straight AISA titles at Lowndes Academy and finished as the state runner-up this season. He also won two state titles at Lowndes as the head baseball coach. Moye has already selected two members of his PCA coaching staff. Moye received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2018 from Auburn University at Montgomery, where he played baseball and served as a graduate assistant.

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