Blackburn Institute

Student Fellows Impact Presidential Campaign

November 16, 2008

While Blackburn Institute fellow and advisory board member Corey Ealons (1997-1998 fellow) may have had the most active role in the recent presidential election after his appointment as Director of African-American Media with the Obama for President Campaign, two student fellows also served on the front lines of the campaign. Though they are close friends, student fellows Robert Harris III (2007-2008 fellow) and Ben Foster (2006-2007 fellow) took an active part in the recent presidential race from opposing sides of the political spectrum. Robert, a senior from Alexander City, Alabama, majoring in Political Science and History, took a brief absence from the University to take advantage of the opportunity to join the Obama/Biden Campaign as a Field Organizer. Robert signed his name to an official endorsement for Obama immediately preceding the South Carolina primary and then accepted the position of Political Director for the state’s Students for Barack Obama organization. He joined the campaign as a full-time staffer over the summer when he accepted the position of Field Organizer - first heading up the counties of Douglas, Carroll, and Paulding in metro-west Atlanta, Georgia and then in Wayne Co. North Carolina, centered in the City of Goldsboro. About his experiences, Robert stated, “As a campaign staffer, specifically as one who headed up a local field office, coming into contact with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives was common place. The Blackburn Institute uniquely prepared me for that role. A major tenant of the institute is to challenge each of its fellows to be in constant pursuit of information and understanding how to better serve our communities. Whether in Alabama or across this great nation, Blackburn fellows carry a unique perspective only provided by its membership. Our focus and dedication to the issues which have no voice is the hallmark of the Blackburn Institute. There was never I day I did not rely on some experience I gained from being a fellow in the Blackburn Institute.” While Robert campaigned on the democratic side of the campaign, Ben established himself as a leader within the state’s Republican Party. Ben, a senior from Coaling, Alabama, majoring in Telecommunications & Film and Political Science, served the McCain/Palin ticket in three capacities. He was a member of the Alabama Steering Committee for the campaign, Chairman of The University of Alabama Students for McCain, and was elected to serve as an Alabama Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota in September of 2008. Concerning his role within the presidential campaign and the Blackburn Institute, Ben stated, “I have long felt a calling in my life to make the state of Alabama better, and this calling relates to the learning and leadership development I have experienced within the Blackburn Institute. For me, this calling means I have to work to get the right leaders elected, whether it be at the state or national level. The Blackburn Institute has taught me that in order to be a change-agent, I have to work to bring better leadership to Alabama.” Both Robert and Ben remained in constant communication during the election season and even spoke consistently on the evening of the election. Robert and Ben’s friendship, despite completely opposing political views, is an excellent example of the type of leadership network the Blackburn Institute seeks to build.

Four Student Fellows Named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team

September 10, 2008

Seven University of Alabama students were named to USA Today’s 2008 All-USA College Academic Team comprised of sixty members nationwide. Of those seven students, four are Blackburn Institute Student Fellows. Dana Lewis and Jackson Switzer were named to the Second Team, and Alex Flachsbart and Adam Harbison were named to the Third Team.

Dana Lewis is a sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama majoring in Public Health Communications and Public Relations. Lewis was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at age fourteen. Since then she has been dedicated to diabetes advocacy. “I have worked it on local-level fundraising, lobbying on Capitol Hill and international work for a United Nations resolution in diabetes,” Lewis said. Lewis also worked with Bama Dining to assure that nutritional information was posted in on-campus dining facilities. Upon graduation, Lewis plans to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health and work in Public Health Communication.

Jackson Switzer is a senior from Gulfport, Mississippi majoring in Biochemistry. Switzer’s research focuses on the energetics of chemical weapons and how they decompose in the atmosphere. He believes it is his patriotic duty to find new ways to both detect and defend against weapons of mass destruction. “I’ve always been interested in chemistry and national affairs, so I wanted to tie the two together, and contribute to the science community and gain a basic understanding of chemical weapons should they appear as they have in the past,” Switzer said. Switzer’s post-college plans are not finalized; he will either go straight to work or go to grad school.

Alex Flachsbart is a junior from Concord, California majoring in Political Science and Economics. Flachsbart founded BamaBike, a program implemented this semester which allows students to rent bikes on campus as a push for “green” transportation. These bikes can be picked up or dropped off at various locations around campus. “Through the implementation of the BamaBike program, I am making a tangible difference in the lives of the constituency to which I am most directly accountable: my fellow students,” Flachsbart said. Flachsbart plans to work in Public Policy after graduation.

Adam Harbison graduated in December 2007 with a degree in Healthcare Management. Harbison created a tobacco toolkit with the American Cancer Society. This toolkit included media guides, tips, and sample tactics. The toolkit was approved by the American Cancer Society, and in September 2007, Harbison distributed the toolkits to over two hundred people at the National Collegiate Leadership Summit. “I believe the toolkit meets my primary goal: to simplify and strengthen this advocacy effort so that all CAC members, regardless of their experience or knowledge, can mount powerful smoke-free campaigns,” Harbison said. Harbison is currently working in Washington, D.C. as a Truman Fellow.

Five of Six Premier Awards Awarded to Student Fellows

September 10, 2008

The Premier Awards are the highest honors given by The University of Alabama. This year five of the six Premier Awards student recipients are Blackburn Institute Fellows. The following students are not only outstanding Blackburn fellows but also serve throughout the University community. Their dedication is an inspiration.

Jessica Garcia, a junior from Tampa, Florida majoring in English and Spanish was awarded the William P. Bloom Scholarship Award. The William P. Bloom Scholarship Award honors a junior who has improved relations among disparate groups. Jessica has improved interaction and understanding among student groups through her involvement in Sustained Dialogue and Creative Campus in addition to various other extracurricular activities.

Alex Flachsbart, a junior from Concord, California majoring in Political Science and Economics was awarded the John Fraser Ramsey Award. The John Fraser Ramsey Award honors a junior with broad humanistic interests who has exerted a positive influence on his/her contemporaries. Alex currently serves as chairman of the BamaBike Task Force, serves as a University Steward, and works to build consensus for the Public Policy Center.

Tim Neunzig, a senior from Tuscaloosa, Alabama majoring in International Management and German was awarded the Morris Lehman Mayer Award. The Morris Lehman Mayer Award honors one graduating senior and one teaching faculty recipient who exemplifies the life of Morris L. Mayer: selfless and significant service and leadership for the University of Alabama community. Tim’s involvement on campus has been driven by his desires to improve the community. Whether it is working with the Alabama Environmental Council, International Students Association, or WVUA radio station, Tim strives to make a difference in his community.

Trey Hayes, a senior from Brilliant, Alabama majoring in Industrial Engineering and Karoline Richardson, a senior from Montgomery, Alabama majoring in Classics were awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award honors two graduating seniors (one man and one woman) and one non-student winner who have demonstrated the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Between Trey’s rigorous course demands, Trey has found time to excel in all areas across campus. He has served as president for Mortar Board, College of Engineering Ambassadors, and captain of his intramural football team. He serves as director of Alabama Action and is a University Steward. Next to his extensive list of honors and achievements is an extensive list of organizations he has volunteered with including but not limited to Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, and Focus First.

Karoline has established herself as a leader on campus by her far-reaching positions in student organizations. She led the Student Government Association by holding the position of attorney general. She served as president of the Anderson Society and as president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Amongst all of her achievements her time spent tutoring with HangTYMERS is listed at the top. HangTYMERS is a Daniel Scholars project initiated by another Blackburn fellow. Karoline is committed to helping others achieve their best and is acting as a change agent.

This year’s Premier Awards Reception was held on Friday February 29 at North River Yacht Club.

Four Blackburn Fellows Named Capstone Heroes

September 9, 2008

On March 28, 2008, four Blackburn Fellows were selected as Capstone Heroes, an award given each year by the Office of Student Affairs to students, faculty and staff who exemplify the virtues outlined in the Capstone Creed. The awards ceremony for Capstone Heroes is the culmination of the annual Capstone Creed Week, during which several events are held to remind everyone at UA of the ideals to which the University aspires.

Kendra Key, a 2007-2008 fellow, has been noteworthy for using several positions in SGA to positively affect the campus. The former chairperson of the Environmental Concerns Committee, Kendra has been instrumental in the implementation of a University-wide recycling program. She was also a member of First Year Council, co-chair of the Youth Summit committee for SGA, a member of SGA Senate, and a candidate for Vice President of External Affairs in this year’s elections. Also known for her civic involvement, Kendra ran for the position of Delegate to the National Democratic Convention. Finally, Kendra was recently elected 2008-2009 Student Fellows Chair.

Steven Spiehler, a 2005-2006 fellow who has served as Student Fellow Vice-Chair and the 2007-2008 Chair, has also served the University in many ways. For his hard work and diverse interests, he was named a member of the Jasons men’s honorary last spring. Steven currently works as a Residential Advisor for the Riverside on-campus living community and a lifeguard and supervisor at the Aquatic Center. He is a member of the Business Honors Program and won second place in the nation-wide Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management. A former Avanti, Steven’s extracurriculars include President of the Mortar Board Honors Society, University Academic Honors Council Justice, and Director of Programs for the Anti-Apathy Campaign. Steven will graduate in May and is considering job offers in the healthcare management field as well as graduate school.

Phillips Thomas, a 2007-2008 fellow, was recently featured in The Crimson White because of her unique dedication to community service through programs offered at the University; she requested that her family, in lieu of a birthday gift, establish an endowed fund for the Honors Academy’s Black Belt Action Program. Phillips is also the incoming Alabama Action Student Co-Director, a HANGTYMERS tutor and a member of A-Team; she serves her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, as an officer and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Phillips has also remained active in the Honors College and HPSA, served as a member of the Honors College Visitors’ Board, and been involved in the University Fellows selections process.

Jesse Woods, a 2006-2007 fellow and former Blackburn Student Assistant, is well-known at the University as a student advocate for lower textbook prices. The Chair of SGA Senate’s External Affairs Committee, Jesse has frequently traveled to Montgomery to lobby Alabama’s legislators to remove taxes on textbooks; he will be an Executive Advisor to the SGA President for the 2008-2009 administration. Jesse is also a former WAFF-48 Huntsville news station intern and Congressional campaign worker. He is currently doing co-op work with Eastman Chemical Company, serving as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Southern Region Chairman, and attending UA on a Presidential Scholarship.

Student Fellow Dana Lewis Testifies at Congressional Hearing

September 9, 2008

I was called the first week in March by the American Diabetes Association Federal Affairs team, who I have previously worked with on other projects including when I spoke at a briefing about the developments in diabetes care technology from the patient perspective (discussing glucose monitors, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, etc) last fall. In February, the ADA received a call from Senator Kennedy’s office asking for a witness for a hearing focused on the need for increased funding for the NIH. I agreed to talk to them and then had a phone interview with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee staffers, who selected me to testify over three other interviewees involved with other patient organizations.

I prepared my testimony myself, only knowing that the hearing would coincide with the release of a new study by Harvard detailing the negative impact of flat lined budgets for the NIH in the future. I tried to bring the patient perspective into the room with my testimony, which described being diagnosed with diabetes and what I have to do to take care of diabetes on a daily basis. I also explained the improvements in technology that I have seen in the five years I have lived with diabetes. I then pleaded, for lack of better words, for Congress to consider increasing the budget for NIH because research brings me, and millions of other Americans affected by diabetes and other chronic illnesses, hope for a cure and improves treatment while we wait for cures. The testimony was sent to members of the Committee ahead of time, and they all read it before the hearing.

In the hearing, I sat beside the Dean of Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine and two seats down from the President of Harvard. We each gave an abbreviated version of our testimonies and then answered questions with our expertise (and in my case, experience). Although the older members of the panel sometimes fought over the microphone, Senator Kennedy gave me the opportunity to make another statement during the hearing about how NIH research translates into increased education and awareness of disease in the communities, which in turn have a greater impact on improving healthy lifestyles and prevention.

The experience was amazing to say the least. I never thought I would be testifying in front of a committee of US Senators at age 20. My hope is that the diabetes education can be increased due to my participation in events such as this and my involvement with the American Diabetes Association.