Blackburn Institute

Fellow Honored as One of EBONY’s Top 30 Under 30

January 26, 2007

Deidra Perry, a 1996-1997 Blackburn fellow, was recently named to EBONY magazine’s list of 30 Young Leaders Under 30 for 2007. Ms. Perry is the only person from Alabama named to the list and says she is “absolutely ready to accept the torch of leadership being passed from Dr. Blackburn.” Perry works as a recruitment account executive for the Birmingham News and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in communication management. She was nominated for this prestigious award by Rep. Artur Davis, The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and The University of Alabama.

Perry says that her experiences at the University of Alabama equipped her with the leadership skills necessary to change the future of our state, asserting “The level of leadership preparation at Alabama allowed me to perform well.” She also credits the Blackburn Institute with much of her passion and audacity about Alabama, stating “The Blackburn Institute allowed me unparalleled access to the leaders of the state and also showed me what our role was going to be for the future of Alabama.” Ms. Perry is very passionate about carrying out Dean Blackburn’s vision to change state and feels we need to begin with education. “The gap between the haves and have-nots is only growing larger in Alabama” Perry says.

Perry advises current fellows to “connect with those in your class and take advantage of all the opportunities you are presented as fellows. Blackburn was allowed me to connect with the leaders of Alabama while I was still a student…don’t miss that chance.”

Click here to download a PDF version of the EBONY feature.

Kevin Garrison ‘05 Welcomes Addition to the Family

December 15, 2006

Kevin Garrison ‘05 and his wife Jessica welcomed Moseley Bancroft Garrison into the world Monday, November 27. According to Kevin he weighed in at a whopping 8 lb, 13 oz. and is 21½ inches long. Both mother and baby (and father) are doing very well.

Aldrich D. Callins ‘05 Reflects on Experiences in Japan

December 14, 2006

Aldrich D. Callins ‘05 is currently studying in Japan.

As a member of the Blackburn Institute, I have been given many opportunities to learn about issues that affect the state of Alabama with the aim of forming actions that will improve the quality of life for our state and nation. Interestingly enough, while I study abroad in Japan I have connected with local and foreign individuals who share this same ideal for their respective nations. One thing that the Blackburn Institute has taught me is that we should always seek out opportunities to build creative partnerships with others who share similar goals. Fortunately, these partnerships do not have to be contained within our state or even our country. By expanding these networks, I have learned to form bridges between two outwardly unrelated topics and discovered that we all go through the same struggles in our communities, albeit often at different times. It takes this sharing and understanding of cultures, ideas, perspectives, solutions, and underlying values to ultimately create an ideal society not only in our own backyard, but also in those of our neighbors on the other side of the fence.

In Japan this sharing has not once taken place in any formal meeting where we sit down to discuss “issues”. In fact, many times this exchange of ideas has come about on a bus ride to campus, a conversation at dinner, or at a toss of a frisbee.

Most of the pictures below are from an Intercultural Exchange at which I volunteered to speak. This was a time where Japanese high school and college students came together to learn about and share other cultures. It was loads of fun!

Victoria Starks ‘01 Weds Ronald Ward

October 27, 2006

Victoria Starks ‘01 was married to Ronald Ward on Saturday, October 7, 2006 in Pigeon Forge, TN. One of Victoria’s bridesmaids was another Institute fellow, Lorraine Erhunmwunsee ‘03. After graduating from the University, Victoria attended Thomas M. Cooley law school in Lansing, Michigan. Victoria is currently an Associate Attorney at Bryan P. Hilton, P.C. where she practices real estate litigation, juvenile law, wills and estates, as well as family law. Victoria and Ronald will be moving into a new house in Atlanta, GA in February of 2007. Ronald is a physical trainer in the Atlanta area. She attends the Cornerstone Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir. Victoria is also a regular volunteer in her community by assisting children in education and reading programs every other week.

Gen. Wesley Clark to Serve as 2006 Frank A. Nix Lecturer

September 15, 2006

Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark will present the Blackburn Institute’s Frank A. Nix Lecture on Friday, Oct. 13. The program will be at 4 p.m. in Sellers Auditorium of the Bryant Conference Center. The public is invited.

Those unable to attend will be able to watch live via a webcast. A link will be available the day of the event at: http://www.ua.edu/webcast/.

Gen. Wesley Clark
During 34 years of service in the United States Army, Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. After his retirement in 2000, he became an investment banker, author, commentator, and businessman. In September 2003 he entered politics as a Democratic candidate for president of the United States. His campaign won the state of Oklahoma before he returned to the private sector in February 2004.

In his final military command, Clark commanded Operation Allied Force, NATO’s first major combat action, which saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. He was also responsible for the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.

Clark’s awards and honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the State Department Distinguished Service Award, the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and Honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments.

He is the author of two books: Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo and the Future of Combat (Public Affairs, New York, 2001) and Winning Modern War: Iraq, Terrorism and the American Empire (Public Affairs, New York, 2003).

Clark graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1966 and completed two degrees at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He is also a graduate of the Ranger and Airborne schools.

He currently serves in leadership roles with a number of non-profit public service organizations, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Center for American Progress, the International Crisis Group, City Year Little Rock, the National Endowment for Democracy, the United States Institute of Peace, and the General Accountability Office.

More information can be found on the website of WesPAC (http://www.securingamerica.com), the political action committee formed by Clark in 2004.

Frank A. Nix Lecture
The Frank A. Nix Lecture honors the memory of Frank Albert Nix, a UA graduate, business leader and member of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Nix died tragically in an airplane crash in 1996, the same year he had been honored as the alumnus of the year by the UA National Alumni Association.

A native of Walker County, Nix earned his undergraduate degree in finance from UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration and his M.B.A. from Samford University. He founded Arlington Properties in 1969 and the company is now considered one of the premier privately owned apartment development companies in the Southeast.

The Nix Lecture was established by the Blackburn Institute to explore ethical leadership in the national arena.

Contact Information
Cheree Causey
UA Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Advisor to the Blackburn Institute
205-348-3277
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Cathy Andreen
UA Director of Media Relations
205-348-8322
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