Academics Archives | 91��Ƭ��

From wrenches to wildlife: 91��Ƭ�� grad finds new calling

Lisa Sollie — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:11:46 +0000

Jason Williamson spent years making a living under the hood of vehicles, but he also had a passion for wildlife and the environment. Inspired in part by watching Steve Irwin, the famed “Crocodile Hunter,” and later through volunteering at the Environmental Studies Center with Mobile County Public Schools, Williamson eventually found himself on an unexpected career path.

It was at the that Williamson heard about the 91��Ƭ��.

When Williamson began volunteering, he had no plans to change careers, but the work satisfied him in a way that being a mechanic no longer did.

“From the first time I volunteered at the Center, I loved it and I spent a lot of time learning as much as I could from the biologist on staff,” Williamson said. “When she told me she planned on retiring soon, I realized this is what I wanted to do with my life and so I went back to school.”

Once Williamson earned his associate degree, he struggled to find a university with a program that fit what he wanted to do.

“One day I mentioned the issue I was having to the center director, Dr. Tracy Halpin Jay,” Williamson said.

Jay, a two-time 91��Ƭ�� alumnus, told him about 91��Ƭ��.

Just one week after connecting with 91��Ƭ��, Williamson was discussing his ambitious timeline with an advisor.

A husband, father and full-time mechanic, Williamson said it wasn’t easy adding college to the mix. Looking back, he said he doesn’t know how he managed it, often getting by on only four hours of sleep per night.

“I ended up taking 88 credits in a little over a year,” he said, “but I have no regrets. Without the at 91��Ƭ��, I’d never be where I am today.”

Hired full-time by the Environmental Studies Center in July 2026, Williamson said that before he started at 91��Ƭ��, he thought he knew a lot.

“I was humbled really quick when I realized how little I knew,” he said, laughing. “Everything from learning about different viruses to all the math classes I had to take laid the foundation for everything I now use on a day-to-day basis. Now I’m just building on it.”

One of Williamson’s favorite parts of his new career is when an animal completes the rehabilitation process and successfully returns to the wild.

“All the long hours and the hard days are worth it when you see that bird fly off or another animal run off and you know you gave it the best chance at life,” he said. “There’s nothing like it.”

For Williamson, the work is rewarding, but he said there aren’t enough people trained in wildlife rehabilitation.

“We’re down to five rehabbers in the state of Alabama,” he said. “This is definitely an undervalued role in our society, and we need to push the importance of this work to anyone that will listen.”

One way he’s doing that is by educating young people about environmental science.

“We have a large amount of school groups who come to the Center, and I enjoy sharing what we do here, and answer any questions they might have about how to get into this field. I’ll help anybody out that’s interested,” Williamson said.

The Center also must have a college student working or interning there who is studying environmental science— whether that’s marine biology, zoology, or even biology, Williamson noted.

“Part of my job is to teach them and share every bit of knowledge I can. I want others to understand the importance of what we do here and why it matters.”

A front row seat to state government

Lisa Sollie — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:41:10 +0000

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey poses for a photo with Samuel Johnston, a 91��Ƭ�� senior political science major from Tuscaloosa, who spent the summer in Montgomery, Alabama as part of the Governor’s Office Internship Program. (submitted photo)

Story: Lisa Sollie

When Samuel Johnston first arrived at the Alabama Capitol in June, he was greeted by an enormous American flag hanging from the building, a special-edition flag unveiled as part of Gov. Kay Ivey’s kickoff celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

For the 91��Ƭ�� senior, it was the beginning of a summer that would give him a front-row seat to state government. Instead of heading home for a relaxing break, Johnston, a political science major, spent nine weeks in Montgomery as one of only seven students selected for the Internship Program. It was the program’s final class under Ivey’s administration, whose decade as governor ends Jan. 18, 2027.

During those nine weeks, Johnston became immersed in the inner workings of state government, gaining valuable connections and a new perspective that has influenced his career plans, including the possibility of an internship in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2027.

In addition to their assigned offices, interns participated in outings and excursions designed to give them a broader look at state government, including their day-to-day work. These supplemental activities gave interns opportunities to learn more about the Governor’s Office, Ivey’s cabinet agencies and the priorities that have steered her historic tenure.

Johnston’s own experience within state government came through his work in the Appointments Office, where he experienced an up-close look at one of the Alabama governor’s key responsibilities: making executive appointments. The office conducts research and interviews and recommends candidates to the governor for appointments to more than 700 boards and commissions across Alabama.

During his internship, Johnston estimated he worked on 200 to 250 appointment letters, conducting research and background checks, finding applicants for open positions and offering his opinions.

Many of those appointments were consequential, and Johnston found himself involved in some significant decisions. In his first week on the job, he worked alongside Mason Bass, Ivey’s director of appointments, as the governor and Bass began the process of selecting two judges for Mobile County Circuit Court and Mobile County District Court.

“Both judges decided to retire, and so the Governor’s Office was tasked with appointing two judges to fill those vacant positions in Mobile,” Johnston said. “My boss began researching potential appointees and setting up interviews with candidates.”

Another significant appointment Johnston was involved in was the expansion of the Public Service Commission, from three to seven members. Although he wasn’t making any final decisions, Johnston was involved in the process.

“Getting up close and personal like this was really cool,” Johnston said.

Johnston’s work in the Appointments Office made an impression on the governor, who said he “Served Alabama with distinction during a truly historic season — our nation’s 250th anniversary — and helped us make consequential appointments while also documenting the legacy of nearly a decade spent placing good people in positions to serve our state.”

Now back at 91��Ƭ�� for his senior year, Johnston said the experience in Montgomery has already shown up in class.

“Sometimes we were studying things where I thought, ‘I’ve done this in real life,’” Johnston said. “Just the other day, my professor had a question for me about a current topic happening in state government that related to class, and I was able to answer the question based on my experiences in Montgomery. That was really neat.”

The experience also left Johnston more confident in his understanding of state government, while revealing just how much he still wants to learn.

But perhaps the greatest lesson Johnston took away from the experience was how much his perspective on state government had changed. Prior to his internship, he steered away from politics, thinking that someone had to be a “special” person to serve.

“Like many others who either idolize or vilify those who work for or in government, I realized that these were just regular people who were doing their best to help make decisions for our state,” Johnston said. “They weren’t unapproachable or unfathomable characters, but ordinary people, like me.”

That realization has led Johnston to pursue a career in governmental law, rather than attend law school and work for a small- to mid-size firm in Tuscaloosa. Now, he hopes to intern and work in Washington, D.C. before eventually working in government as a lawyer or judge after earning his law degree.

“A lot of opportunities I only dreamed of have opened for me because of the connections I made through the Governor’s Office. I don’t think I would have those opportunities without my internship,” Johnston said.

“Public service needs talented, thoughtful young people, and we want to empower our students to pursue those opportunities,” said Dr. J.J. Wedgworth, vice president for external affairs and strategic initiatives. “One of the things I value most about my role in government relations is helping 91��Ƭ�� students, like Samuel, see how their education can translate into meaningful work in public service. He represented 91��Ƭ�� exceptionally well.”

The experience he gained in Montgomery has him already looking ahead to his next opportunity. He is waiting to find out whether he will land an internship in Washington, D.C., this spring while also figuring out how to make it work as he finishes his degree.

91��Ƭ�� is helping him make those opportunities possible.

“I’m appreciative of Dr. Wedgworth’s office for helping me find a scholarship for housing while I was in Montgomery and locating a possible internship in Washington, D.C.,” Johnston said. “My professor is also working with me to determine if I will be able to apply some internship credits toward my degree next semester and complete any remaining coursework online.”

Johnston encourages other students who pursue internships to make the most of the experience and learn everything they can.

“There was so much information thrown my way that I can’t say I learned it all, but I feel like I have a much better grasp on what the governor does, what her cabinet members do, and I was able to build on what I’ve learned in class,” Johnston said. “I felt, even in a very small way, that I did real work that not only affected Alabama but had meaning.”

And Johnston’s experience in Montgomery left an impression on those who worked with him there as well.

“I am confident Samuel’s heart for public service will carry him far and serve him well wherever his future leads,” Ivey said.

91��Ƭ�� awarded National Institutes of Health funding for research equipment

Lisa Sollie — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:46:39 +0000

Story: Lisa Sollie

First NIH award for 91��Ƭ�� aligns with University’s plans for growth and expanded research opportunities

A grant from the is making way for new biomedical research opportunities for students and faculty at the 91��Ƭ��. The funding is 91��Ƭ��’s first National Institutes of Health (NIH) award, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s research growth.

The $163,475 award will support the acquisition of an Attune CytPix flow cytometer, a sophisticated instrument that uses lasers to analyze individual cells. The new equipment will expand opportunities for hands-on student learning, faculty and student research and instruction at 91��Ƭ��.

“This award represents exactly the kind of investment envisioned in 91��Ƭ��’s 10-year strategic plan,” said 91��Ƭ�� President Dr. Todd G. Fritch. “By bringing advanced technology to our campus, expanding research opportunities and leveraging external funding, we are building institutional capacity in ways that will benefit our students, faculty and the communities we serve for years to come. This is an important milestone for 91��Ƭ�� and a strong example of how innovation, technology and financial stewardship can work together to move our University forward.”

Dr. Brian Keener, who will serve as principal investigator for the instrument, believes the funding represents a major step forward for experiential learning and research at 91��Ƭ��. Keener is a professor of biology and serves as director of 91��Ƭ��’s Cahaba Biodiversity Center.

“Acquiring the Attune CytPix is not simply an equipment request—it is a strategic investment in establishing sustained, grant-funded biomedical research and as well as other general biological research at 91��Ƭ��,” Keener said. “The possibilities for our students, faculty, and future research are truly limitless.”

According to Keener, the flow cytometer will support biomedical research at 91��Ƭ�� in immunology, plant biodiversity, microbial resistance, and environmental health. These fields are directly relevant to public health challenges such as infectious disease, climate resilience, and antibiotic discovery. Integrating the instrument into research and education will strengthen 91��Ƭ��’s research capacity, enhance faculty competitiveness for NIH funding and provide underserved undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on training in critical biomedical technologies.