Story: Lisa Sollie

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心頭利.

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心頭利 alumnus, told him about 91心頭利.

Just one week after connecting with 91心頭利, 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心頭利, 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心頭利, 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.���

Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

The 91心頭利 has announced the schedule for its annual Homecoming celebration, with events for alumni scheduled Oct.1-3.

For students, homecoming week kicks off with Casino Night on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bell Conference Center. The event features a full slate of casino-style gaming.

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, students will have a chance to get a free homecoming t-shirt from 3 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. outside the CAF. There is no cost for current students, but shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The excitement continues Wed., Sept. 30, at Serendipity, the annual homecoming talent show where students compete for prize money and bragging rights. The student-only event will begin at 7 p.m. in 91心頭利 Auditorium and will also spotlight the 2026 Homecoming court.

On Thursday, Oct. 1 beginning at 6:00 p.m. the community is invited to join the Tiger football team, the West Alabama Marching Band, 91心頭利 cheerleaders and LUie for the Homecoming pep rally and campus carnival, featuring live music by Daniel Houze. After dark, a bonfire and fireworks show, presented in collaboration with the Offices of Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs, will light up the intramural fields.

The annual homecoming alumni party, one of the most anticipated events of the year, is set for Friday, Oct. 2. Hosted by the Office of Alumni Affairs, the party begins at 6 p.m. at Bell Conference Center. Always a great time for friends, food and fun, this year���s party will feature the band 3 Miles South. Admission to the party is $40.

On Sat., Oct. 3, the annual homecoming parade will begin at 10 a.m. when 91心頭利 students and organizations, special guests, and marching bands from across the state will wind through downtown Livingston and back onto campus at Stadium Drive. Following the parade there will be an alumni tailgate party beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the hill in front of the Campus School across from the home gate of Tiger Stadium. Alumni are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or quilts to be comfortable and enjoy live music by Tyler Sellers.

On Saturday at 4 p.m., 91心頭利 will kick off against Chowan University at Tiger Stadium. The 2026 Homecoming King and Queen will be announced on the field during halftime festivities.

The will be open during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. ��� 3:30 p.m.

For more information about 91心頭利 Alumni events, please contact Banks Gordy, director of Alumni Affairs, at 205-652-3867 or email bgordy@uwa.edu.

Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

Writing a dissertation requires hours of independent research and a passion for the subject being studied. For Autumn Blalock, that passion paid off when her dissertation, ���The Impact of the Alabama Literacy Act on Third-Grade Reading Proficiency in Rural and Non-Rural Alabama School Districts,��� earned her the 91心頭利���s Distinguished Dissertation Award for the Spring 2026 commencement cycle, along with a job offer.

One of Blalock���s most meaningful findings from examining statewide data from 2021 through 2025 was that rural students demonstrated substantial growth in reading proficiency, challenging some of the assumptions often associated with rural education. She said the research reinforced for her that, with the right systems, support and instructional practices, students in rural communities can achieve at high levels.

For Blalock, receiving the Distinguished Dissertation Award was an honor that was deeply personal to her.

���I have spent my career as an educator believing that every child deserves the opportunity to become a strong, confident reader, and my doctoral research allowed me to explore that belief through a research lens,��� she said.

The opportunity to continue that work with the Alabama Reading Initiative is especially meaningful to Blalock, and she is excited to bring together her experiences as a classroom teacher, researcher, and now reading specialist to support educators across Alabama.

���For me, the work is more than legislation, data, or assessment scores,��� Blalock said. ���It is about building the capacity of teachers and creating the conditions necessary for all of Alabama���s children to become successful readers.���

91心頭利���s Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes outstanding scholarly work produced by doctoral candidates who have made significant contributions to their field of study, demonstrating exceptional research, originality and academic excellence.