University of Alabama Employee Resource Groups
The UA Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion supports many employee resource groups at UA and invites members of the campus community to learn more about these organizations, all of which are open to all UA faculty and staff.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Association
View photos and a video of the association’s launch event.
The UA AAPI Association is an umbrella employee resource group for faculty and staff members of UA’s various AAPI organizations which function under the auspices of the UA Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The UA AAPI Association, which is open to all faculty and staff, offers educational opportunities around AAPI culture, history, heritage and diversity within the AAPI community, and contributes to the intellectual and social learning environment of the campus.
Officers/Executive Committee








Hee Lee, President
Professor and Endowed Academic Chair
School of Social Work
hlee94@ua.edu
Nahree Doh, Vice President
Associate Director of Clinical and Outreach Services
Counseling Center
ndoh@ua.edu
Doris Sung, Secretary
Assistant Professor
Department of Art and Art History
dhsung@ua.edu
Wanyun Shao, Treasurer
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
wshao@ua.edu
Di Luo, Chair of Education and Research
Assistant Professor
Department of History
dluo10@ua.edu
Hyunjin Noh, Chair of Advocacy and Legal Aid
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
hjnoh@ua.edu
Shinae Choi, Chair of Development and Fundraising
Associate Professor
Department of Consumer Sciences
schoi@ches.ua.edu
Lingyan Kong, Chair of Outreach and Public Relations
Associate Professor
Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management
lingyan.kong@ua.edu
Black Faculty and Staff Association
The University of Alabama’s Black Faculty & Staff Association, also known as BFSA, was established in the early 1970s with a mission to serve as an advocate for educational equity, with emphasis on African American students and the professional needs of its members. The Association meets each month during the regular school calendar year. The Association remains committed to working with the U.A. System and University leaders to make sure that UA is pursuing equity and excellence for the entire campus community. Membership in the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) is open to all faculty members and staff employed at The University of Alabama regardless of religion, age, race or color, marital status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
BFSA is the recipient of the 2022 Sybil R. Todd Award for Excellence in Partnerships, named for Dr. Sybil Todd, vice president for Student Affairs from 1998-2003. This annual award is presented to individuals or organizations outside the Division of Student Life who have demonstrated excellence in partnership and whose service to all constituents is exceptional.
Officers





Pamela Payne-Foster, President
Physician and Professor
College of Community Health Sciences
ppayne-foster@ua.edu
George Daniels, Vice President
Associate Professor
College of Communication and Information Sciences
gdaniels@ua.edu
Andrea Early, Secretary
Staff Therapist
Women and Gender Resource Center
ANEarly@ua.edu
Cynthia Moore, Treasurer
Assistant Director Rural Scholars Program
College of Community Health Sciences
cmoore@ua.edu
Dominic Combs, Parliamentarian
Clinical Assistant Professor
College of Education
ddcombs@ua.edu
Capstone Alliance
https://capstonealliance.ua.edu/
Capstone Alliance is a campus organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (LGBTQ+) and allied faculty, staff and graduate students at The University of Alabama. The group’s mission is to make The University of Alabama community safe, supportive and welcoming to all identities.
Officers






DJ Jackson, President
Assistant Director of Multicultural Recruitment
Undergraduate Admissions
davis.jackson@ua.edu
Raegan Lemmond, President-Elect
Instructor
Department of Modern Languages and Classics
rlemmond@ua.edu
Devon Longstreet, Secretary
Student Engagement Coordinator
Women and Gender Resource Center
djlongstreet@ua.edu
Taylor Drake, Manager of Social Media and Public Relations
Admissions Representative
Undergraduate Admissions
taylor.drake@ua.edu
Seth Stewart, Liaison to Undergraduate Students
Instructor
Department of English
msstewart2@ua.edu
Nate Sturm, Liaison to Graduate Students
Biologist
Geological Survey of Alabama
nsturm@gsa.state.al.us
Chinese Faculty and Staff Association
The mission of the Chinese Faculty and Staff Association is to support, celebrate and empower Chinese faculty and staff by fostering a community that provides opportunities for networking, communication and growth — both personal and professional. For more information, call Jialai Wang at 205-348-6786.
Executive Committee






Jialai Wang, President
Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
jwang@eng.ua.edu
Di Luo
Assistant Professor
Department of History
dluo10@ua.edu
Aijun Song
Assistant Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
song@eng.ua.edu
Michelle Tong
Associate Professor
Department of Clothing, Textile, & Interior Design
mtong@ches.ua.edu
Qin Wang
Associate Professor of Statistics
Department of Information Systems, Statistics, and Management Science
qwang57@ua.edu
Shan Zhao
Professor
Department of Mathematics
szhao@ua.edu
Jewish Faculty and Staff Association
The JFSA was formed with three broad priorities: to advocate for Jewish faculty, staff and graduate students at The University of Alabama; to serve as a “clearinghouse” for those who self-identify as Jews and who seek opportunities to form, create or sustain meaningful social and/or spiritual communities on that basis; and to work with other affinity groups and faith traditions toward a campus that is open, inclusive and welcoming to all.
Officers




Daniel Levine, President
Aaron Aronov Associate Professor of Judaic Studies
Departments of Political Science and Religious Studies
daniel.j.levine@ua.edu
Murray Silverstone, Vice President
Assistant Professor
Department of Physics
mdsilverstone@ua.edu
Lisa Besnoy, Treasurer
Graduate Student and Program Director, Bama Hillel
lisa.besnoy@gmail.com
Sarah Sahn, Secretary
Assistant Professor, Research and Instructional Services Librarian
University of Alabama Libraries
sfsahn@ua.edu
Latinx Faculty and Staff Association
The purpose of this organization shall be as an advocate for educational, professional and community equity, with emphasis on Latino/a/x faculty, staff, students and the Latino/a/x community in greater Alabama. In the accomplishment of this general purpose, the organization shall promote and provide opportunities for networking among individuals and groups to articulate mutual concerns and advance educational opportunity.
Officers



Liz Vigil, President
Associate Director of Orientation and Special Programs
Undergraduate Admissions
liz.vigil@ua.edu
Sergio Ceja, Vice President
Assistant Director of Multicultural Recruitment
Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships
sergio.ceja@ua.edu
Yunuen Gómez-Ocampo, Historian/Community Engagement Officer
Instructor of Spanish
Modern Languages and Classics
ygomezocampo@ua.edu