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Culverhouse College of Business has expanded its outreach in Selma, Alabama, supporting local businesses and community projects. Selma native and Culverhouse alum Preston McGee now leads these efforts as community outreach coordinator for the Selma Resilience Initiative.
McGee, who holds business degrees and an MBA from Culverhouse, will build partnerships across UA and work from his office in Selma at the Dallas County System of Services.
In 2024, building on remarkable success and surpassing its initial goal early, UA announced Rising Tide 2.0—an expanded campaign target of $1.8 billion to be reached by September 2026. With over 160,000 donors contributing so far, the campaign continues to drive investments in scholarships, faculty, research, and facilities, ensuring sustained growth and innovation at the University.
The University of Alabama launched its Rising Tide capital campaign in September 2021 with a goal of raising $1.5 billion. This campaign aimed to boost student scholarships, faculty endowments, research initiatives, and campus facilities. Fueled by strong alumni and donor support, Rising Tide set the stage to advance UA’s mission and enhance opportunities across academics, athletics, and campus life.
Launching in Fall 2024, the Bachelor of Science in Business Statistics at Culverhouse equips students with in-demand skills in statistical analysis and data-driven decision-making. With a focus on applied methods and real-world business applications, graduates will be ready to deliver immediate value in roles that require interpreting and leveraging data for smarter outcomes.
The Institute of Business Analytics at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business received a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create UNLOCK — the Unified Nexus for Leveraging Opioid Crime Knowledge. This data-driven platform will help law enforcement, public health officials, and community partners better understand the scope of the opioid crisis in Alabama. By integrating data from sources like toxicology reports, evidence tests, and coroner records, UNLOCK will deliver actionable insights to support smarter, more effective responses to opioid-related challenges statewide.
Launched in Fall 2023, Culverhouse’s business cybersecurity major blends technical training with business strategy. Students learn to manage risk, respond to threats, and align security with organizational goals—preparing for roles like cybersecurity analyst and tech auditor.
Launching in Fall 2025, the Culverhouse College of Business will introduce a new undergraduate major in Real Estate, building on one of the largest and fastest-growing real estate programs in the nation. With over 900 students in the minor and strong graduate-level interest, the major will offer three tracks—Finance and Investments, Development and the Built Environment, and Brokerage and Management—preparing students for careers across the industry. The program includes opportunities to earn professional credentials and licensure alongside academic coursework, positioning Culverhouse as a national leader in real estate education.
Starting Fall 2025, the Manderson Graduate School of Business will launch five new Graduate Certificate programs: Business Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital & Social Media, Information Systems Solutions, and Supply Chain Analytics. These certificates provide a focused and efficient way to build specialized skills, enhance your graduate degree, and gain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly changing business landscape.
The Interactive Decision Experiment (TIDE) Lab opened in 2018 at Culverhouse College of Business, University of Alabama. It is a behavioral research facility dedicated to studying human behavior in business contexts. The lab features computer labs, breakout rooms, a shopper insights lab, and a virtual reality lab.
The Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award honors excellence in research, scholarship, and teaching at The University of Alabama.
Culverhouse’s Dr. Dan Bachrach, professor of management and Robert C. and Rosa P. Morrow Faculty Excellence Fellow, received the 2024-2025 award. His research focuses on entrepreneurial teams, leadership, and organizational behavior.
The Institute of Data and Analytics (IDA) at Culverhouse College of Business was named one of AACSB International’s “Innovations That Inspire” for 2024. This global recognition highlights IDA’s pioneering, data-driven approach to combating the opioid crisis through the Southeast Regional Drug Data Research Center (SR-DDRC), funded by a $3.5 million DOJ grant. By integrating drug-related data from multiple public and private sources across 17 southern states, IDA is driving impactful collaboration and innovation to address a critical societal challenge—demonstrating how business education can create real-world value for communities.
In 2019, the Culverhouse College of Business celebrated its centennial year, marking 100 years since its founding in 1919. To honor this milestone, Culverhouse launched special initiatives and events to engage alumni, students, and friends, while highlighting its rich history and ambitious future. The celebration also showcased plans for Hewson Hall, a state-of-the-art facility designed to support the College’s growth and continued leadership in business education and research.
Culverhouse launched the UA Business LEAD program in fall 2020 to prepare students for the workforce by developing 10 core competencies aligned with national career readiness standards, including teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, and global engagement.
Students earn points through workshops and experiences, and build e-portfolios showcasing their work beyond resumes. The program continues to grow, adding internship tracking and expanding corporate partnerships.
LEAD provides valuable professional development, helping students build skills, gain experience, and connect with employers to enhance career readiness.
The Angelo Bruno Business Library and Sloan Y. Bashinsky Lab underwent a comprehensive renovation that began in January 2022. Updates included new paint, carpet, ceilings, light fixtures, and improvements to the sprinkler and HVAC systems. The building reopened for the Fall 2022 semester.
On Sept. 9, 2021, the Culverhouse College of Business celebrated the grand opening of Hewson Hall, a 108,000-square-foot facility made possible by a $15 million gift from alumni Marillyn and James Hewson. The $60 million building features high-tech classrooms, collaboration spaces, and dedicated areas like the Alabama Business Hall of Fame and the First-Gen Spot. Designed to support student success and growth, Hewson Hall now anchors the western edge of UA’s campus.
For the first time, the Culverhouse College of Business ranked among the top 100 North American business schools in research productivity, according to the University of Texas at Dallas. Culverhouse placed 96th overall and 88th in the U.S.—the only Alabama business school on the list.
Thanks to a generous gift from Walker Jones and her husband Bill, Hewson Hall is now home to the Walker and Bill Jones First Generation Spot. This dedicated space supports first-generation students by providing a place to connect, collaborate, and build community. Named in honor of Bill’s own first-gen journey, The Spot reflects the Joneses’ commitment to helping students thrive at UA.
The Shin Gallery was rededicated in 2023 to honor Yong Ho Shin (1917–2003), founder of Kyobo Life Insurance and a visionary leader in post-war Korea. Through a friendship with UA’s Dr. John Bickley, Shin helped establish the Insurance Hall of Fame Museum at Culverhouse in 1992. The gallery and a scholarship in his name continue to support Korean students and celebrate his lasting impact on industry and education.
The EDGE, a 26,000-square-foot business incubator, opened on February 6, 2019, through a partnership between UA, the City of Tuscaloosa, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. Located downtown, the $11.7 million facility offers workspace, events, and resources to support local entrepreneurs and startups.
In 2022, the Deshe family gave $1.1 million to kick off the $4 million campaign to renovate Mary Hewell Alston Hall. A ribbon-cutting celebrating the completed renovation was held in October 2023.
For 35 years, Dr. Subha Chakraborti has advanced statistical research worldwide. His achievements earned him one of UA’s highest honors: the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award, recognizing excellence in research, scholarship, and teaching.
On October 10, 2023, Culverhouse rededicated the Insurance Hall of Fame Museum in Hewson Hall’s Don James Quiet Study, celebrating its rich legacy in insurance education and honoring industry pioneers.
Leveraging the renowned faculty and expert partners of The University of Alabama’s top-rated Culverhouse College of Business, the Executive Education at Culverhouse program offers decision-makers and senior practitioners a unique opportunity to gain hard skills and deep knowledge that will allow them to make transformative impacts within their organizations.
Dr. Anup Agrawal, professor and William A. Powell Jr. Chair of Finance and Banking with The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, is the recipient of the 2021 Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award. Awarded annually to recognize and promote excellence in research, scholarship and teaching, the Burnum Award recognizes distinguished careers at UA.
The college is the first to offer a Value Investing specialization at both the graduate and undergraduate level and opened a Value Investing Research Library and Trading Floor in 2016, which was donated by CT Fitzpatrick.
Vivian Malone, alongside James Hood, enrolled at The University of Alabama in 1963 becoming one of the first black students. Two years later she graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in general management, Malone went on to become the director of the Office of Environmental Justice for Region IV, Environmental Protection Agency, in Atlanta. Today, Malone’s portrait remains on the lower level of Bidgood Hall next to Catherine Miles.
Lee Bidgood, the first dean of the College, launched the undergraduate program in 1919. The first programs launched were specializations in accounting, banking and finance, business and law, commercial teaching, foreign trade and consular service, general business, manufacturing, public service, real estate and insurance, transportation, and wholesale and retail trade.
The Culverhouse School of Accountancy established the S. Paul Garner Center for Current Accounting Issues in 1988. It was used in fostering and enhancing accounting research and education by acting as a focal point for scholarly activities and providing a vehicle for faculty efforts to address accounting issues. It provided financial support for faculty research, administers professional development programs, and developed and managed seminars and workshops.
The STEM Path to the MBA was introduced to the University to allow high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in STEM disciplines to complete coursework to earn an MBA from the Manderson Graduate School of Business in only one calendar year beyond the completion of an undergraduate degree.
In February of 1989, Commerce School alumnus Hugh F. Culverhouse donated $3 million to the School of Accountancy and later received naming rights of the school.
In July of 1978, the School of Accountancy was established as an academic unit of the College of Commerce and Business Administration. Later, the school would be named the Culverhouse School of Accountancy after a generous donation from alumnus Hugh Culverhouse.
In the spring of 1950, a chapter of the Propeller Club was formed for students who were interested in the maritime transportation industry. It was a “national organization of ocean-shipping executives with student ‘harbors’ in universities that offer instruction in water transportation.”
Chi Theta was a professional fraternity for women organized in the Commerce School in 1929. In 1936 the local chapter affiliated with Phi Chi Theta, the national organization. The mission of the organization was to foster the study of commerce by women and award scholarships to female students who maintained high scholastic averages in their first three years of resident work.
President Gallalee took advantage of the contingent gathered at the dedication of Bidgood Hall to announce the Commerce School would be launching a PhD program for students to earn doctorate degrees.
Russ Petersen helped the college maintain its high standard through his understanding of what the national standards were. His policies were favored by many, especially his Faculty Scholars Program.
2016 marked the year the college hired its first female dean, Kay Palan.
In early 2018, the business college at The University of Alabama announced that it was implementing its new name: Culverhouse College of Business. This name change was approved by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees and other parties, including the Culverhouse family, which has been a longtime supporter of the college.
H.H. “Bill” Mitchell accepted a five-year appointment as dean after the untiimely death of Dr. Kenneth Uhl, the search committee’s choice for dean in 1980. Mitchell continued his storied career at the College of Commerce and Business Administration from 1935 as an undergraduate student until 1986 upon his retirement as dean.
To aid in Wartime efforts, Dean Bidgood, a member of the University’s National Defense Council Program, the Commerce School played an important role in training for the national defense programs on campus.
Following World War II, there was an influx of GIs into the school. Dean Bidgood sought to expand the school’s graduate programs. Launched in 1944, the Master of Business Administration degree was launched, offering a different path for students wishing to obtain a master’s degree. Today, our MBA program is regarded as one of the top MBA programs in the nation.
Dean John Fielden introduced the Master of Tax Accounting (MTA) degree to the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1977, adding to an impressive list of degrees.
The first Master degree was awarded in 1924 as the Master of Science in Commerce.
Dean Barry Mason became the College of Commerce and Business Administration’s seventh dean in 1988 and served as dean for 23 years. His term is remembered by his commitment to “good teaching at all levels,” and a genuine love for the college. Dean Mason was a member of faculty since 1967 and served as head of the Management and Marketing department for 16 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of multiple outreach centers and institutes seeing them as a natural growth of and adjunct to a committment to work with the private sector as well as to support and accelerate economic development.
The Marillyn A. Hewson Data Analytics opened in 2015 with Lockheed Martin, Healthcare Business Solutions and SAS as partners. The Lab provides collaboration among students, faculty and corporate partners to issues facing businesses globally.
The Manpower Institute was instituted in 1972 in the early days of Jack Fielden’s deanship. It was ran by Chuck Odewahn and Allan Spritzer who submitted grant proposals for the institute and helped in the circulation of research. In 1975, Trevor Bain joined as research director of the institute and then later became the director of the institute. The primary purpose of the institute was to encourage faculty research in manpower, industrial relation, and human resources.
In 1987, the Culverhouse College of Commerce renamed their graduate division to The Manderson Graduate School of Business in recognition of Lewis Manderson’s generous $1 million donation to the school.
The Management Institute was started in 1972 as a request by the federal department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) to do management training. It was a four week program ran by Lonnie Strickland and a graduate student at the North River Yacht Club.