Alabama is facing a significant nursing shortage, one that already affects hospitals, families and communities across our state and will only grow in the years ahead. As Alabama’s flagship university, our responsibility is to lead with purpose and long-term impact. That is why we are planning to expand the Capstone College of Nursing and prepare more nurses to serve communities across all 67 counties. Our work is grounded in strong outcomes, trusted partnerships and a clear focus on student success.
Addressing challenges like this is central to our mission — preparing students for purpose-driven careers while strengthening the future of the state we serve.
— Peter J. Mohler
For Our Students
- I look forward to celebrating spring 2026 commencement May 1-3, when more than 6,000 students will cross the stage and become Alabama graduates. It is a meaningful moment that reflects their work and the future they are ready to step into, and one I am proud to share with students and their families.
- Through Capstone Agency’s 24-hour CreateAthon, students put their skills to work for nonprofit partners, collaborating under real-world deadlines to deliver meaningful results while building experience that will serve them well beyond the classroom. I encourage you to seek out opportunities like this that connect learning to purpose.
- UA engineering students are developing assistive technology that supports athletes and people with physical challenges, demonstrating how innovation at the Capstone prepares students to shape the future.
- I hope you will join us Feb. 20 at Stran-Hardin Arena for the men’s wheelchair basketball game and Senior Night. Alabama Adapted Athletics represents the best of competitive excellence and teamwork, and we will proudly recognize our senior student-athletes. I will see you there!
Across Our Campus
- Celebrating the contributions of our faculty and staff is important, and our Capstone Awards provide a meaningful way to do that. I encourage you to submit nominations, many of which are due in March. A number of awards will be presented at spring Campus Assembly on Apr. 22, with additional details about the event to be shared soon.
- Our campus is in good hands. Through the Office of Emergency Management and experts like UA meteorologist Sarah Johnston, we continue to strengthen how we monitor weather conditions, communicate clearly and keep our community informed.
Voices of UA
“I began my research journey in the Emerging Scholars program, and I’ve learned that in research, failure is valuable. Every fail is another data point that tells an important story. So if you are a new researcher, you must get comfortable with occasional cluelessness. See it as motivation to keep learning and to keep asking important questions.”
- Pharris Livingston, junior majoring in chemistry and psychology; STEM Path to the MBA; McCollough Institute minor in interdisciplinary studies in medicine; Emerging Scholars