Last Lecture nominations being held

The Last Lecture, scheduled for May 1, will feature a UA faculty member - nominated by students and selected by a student committee - giving a lecture as if it were his or her last.

Natalie Adams, assistant dean of the graduate school, began this project last year. Many universities are hosting a Last Lecture Series and sponsoring this event at the Capstone would be a way for the graduate school to have a more visible presence on campus, she said.

"I thought it would be an excellent idea to bring all parts of the University together," Adams said.

Adams said she would like to see 250 nominations. Nominations can be made online at www.graduate.ua.edu or by turning in a nomination form available in the graduate school office. Students must explain in 100 words or less why they believe a particular member of the UA faculty deserves to be heard in the Last Lecture. Feb. 29 is the last day for nominations.

The appointed student committee of eight, comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students, has the final say on which faculty member will give the Last Lecture, she said.

"It is a really cool committee to be on because it is very student driven," Adams said. "They are solely responsible for the winner."

Alexa Stabler, a junior majoring in telecommunication and film, is on the committee and said nominating a professor enables students to give other students a chance to hear their favorite faculty member speak.

"I like to think of it as a public way of saying 'thank you' to a faculty member that has made an impact on you," Stabler said.

Ron Dulek, a business professor, gave the Last Lecture in 2007.

Dulek said it was the highlight of his career because it is a student-centered award. He said it is important that the University has the Last Lecture Series because it shows the importance of student and teacher relations.

Adams said the student committee looks for creativity and someone who can appeal to a wide audience in the nomination.

The nominations are broken down to semifinalists and a finalist group of 10. The student committee then gathers additional information on the finalist nominees by attending some of the faculty members' classes and interviewing students, Adams said.