Featured Stories
Winona State University Expands Housing Capacity to Meet Strong Student Demand
WINONA, Minnesota, July 9 -- Winona State University issued the following news:
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Winona State Expands Housing Capacity to Meet Strong Student Demand
Continued strong enrollment at Winona State is driving expanded housing options for students and reinforcing the university's growing appeal among prospective students and families.
To meet demand for on-campus living, Winona State has secured additional student housing through a partnership with Studios on Huff for the 2026-27 academic year. The agreement adds approximately 50 new student spaces and will help transition students out of temporary
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WINONA, Minnesota, July 9 -- Winona State University issued the following news:
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Winona State Expands Housing Capacity to Meet Strong Student Demand
Continued strong enrollment at Winona State is driving expanded housing options for students and reinforcing the university's growing appeal among prospective students and families.
To meet demand for on-campus living, Winona State has secured additional student housing through a partnership with Studios on Huff for the 2026-27 academic year. The agreement adds approximately 50 new student spaces and will help transition students out of temporarybuild-up housing while maintaining access to campus life and resources.
Located directly across from the Kryzsko Commons Student Union, the Studios on Huff property will provide a dedicated residential community for Winona State students. The new spaces offer independent-style living with features students value, including air conditioning, wireless internet, and convenient proximity to academic buildings and student services. The residence floor will be secured with key fob access, and students will remain fully integrated into campus life through residential programming, meal plans, and university support services.
"This level of interest reflects the confidence students and families have in the value of a Winona State education," said Kenneth Janz, president of Winona State University. "Being recognized as 'Best in the Midwest' for more than two decades speaks to the strength of our academics, student support, and outcomes. And with a 97 percent job placement rate, our graduates are leaving Winona State prepared to build meaningful careers and contribute to their communities."
That success is translating into growing demand, Janz added.
"We continue to see significant momentum in enrollment, and it is clear that students are seeking an institution that delivers both quality and affordability," Janz said. "At Winona State, students find a transformative educational experience paired with real-world results, and that combination continues to resonate."
Growing interest from prospective students across the region and beyond continues to drive demand for both enrollment and on-campus housing, reinforcing Winona State's position as a top choice for students seeking a high-quality, affordable public university experience.
The Studios on Huff partnership is part of a broader residence life strategy as the university prepares for the opening of Foundation Hall in summer 2027. Designed to meet growing student housing needs and enhance the residential experience, Foundation Hall will feature 340 beds in a modern, student-centered environment. The new residence hall will provide comfortable living spaces, modern amenities, and welcoming community areas that support student success, connection, and wellbeing. The project will create flexibility for future renovations of existing residence halls while maintaining overall housing capacity. As part of the Winona State 2035 vision, Foundation Hall advances the Warrior Shield pillar through investments in the sustainable, responsive environments students need to thrive and reflects Winona State's commitment to providing a welcoming residential experience that helps every Warrior feel connected, supported, and at home.
For more information, visit https://wsu.mn/housing.
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About Winona State University
Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a comprehensive, regional public university with campuses in Winona and Rochester. The oldest member of the Minnesota State system, WSU offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs in five colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing & Health Sciences, and Science & Engineering.
Winona State is ranked 2nd among Minnesota Universities and 22nd across the entire Midwest region (U.S. News and World Report, 2025-26). It has been named among the "Best in the Midwest" by The Princeton Review for 22 consecutive years.
The University generates $447.9 million in economic impact for the region per year. The university's mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities it serves: a community of learners improving our world. For more information, visit winona.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.winona.edu/23624/winona-state-expands-housing-capacity-to-meet-strong-student-demand/
University of Nebraska: Study Explores Social Media's Role in Tornado Disaster Communication
LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 9 (TNSjou) -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Study explores social media's role in tornado disaster communication
By Deann Gayman, University Communication and Marketing
When a powerful EF-4 tornado tore through Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 24, 2023, social media became a critical tool for sharing weather warnings, damage reports and recovery information. But a new study from University of Nebraska-Lincoln media scholar Cory Armstrong found that the same disaster also exposed persistent communication gaps facing rural and underserved
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LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 9 (TNSjou) -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Study explores social media's role in tornado disaster communication
By Deann Gayman, University Communication and Marketing
When a powerful EF-4 tornado tore through Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 24, 2023, social media became a critical tool for sharing weather warnings, damage reports and recovery information. But a new study from University of Nebraska-Lincoln media scholar Cory Armstrong found that the same disaster also exposed persistent communication gaps facing rural and underservedcommunities.
By analyzing social media activity before, during and after the tornado, which killed 17 people and injured dozens more, Armstrong and University of Alabama researcher Matthew Van Dyke found that digital platforms helped spread information throughout the disaster. At the same time, interviews with emergency managers and weather officials revealed ongoing challenges ranging from limited broadband access to fragmented media, raising questions about how best to reach vulnerable populations during life-threatening events.
The case study (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/30497841261450131) can help inform emergency management entities everywhere and adds to Armstrong's expertise in, and research on, severe weather messaging and how individuals use traditional and emerging media to make decisions during weather events.
"Every disaster is unique, but there are patterns," said Armstrong, Pike Professor of Journalism. "The first thing that breaks down is communication -- that's the first thing that happens when a disaster starts. We can learn something from each disaster and each event and figure out where we fell short. How can we do things better?"
The Rolling Fork tornado presented several challenges for sharing information. First, it was a nighttime tornado. Second, Rolling Fork is a small rural community, more than an hour's drive from the nearest metro. About 30% of its population was living in rented mobile homes, and more than 20% was considered living in poverty.
Armstrong and Van Dyke tracked social media activity on X, formerly Twitter, over a 120-day period, from two weeks prior to the storm through July 8, 2023, separating the posts over three periods of time: preparedness, before and during the storm; response, the 48-hour period after the storm; and recovery, through the end of the 120-day period.
Among the social media posts cataloged by the researchers, posts regarding damage remained frequent through all three time periods studied. Weather information was shared the most over the preparedness and response phases. Posts regarding news about the tornado were highest in the recovery period, which Armstrong said likely reflects how far Rolling Fork is from Jackson, Mississippi, the closest city with an over-the-air news station, 85 miles away.
Armstrong was surprised at limited discussion surrounding blame, specifically focused on government, and that there was a lot of discussion about storm chasers in the recovery phase weeks after, garnering nearly 15% of mentions.
The researchers also interviewed local, state and federal disaster personnel, including weather forecasters and emergency management workers. Most shared concerns about various barriers to disseminating information to rural areas, including lack of broadband access, news coverage and a fractured media landscape where people get information from many media channels.
"It's not one message that fits everything," Armstrong said. "A uniform message works for a percentage, and I'm going to say most of the population, but there is going to be a percentage of population that cannot get or hear that message. If we really want to make sure that we're doing a public safety catch-all, we need to be addressing all of our populations."
Armstrong also pointed out that transient communities, where renting is more common than home ownership, likely need more communication related to finding shelter and safety away from the hazard -- before a disaster strikes.
"We have to be thinking about what are the messages that we give to people in underserved populations that are in communities that can't evacuate," she said. "This one uniform message isn't enough. We have to kind of say, if that's not possible, then here is strategy B, here is strategy C."
Armstrong is expanding her research into communication in rural communities during disasters, especially in Nebraska.
"We're looking at all disasters, including wildfires, and how rural areas can develop and deploy communication strategies," she said. "We know that some counties or entities do things well, but a disaster doesn't stop at a county line. How can we share those resources and plans across counties and states? We're still seeing a lot of silos."
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Original text here: https://news.unl.edu/article/study-explores-social-medias-role-in-tornado-disaster-communication
UW-Green Bay and Schreiber Foods Partner to Build Northeast Wisconsin's Next Generation of Leaders
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, July 9 -- The University of Wisconsin Green Bay campus issued the following news release:
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UW-Green Bay and Schreiber Foods Partner to Build Northeast Wisconsin's Next Generation of Leaders
Two of Northeast Wisconsin's most respected business executives will step into the classroom this fall as Schreiber Foods CEO Ron Dunford and Principal of Partner and Board Engagement Cheryl Conley, join UW-Green Bay to teach "Leadership That Matters: From Vision to Impact."
The series is designed as a working lab for leadership, focused on decision-making, strategy and execution
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, July 9 -- The University of Wisconsin Green Bay campus issued the following news release:
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UW-Green Bay and Schreiber Foods Partner to Build Northeast Wisconsin's Next Generation of Leaders
Two of Northeast Wisconsin's most respected business executives will step into the classroom this fall as Schreiber Foods CEO Ron Dunford and Principal of Partner and Board Engagement Cheryl Conley, join UW-Green Bay to teach "Leadership That Matters: From Vision to Impact."
The series is designed as a working lab for leadership, focused on decision-making, strategy and executionthrough people. Participants will build the skills to lead in today's state of constant change, align teams and deliver measurable outcomes in fast-moving environments. From emerging professionals to experienced executives, the course develops leaders who act decisively, think strategically and build high-performing teams.
Dunford leads one of Green Bay's most influential global companies - Schreiber Foods, recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers - and brings four decades of experience building people, culture and results into this fall's new program.
"Curiosity and continuous learning drive success," said Dunford. "We're giving leaders practical guidance and coaching they can use right away to make their teams stronger and more effective, challenging them to think differently about how they lead."
Monthly sessions are held in-person at Schreiber Foods, giving participants direct exposure to a values-driven, globally scaling organization headquartered in Northeast Wisconsin. Dunford partners with Conley, a longtime Schreiber leader specializing in employee and board engagement, to deliver insights grounded in organizational complexity.
The course is part of UW-Green Bay's expanding continuing education leadership portfolio--programming designed to strengthen the region's leadership pipeline and delivered by highly regarded regional leaders. From Supervisory Essentials and Advanced Supervisory Leadership to Nonprofit Leadership, and women's Emerging and Advanced Leadership, each experience equips professionals to lead where it matters most: in their teams, their organizations and their communities.
UW-Green Bay continues to invest in creating leaders who challenge assumptions, move forward with purpose, and deliver results that last. That's the kind of leadership that defines the future--and reflects a university built to rise.
For more information and to secure your spot in the "Leadership That Matters: From Vision to Impact" cohort, visit the website or contact Jess Lambrecht, executive officer for UW-Green Bay Continuing Education and Workforce Training.
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About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,519 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 101,000 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. With campus locations in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and a theatre in Marinette, the University's access mission welcomes all students who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise - Wisconsin's fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/releases/07/08/schreiber-ceo-dunford-leads-class-at-uwgb/
Tuskegee University's Athletics Leader Delivers Heartfelt Remarks During Sports Month at Kiwanis Club of Montgomery
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, July 9 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee's Athletics leader delivers heartfelt remarks during Sports Month at The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery
Crystal Drake
For Reginald Ruffin, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director, the mission of the Kiwanis Club is deeply personal.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi and raised in Lisman, Alabama, it was there that the local Kiwanis Club "spoke life into me," Ruffin said, visibly emotional from the memory, during his remarks at The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery meeting this week.
The
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TUSKEGEE, Alabama, July 9 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee's Athletics leader delivers heartfelt remarks during Sports Month at The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery
Crystal Drake
For Reginald Ruffin, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director, the mission of the Kiwanis Club is deeply personal.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi and raised in Lisman, Alabama, it was there that the local Kiwanis Club "spoke life into me," Ruffin said, visibly emotional from the memory, during his remarks at The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery meeting this week.
TheKiwanis Club of Meridian stepped in when Ruffin's hopes to participate in youth athletic programs were in jeopardy because of financial hardship many young players faced.
"They said 'we got you' and did not let the cost of fees and equipment stop me and other youth leaguers from playing football, this sport we all loved," he said. "The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery didn't know this story when they asked me to do this. Above all else, I accepted this invitation to speak because I wanted to say this publicly to The Kiwanis Club as an organization. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Ruffin then went on to get into the details of his brand of leadership - he calls it the Ruffin Effect - and the exciting work happening at Tuskegee to continue advancing Tuskegee University's student-athlete model in men and women's sports - including a new sport for the university, men's and women's soccer, which will debut in August.
"It is a profound honor to walk the hallowed grounds of Tuskegee and to be challenged by our president and CEO, Dr. Mark Brown, in this Renaissance Era," said Ruffin. "The best is yet to come," he said of Dr. Brown's vision for the university and the rebirth of the university's mission.
Ruffin's leadership prowess has been illustrated over and over at the university. Most recently, in a landmark achievement that further defines the Renaissance Era through the athletics lens, it was announced last month that Tuskegee has been recognized as the premier academic athletic program in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after an unprecedented performance in the SIAC's 2025-26 Academic Awards. Tuskegee University led the SIAC in team academic honors while also earning the distinction of posting the highest combined cumulative GPA among all men's sports, all women's sports, and all student-athletes across the conference during the 2025-26 academic year. In addition, Tuskegee captured an extraordinary 12 team academic championships.
A seasoned athletic leader with more than 20 years of experience in higher education and college athletics, Ruffin leads the Tuskegee Athletics program's comprehensive strategy focused on, as he often frames it, the university's goal to "educate, motivate and graduate" every student-athlete.
During a Q&A session, Ruffin was asked what attributes are highest on his list when he evaluates interested candidates.
"I want to find the person who truly wants to be here," he said. "The scholar who is working to be the next engineer, architect, or veterinarian - because we are granting degrees in all of that and more - and who understands that his or her athletics prowess can be the way to get them there."
Ruffin was also frank when asked about the changing college athletics landscape and the realities of what NIL means to even the strongest programs.
Regardless of those challenges, Ruffin shared that he was optimistic about the future of Tuskegee Athletics and proud of recent upgrades to playing fields, training facilities and players lounges that address some concerns from a generation of students who make different demands than in Ruffin's heyday as a college powerhouse at the University of North Alabama.
He spent several years as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tuskegee University from 2006 until 2010. In 2011, he took the helm at Miles College as head coach and athletic director. Over 10 seasons at Miles College, he guided the Golden Bears to seven SIAC Championship appearances, winning four titles and earning three SIAC Coach of the Year honors. His teams also advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice. Ruffin is a member of the Miles College Sports Hall of Fame.
Ruffin returned to Tuskegee University as head coach and athletic director in 2022 and immediately revitalized the football program, leading the Golden Tigers to an 8-3 record, eclipsing the 700 all-time win mark for the program, and reaching the SIAC Championship Game.
The Kiwanis Club of Montgomery was chartered in 1919 and currently holds the ranking of the fourth largest Kiwanis Club in the world, out of 8,000 clubs within Kiwanis International, its parent organization.
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Original text here: https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/2026/07/Tuskegees-Athletics-leader-delivers-heartfelt-remarks-during-Sports-Month-at-The-Kiwanis-Club-of-Montgomery.html
Rose State College Expands Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Oklahoma's Healthcare Workforce
MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma, July 9 -- Rose State College issued the following news:
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Rose State College Expands Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Oklahoma's Healthcare Workforce
As Oklahoma continues to face growing demand for healthcare professionals, Rose State College has taken another step toward meeting that need with the completion of its expanded Health Sciences Center.
College leaders, students, faculty, community partners, architects, and construction teams celebrated the event Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony recognizing the expansion and the opportunities
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MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma, July 9 -- Rose State College issued the following news:
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Rose State College Expands Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Oklahoma's Healthcare Workforce
As Oklahoma continues to face growing demand for healthcare professionals, Rose State College has taken another step toward meeting that need with the completion of its expanded Health Sciences Center.
College leaders, students, faculty, community partners, architects, and construction teams celebrated the event Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony recognizing the expansion and the opportunitiesit will create for future healthcare professionals.
The addition boosts Rose State College's ability to educate more students in high-demand healthcare fields by providing modern instructional spaces designed to support hands-on learning, collaboration, and workforce training.
"Healthcare is one of Oklahoma's fastest-growing industries, and our responsibility is to ensure students have access to the education, technology, and experiences they need to succeed," said Rose State College President Travis Hurst. "This expansion represents an investment not only in our students, but in the future health and well-being of communities across our state."
RSC Dean Hoisington officially dedicated the expanded facility before President Hurst, members of the Rose State College Board of Regents, project partners, and student representatives gathered for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Guests then toured the new spaces and learned how the expansion will enhance student learning and prepare graduates for careers in Oklahoma's healthcare workforce.
The Health Sciences Center expansion reflects Rose State College's continued commitment to workforce development by creating additional capacity for healthcare education and providing students with learning environments that mirror today's clinical settings. The facility will support the College's mission to prepare skilled healthcare professionals ready to meet the needs of employers and the communities they serve.
Rose State College offers a variety of health sciences programs that prepare students for careers in nursing, allied health, emergency medical services, and other in-demand healthcare professions.
Visit Rose State College's Health Sciences (https://rose.edu/programs/?wpv_view_count=160&wpv_post_search=&wpv-subject%5B%5D=health-sciences&wpv_filter_submit=Submit) for more information.
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Original text here: https://rose.edu/rose-state-college-expands-health-sciences-center-to-strengthen-oklahomas-healthcare-workforce/
Private Gift Brings Two Ami Humanoid Robots to University of Colorado, Expanding Access to Robotics and Physical AI
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, July 9 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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Private gift brings two Ami humanoid robots to UCCS, expanding access to robotics and physical AI
Thanks to the generosity of donor Joanne Posner-Mayer, our campus has welcomed two "Ami Desktop" humanoid robots to campus, creating new opportunities for teaching, research and community engagement centered on robotics and physical artificial intelligence.
The robots will be housed in Kraemer Family Library and coordinated through C3 Innovation as shared university resources available to
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, July 9 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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Private gift brings two Ami humanoid robots to UCCS, expanding access to robotics and physical AI
Thanks to the generosity of donor Joanne Posner-Mayer, our campus has welcomed two "Ami Desktop" humanoid robots to campus, creating new opportunities for teaching, research and community engagement centered on robotics and physical artificial intelligence.
The robots will be housed in Kraemer Family Library and coordinated through C3 Innovation as shared university resources available tofaculty, students and campus partners.
The robots were acquired entirely through Posner-Mayer's private philanthropic gift. No university operating funds, tuition dollars, student fees or state appropriations were used to purchase the robots.
Manufactured by Engineered Arts, a robotics company based in Cornwall, United Kingdom, the Ameca robotics line is recognized internationally as one of the world's most advanced humanoid robotics platforms. The system combines expressive human interaction with artificial intelligence to create a platform for education, research and public demonstration of emerging technologies.
One of the earliest academic partners will be the College of Engineering and Applied Science, where the robots will provide students and faculty opportunities to explore robotics, human-robot interaction and the growing field of physical AI. There are also research opportunities already being discussed with the College of Education. As UCCS continues developing opportunities in robotics education and research, Ami offers a hands-on platform for experiential learning and studies on the human-computer interaction.
Kraemer Family Library and C3 Innovation will also use Ami to expand campuswide AI literacy, helping students from every discipline engage thoughtfully with emerging technologies while exploring their opportunities, limitations and societal impacts. The robots will support classroom demonstrations, interdisciplinary research projects, student organization events, public engagement programming, K-12 STEM outreach, innovation showcases and digital storytelling.
Demonstrations and interactions are intentionally structured around educational experiences, and the robots operate within clearly defined technical and privacy limitations established for campus use.
The C3 Innovation Co-Founders Seth Porter and Ben Kwitek shared their excitement and gratitude for this gift.
"Joanne Posner-Mayer's generosity has created an extraordinary opportunity for our students and faculty," they said. "Her gift allows UCCS to explore one of the fastest-growing areas of technology without drawing on university operating funds, while ensuring that students across every discipline can engage with the future of robotics and artificial intelligence."
Each college and the Division of Student Life will be invited to designate a Robot Ambassador who can connect faculty, staff and students with programming opportunities.
Later this fall, Kraemer Family Library and C3 Innovation will launch a reservation process allowing instructors, researchers, departments and recognized student organizations to request Ami for courses, research projects and campus events.
The Video Production team documented the arrival of the robots, including the unboxing, activation and first campus demonstrations, with a feature video currently in production.
Additional programming will be announced throughout the semester as Ami begins appearing during special library programming and through educational videos on the Kraemer Family Library YouTube channel.
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Original text here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/07/08/private-gift-brings-two-ami-humanoid-robots-to-uccs-expanding-access-to-robotics-and-physical-ai/
Dr. Karen Frith, Retired University of Alabama-Huntsville College of Nursing Dean, Leaves Legacy of Excellence, Innovation, Growth
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, July 9 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
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Dr. Karen Frith, retired UAH College of Nursing dean, leaves legacy of excellence, innovation, growth
Ann Marie Martin
Dr. Karen Frith smiles often as she talks about the students mentored, the programs begun and the advancements made during her 19 years in the College of Nursing at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System. But the newly retired dean wears a special smile of satisfaction when she mentions an expected increase in enrollment for fall 2026.
When
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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, July 9 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
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Dr. Karen Frith, retired UAH College of Nursing dean, leaves legacy of excellence, innovation, growth
Ann Marie Martin
Dr. Karen Frith smiles often as she talks about the students mentored, the programs begun and the advancements made during her 19 years in the College of Nursing at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System. But the newly retired dean wears a special smile of satisfaction when she mentions an expected increase in enrollment for fall 2026.
WhenFrith assumed the deanship in 2021, she faced a world-changing challenge. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, university enrollment in general was falling, and the College of Nursing's enrollment dropped because nurses were on the front lines treating patients with the deadly infection. As she led her college to address the issue, her strategies incorporated a significant component of her 42-year career as a nurse and nurse educator.
"I've always used technology to try to push healthcare and education," she says. "I was writing a regular column on emerging technology, and so I was reading deeply and broadly about different kinds of technology. I wanted to keep us at the forefront of technology use and development. At a science and technology university like UAH, that's important. We're a very strong nursing program, and we use technology to innovate."
To boost enrollment, technology produced a new recruiting tool designed to grab teens' attention.
"We worked with a company to develop our Discover Nursing app - augmented reality that we take into high school classrooms. We're the only college in the university that has it."
The app offers a virtual UAH nursing student describing the requirements of a good nurse - "You have to be sharp, steady and compassionate all at once" - as well as the ways UAH helps students achieve that goal through "hands-on training, high-tech simulations and support from professors." There's also a panoramic tour of the cutting-edge Simulation & Learning Innovation Center - "our best recruiting feature," Frith notes.
Finding the right path
Frith, a Decatur native, did not hear her calling to be a nurse in high school. Although her seventh-grade science teacher, Susan Estes, had inspired a fascination for the study of biology, Frith's love of singing in church choirs and school choruses led to a music major at Jacksonville State University. But as a freshman worried about job prospects, she questioned her dedication to music. Then she looked through a friend's fundamentals of nursing textbook.
"I had never thought about it at all. I was drawn to biological sciences, and when I saw it applied in nursing, that was my trigger to change my major."
Frith transferred to Auburn University, graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Early in the program, she told her advisor that she intended to teach nursing someday. Although Frith didn't know much about nursing at that time, she had long witnessed a teacher's drive and dedication in her mother, Ann Harris.
"The person who influenced me the most in my life was my mother. She was a third-grade teacher for many years and ultimately was a principal at one of the magnet schools in Decatur. She was my role model and professional mentor from a very young age."
Her mother's best friend, Dr. Myra Ashley, inspired her to pursue her doctoral degree and teach in higher education.
Frith served in clinical and administrative roles as a nurse for eight years while advancing her education. She received a Master of Science in Nursing in nursing administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1988.
She began her teaching career in 1992 as assistant professor of nursing at Georgia College & State University. While working as a nurse educator, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science with an education concentration in 2001. She rose to associate professor and chair of the Department of Healthcare Systems and Informatics in the School of Nursing. When the school added kinesiology and music therapy departments, she simultaneously served as department chair and graduate coordinator for all master's degrees in the newly formed School of Health Sciences.
In 2007 she returned to North Alabama and joined the UAH faculty as an associate professor of nursing with a focus on teaching and research; she was promoted to full professor in 2012.
Frith resumed an administrative role in 2015 when she became associate dean for undergraduate programs. Her focus included adopting a new curriculum and implementing stronger evaluation processes. When she became associate dean for graduate programs in 2018, she instituted computer-based testing, oversaw the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and served as the college's first Ph.D. coordinator.
Along with teaching and serving as an administrator, the third major focus of Frith's career was research. She has produced an extensive publication list that includes explorations of productivity and occupational stress in nursing, fall prevention in older adults and the use of AI in nursing. Research opportunities led to various adjunct faculty appointments, including at Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and the University of Rostock in Germany.
New routes to nursing
Ensuring top-quality nursing graduates has always been Frith's goal. A point of pride for the whole college is its first-time pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). In the past 10 years, 90% or more of the graduates hit the mark. In the past five years, the rate has never dipped below 99%, and in two of those years, it was 100%.
This outstanding pass rate helped her develop another long-held goal: an accelerated degree program.
"It's a fast-track program into nursing," she explains. "We developed it for people who already had a non-nursing degree but wanted a career change. It's been a highly successful program. We seated our fourth class in January, and we have a waiting list."
A key component to success was an apprenticeship option for educating nurses developed by the Alabama Board of Nursing and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship.
"We were the first in the nation to develop a second-degree program - finish in 11 months, entering in January, finishing in early December - paired with an apprenticeship at a hospital. There were other accelerated programs, but ours was the only one paired with an apprenticeship."
The program may be fast, but the pass rates are just as high.
Dean Frith also started two different master's degree tracks: psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and nursing education.
Expanding healthcare outreach
Along with raising the profile of the UAH College of Nursing and its students, Frith saw her deanship as an opportunity to benefit the larger community.
"Ours is not a preventive healthcare system, but that's where nurses really shine. In my presentation for this job, I talked about improving our community by engaging nurses in health advocacy, education and outreach to improve health equity."
In May 2024, the college hosted its first Health Equity Summit with leaders from government, corporate, nonprofit and academic sectors. The Health Equity Symposium followed in October 2024 with a broader community conversation addressing cognitive health, veterans care, and cancer prevention and support.
Then Frith created a new position - the college's first associate dean for research - and appointed Dr. Azita Amiri.
"Azita talked about how she would like to do this thing called Neighborhood Nursing. And I said, 'Let's do it!' This initiative combines the roles of a nurse - health education, health advocacy and making real changes in people's lives with preventive care before major illnesses develop."
They announced UAH Neighborhood Nursing on Oct. 21, 2025, at SHINE 2025 (Spotlighting Health Innovation and Neighborhood Engagement Symposium). The program began in select neighborhoods in January 2026.
"Faculty and students have seen over 500 neighbors," Frith says, "and they've had some really remarkable lifesaving things happen."
Ongoing passion for service
Frith enters retirement with the same energy and excitement she brought to nursing and teaching. Along with traveling and a return to gardening and other hobbies, she has a volunteer list: mentoring adolescent girls and working with older adults through UAH Neighborhood Nursing.
Before she cleared out her College of Nursing office, the bookcase behind her desk held a one-word sign - Mentor - that figuratively pointed both ways.
"A former student of mine gave me that. It encapsulates what my whole career has been about - mentoring others for success. It reminds me why I'm here. That piece can go into retirement, because mentoring doesn't stop when a career stops.
"I've done a lot of fun things. I've had a fantastic career. I've gotten to affect the lives of many people through my own direct care or indirectly through the care that our students, and ultimately graduates, have given to patients.
"Now I want to be as passionate about retirement as I've been about my career."
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Original text here: https://www.uah.edu/news/items/dr-karen-frith-retired-uah-college-of-nursing-dean-leaves-legacy-excellence-innovation-growth
