FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama’s 29th Fall Academic Convocation is set for Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. in Norton Auditorium. The speaker for the event will be UNA alumna Dr. Tina Smith, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives for Development and Alumni Relations at Vanderbilt University.
Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in community counseling. In her role at Vanderbilt, she has the opportunity to engage with alumni in a variety of ways so that they might have more interactions with their alma mater. Smith said that mentors have been a key component of her career in higher education.
“Mentors in either a formal or informal capacity have been a part of my personal and professional development,” she said. “While at UNA, I had several mentors like Dr. Thomas Lovett and Ms. Barbara Morgan who guided me through the challenges and transitions into adulthood.”
Convocation is designed to welcome new freshmen and transfer students to the University. In addition to the speaker, a reception will take place after in the Guillot University Center Atrium for faculty and staff to greet new freshmen and transfer students.
The event is a joint sponsorship between the Office of the President and Phi Kappa Phi.
Media Release/Michelle Eubanks
Interim Associate Director
University Communications & Marketing/UNA