TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama Graduate School recently awarded 2002-2003 fellowships to six new graduate students through multiple programs designed to increase and retain the number of minorities in university faculty positions.

With the six new fellowship recipients, UA has more than 35 graduate students on campus who are enrolled in the minority fellowship programs. More than 85 graduate students have participated in the programs in the last 15 years. The fellowship programs place a special emphasis on encouraging graduate students to become faculty members at colleges and universities in Alabama.

Ramona Hyman and Sheri Stanley, both of Huntsville; Kheila Holmes of Fayetteville, Ark.; Damita Martin of Peoria, Ill.; Shelby Shuler of Columbia, S.C.; and Shayla Chambliss, of Hurtsboro, all received new awards.

Chambliss, Martin and Shuler received Future Faculty Fellowships, one of the UA Graduate School’s most successful fellowship programs. Based on departmental nominations, the program provides stipends and tuition scholarships for minority graduate students who plan to become college or university professors. Program priorities are to provide funds to attract new minority graduate students to UA and funds for doctoral scholars who may later become UA faculty members.

Holmes received a fellowship through the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars program. Fifty-two major doctoral programs nationwide participate in this program, and The University of Alabama has been recognized as being one of the top universities in enrollment of scholars since the program’s inception. The program partner in Alabama is the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and fellowship recipients are encouraged to pursue doctoral degrees and become Alabama college professors. Recipients are awarded tuition scholarships, annual stipends, and departmental assistantships.

Hyman and Stanley, current faculty members at Oakwood College and Alabama A&M University, respectively, were awarded the Joint Minority Faculty Development fellowships. Implemented in 1989, this program is for active college teachers in Alabama who do not have a terminal degree in their field of instruction.

Faculty members receiving this fellowship receive support from both their home institution and a stipend and scholarship from The University of Alabama Graduate School. Participating institutions in this program include Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, and Oakwood College.

These six honorees will be recognized in a reception on Wednesday, Sept. 25 on the UA campus.