The BRIDGE Builders are a leadership team of undergraduate men of color who help first-year BRIDGE men construct their path at UA. The Builders have a primary role of connecting participants to the UA student experience and facilitating activities and dialogue among participants during the BRIDGE Kickoff event. The Builders offer their personal insight into what it means to be a student at UA, live by the Capstone Creed, and serve as a role model for BRIDGE students. To meet our 2023-2024 Team, please visit our BRIDGE Builders page. For more information on how to be a BRIDGE Builder or to connect with someone on the Team, email Dr. Kiara S. Summerville at kssummerville@ua.edu.
These two student leaders are senior-level Builders, appointed by professional staff members, who exemplify the spirit of the BRIDGE program. The Team Leads support our community by recruiting prospective students to BRIDGE, representing the program at internal and external UA events, developing meaningful relationships with their peers, and facilitating the August Kickoff.
The BRIDGE Student Executive Council is a group of upper-level BRIDGE men who support the program by planning large-group social events, organizing community service visits, and providing other social engagement opportunities for the overall BRIDGE community. Through their work, the Executive Council aims to foster a sense of community and belonging for all of the men involved in BRIDGE.
The BRIDGE Engagement & Academic Mentorship (BEAM) Program is an initiative that provides access to academic resources and extracurricular involvement for first-year BRIDGE men. In BEAM, first-year students are paired with an upper-level BRIDGE mentor to help with academics and campus engagement. The mentors are responsible for meeting with their BRIDGE mentee group regularly to help them understand academic expectations of college and how to become a campus leader. We host weekly study halls where BRIDGE students can foster a community of academic support. During our weekly BRIDGE study halls, we do presentations on vital topics regarding academic enrichment and professional development. Our topics range from Utilizing LinkedIn and Networking to Resume Workshops and Semester Planning. With the collaboration of many resources on campus, BEAM aims to develop a scholarly community of undergraduate men of color at The University of Alabama.
These two student leaders prepare the BEAM curriculum every week, communicate regularly with the upper-level mentors, and send helpful information to all of the first-year BRIDGE students.
These UA faculty and staff members support The Office of Student Academic Engagement and Advocacy by serving on the BRIDGE committee. They dedicate their time and talent to the success of the program.
Director
Student Academic Engagement & Advocacy
Coordinator
Student Academic Engagement & Advocacy
Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs
Coordinator of Career & Leadership Development
Alabama Athletics
Director
Blackburn Institute
Associate Dean, Chair of Department of Gender & Race Studies
Professor of Political Science
