On January 30, 2026, four Blackburn Fellows were recognized as recipients of the University of Alabama's 18 Under 31 Young Alumni award. The 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Awards honor The University of Alabama’s legendary young alumni who have made a vital impact on their industry, field or community. Dr. Jay Little Cunningham Dr. Jay…
A member of the Blackburn Institute Class of 2020, Trinity Hunter’s connection to Blackburn has only deepened with time. What began as a formative student experience has grown into a lasting commitment rooted in shared values, meaningful relationships, and a belief that people truly make a place. Over the past six years, Trinity has witnessed…
This week, the University of Alabama System announced the 18 students selected for the 2026 class of Capitol Scholars. The Capitol Scholars is “an immersive summer internship program in Washington, D.C., for exceptional University of Alabama System students who plan to pursue a career opportunity in or around the government” (University of Alabama System). Three…
The Blackburn Institute is excited to announce the results of the 2025 Daniel Community Scholars Competition. Each Blackburn New Student Class is divided into teams to develop community-based grant proposals to compete for funding. Through the Daniel Community Scholars Endowed Support Fund, The Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds Blackburn student-led initiatives to address the needs of Alabama…
When Ted Hosp first came to Alabama, he thought it would be for just one year. A native of the Northeast who grew up in the New York area, he moved south in 1994 to clerk for Federal Judge Harold Albritton in Montgomery. Thirty-one years later, he’s still here, having built a career, a family,…
Jay Little Cunningham is a class of 2017 Blackburn Fellow. He is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at DePaul University. What have you been up to since graduating from UA? Since graduating from UA in 2019, I earned my M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington, becoming…
Blackburn Fellow John Richardson (left) was an Eisenhower Global Scholar at the University of Oxford in 2024-2025, where he pursued a Masters of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government (BSG). Here, he reflects on his time abroad and the lessons learned through the program. On Academics The academic experience deepened in both substance…
Originally from Shelby County, Whitney Miller Nichols now calls the Montgomery area home, where she lives with her husband and their two children. A proud two-time graduate of The University of Alabama, Whitney holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UA. Her graduate degree set her on the path that led to her current…
Hailey Adams (Blackburn Class of 2024) is a junior majoring in Public Relations on the CREATE Path to MBA. Adams was crowned Miss University of Alabama on Saturday, October 10, 2025. On October 10, I was incredibly honored to be crowned Miss University of Alabama 2026 at the historic Bama Theatre. As a Birmingham native…
