Three new deans begin duties this summer at the University of Alabama

Ken Roberts, The Tuscaloosa News
·3 min read

New deans will assume their duties this summer at the University of Alabama's Honors College, the nursing school and the law school.

Tiffany Sippial will begin her tenure as dean of UA's Honors College on July 5, while William S. Brewbaker III will start as dean of UA's School of Law on July 10.

More: Steven Hood named vice president of student life at University of Alabama

Julie Sanford will begin as dean of UA's Capstone College of Nursing on Aug. 1.

Here's a closer look at the new deans:

Tiffany Sippial

Sippial comes to UA from Auburn University, where she served five years as director of the Honors College. She also served as a professor of history.

She earned bachelor of arts degrees in Spanish and art history from Southwestern University, and then went on to earn a master of arts in Latin American studies and a doctorate in Latin American history from the University of New Mexico.

Tiffany Sippial will begin her tenure as dean of the University of Alabama's Honors College on July 5.
Tiffany Sippial will begin her tenure as dean of the University of Alabama's Honors College on July 5.

Sippial’s research has focused on the experience of women in Latin America and she's written two books about Cuba. She's described as a strong advocate for international student experiences, in a  UA news release.

“I am honored and humbled to serve as dean of the University of Alabama’s nationally ranked and widely celebrated Honors College,” Sippial said in the news release. “This is truly a dream opportunity to support and empower people, foster new initiatives, and guide growth in a college already considered a leader in honors education.”

William S. Brewbaker III

Brewbaker was the William Alfred Rose Professor of Law at UA's School of Law before being named dean.

He's a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He practiced law in Birmingham from 1986 to 1992, before leaving law practice to pursue a master of laws degree in health care law at Duke University.

William S. Brewbaker III was recently named the new dean for the University of Alabama School of Law. He'll begin the new duties July 10.
William S. Brewbaker III was recently named the new dean for the University of Alabama School of Law. He'll begin the new duties July 10.

Brewbaker became a full-time faculty member with the UA School of Law in 1993 and has taught courses in health care law, property law, antitrust and jurisprudence, as well as seminars in bioethics, law and economics, and Christian legal thought. His research interests include health care law and legal philosophy. He also had a stint as interim dean at UA's law school in 2013-14.

“Our goal will be to continue and improve upon our rich tradition of excellence in research, teaching and service to our profession, the state of Alabama and our nation," Brewbaker said in a UA news release. "We want to provide an outstanding educational experience for every one of our students while they are in law school and great professional opportunities when they graduate. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”

Julie Sanford

Sanford comes to UA after serving four years as dean and professor with the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from UA, a master of science in Nursing in adult health nursing and nursing education at the University of South Alabama and a doctor of nursing science degree from Louisiana State University.

Julie Sanford will begin her tenure as dean of the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing on Aug. 1.
Julie Sanford will begin her tenure as dean of the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing on Aug. 1.

In academic nursing since 1993, Sanford has served as director of the James Madison University School of Nursing and in other academic roles at Spring Hill College and the University of Southern Mississippi. She also worked as an emergency department nurse and progressed to professor at the University of South Alabama. Sanford’s scholarly interests include the health status of informal caregivers, program development, decision-making, patient safety and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

“Our world is changing, and we have the opportunity in academic nursing to shape our future and prepare nurses who are patient-centered and practice-ready. The next three to five years will be a time of transformation in nursing education with the transition to competency-based education,” Sanford said in a UA news release.

Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: New deans named at UA's law school, nursing school and Honors College