TUARA Spring Luncheon and Annual Meeting
This year’s Spring Luncheon and Annual Meeting sponsored by the UA President’s Office will be held at Hotel Capstone on Monday, April 14, 2025, from 11 am to 1 pm. The program will include remarks by Dr. Stuart R. Bell, University of Alabama president; remarks by Dr. Kevin Whitaker, TUARA president; presentation of TUARA awards; and election of new members to the TUARA Executive Board.
Candidates for TUARA Executive Board
An election for new members of the TUARA Executive Board will be held at the Annual Meeting on April 14, 2025. Six persons will be elected. The current Executive Board presents the following slate of candidates. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor.
Tim Hebson holds degrees from The University of Mobile, Samford University and The University of Alabama. He retired in May 2020 after 39 years in higher education to start his own consulting company, TSH Consulting LLC. The last 18 years were at UA. He was given the title “Dean of Students Emeritus” upon his retirement.
Dave Heggem has been a part of The University of Alabama for 48 years. He arrived in 1977 as a graduate assistant serving Coach C.M. Newton for three years. He then joined the Undergraduate Admissions Office for two years before moving to the University’s Orientation Office for seven years. In 1989, he completed his doctorate and then joined the Culverhouse College of Business as Director of Undergraduate Programs. Over the years, Dr. Heggem’s responsibilities grew, and he retired from the College as Associate Dean for Student Services in 2021.
Hank Lazer is Emeritus Associate Provost and Professor of English. He continues to teach in the Blount Scholars Program and for OLLI.
Kristina Patridge retired from UA in July 2024 after working with Dining Services for 24 years. She currently teaches group exercise at the University Recreation Center and is a project manager with Campus Dining, Inc., a higher education food service consulting firm.
David Wilson retired in January of 2024 after working at UA for over 30 years. He served as the Director of Alumni Funds.
Liza Wilson was a member of the faculty in the College of Education for over 30 years at UA. She held a number of administrative positions in the College of Education, including Senior Associate Dean and Interim Dean. She retired April 1, 2024.
Connect with TUARA
Follow TUARA on Facebook at facebook.com/tuara.ua.
Volunteer Hours
Whether you volunteer weekly or just occasionally, please report your volunteer hours to TUARA. We share reported hours with AERA. AERA, in turn, uses retirees’ volunteer hours statewide to demonstrate the value that retirees bring to Alabama’s economy and quality of life. It’s easy! Just email your hours, broken down by the categories in the chart below, to tuara.ua@gmail.com. Please report any previously unreported hours from January 1, 2024 through the present.
Service hours should include activities in Alabama for which you have not received financial reimbursement. Hours should also not include 1) Sunday school and church attendance, 2) Caring for family members, and 3) Participation in AERA activities on state committees or the Board of Directors. You may include hours spent on TUARA activities, except for attending board meetings.
| Categories | Examples | # of Service Hours |
| Arts | Children’s Hands-On Museum, theater, opera, arts | |
| Church | Church related service projects (not attendance for worship services) | |
| Civic | Organizational projects, civic and special interest | |
| Health | Bloodmobile, clinics, nursing home, nutrition, home care | |
| Education | Mentoring, literacy projects | |
| Transportation | Shopping, errands, escort services | |
| RSVP/Volunteer Programs | Shut-Ins, telephone, etc. | |
| Youth Work | Big Brothers Big Sisters, work related to youth programs | |
| TUARA | TUARA volunteer activities, administrative work, communications, etc. | |
| OLLI | Taking a class or a trip, teaching a course | |
| Other (specify) | ||
| Total Hours |
TUARA
• Advocates for retiree benefits on campus and in Montgomery
• Promotes retirees’ volunteer service
• Awards the Robert E. Witt First-Generation Scholarship
• Provides networking and fun with colleagues and friends
Annual membership is only $25! Visit www.tuara.ua.edu for more information.