Ethics Heroes

"Officer Doug Best goes above and beyond everyday while working the strip for UAPD. He watches over the kids and makes sure they are doing what's right. He helps admin with making sure that the Field Force gear is always put together. Officer Best makes sure his fellow officers are staying on the thin blue line and not falling off."

Officer Doug Best (left), Chief John Hooks (right)

"Marcia is very dedicated. She consistently goes above and beyond to support students—responding promptly to their emails and proactively reaching out to the appropriate contacts across UA to ensure their needs are met. She is an encyclopedia of our department in terms of administrative work. With many years of service at UA, Marcia remains an incredible source of support, always approaching her work with patience, kindness, and a genuine desire to help others. The load of work at the Math front office is unimaginable and yet she does not miss even one email to be answered or one task to be left undone or one person to not be helped. She is just exemplary in her dedication to work."

"Dr. Chiou meets all of the standards outlined in the Code of Ethical Conduct but exemplifies Standard 1. This is illustrated not only by her many years of leading the Ethics Bowl competition for the Society for American Archaeology (and training students at UA to become outstanding competitors!) but also by her current leadership of efforts to educate faculty and students alike in the ethical use of AI. Most recently, Dr. Chiou hosted a STRAKER (Student Training in Responsible AI Knowledge and Ethics Research) workshop at UA, which provided students and faculty the opportunity to learn about work happening across campus and farther afield. This workshop prepared us to take an ethics-driven approach to use of AI and was an inspiring opportunity – in fact, it has already changed the way I plan to educate students around challenging topics in several of my courses."

"Dr. Chiou hosted an AI Ethics Conference at UA last month, that was a wild success. It brought together three universities over three days. She is also a National Ethics Bowl judge.  First-rate ethicist."

(Left to Right) Kory Trott, Katherine Chiou, Sandy Woodson – Colorado School of Mines, Qin Zhu – Virginia Tech

"Emily’s unwavering dedication, exceptional work ethic, and outstanding organizational skills exemplify the core values outlined in the University of Alabama’s Standards. She consistently delivers excellence across education support, research coordination, administrative operations, and regulatory compliance, making her an exemplary candidate for this prestigious recognition. Emily’s contributions align with all eight of the University’s standards, and in this nomination, I offer my candid assessment of her performance in several key areas.

Standard 1 – Quality: Provide quality education, research, business interactions, healthcare, and other services

Emily’s commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of her work. She manages daily operations with precision and efficiency, contributing directly to the success of our academic and research programs. Over the past year, she has taken the lead on numerous complex projects, including coordinating the curriculum submission for a new master’s program set to launch in Fall 2026. Additionally, she successfully organized center open days, graduate school meetings, guest speaker events, and an international scientific advisory board meeting. Each initiative was executed seamlessly, showcasing her exceptional planning skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple high-stakes priorities simultaneously.

Beyond event coordination, Emily plays a vital role in research administration. She manages federally funded grant budgets, prepares competitive submissions in close collaboration with ORED, supports graduate and undergraduate students, and navigates complex regulatory requirements, all with minimal oversight. Her proactive and highly organized approach ensures that deadlines are consistently met and that compliance is upheld, reinforcing the University’s mission of delivering excellence in education and research.

Standard 2 – Respect: Treat individuals with respect

Emily is a model of inclusivity and respect. Her positive demeanor enhances every interaction, whether with students, faculty, staff, or senior administrators. She builds strong, trust-based relationships across all levels of the institution and is known for her ability to foster a collaborative, respectful work environment. Her recent initiatives, including a team-building event at Bowlero and pickleball tournament, highlight her commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for all.

Standard 3 – Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies

Emily consistently upholds the highest standards of legal and ethical compliance. She takes initiative in ensuring that university policies and funding regulations are followed meticulously, while also serving as a trusted point of contact for navigating complex procedures. Her attention to detail in reviewing grant calls and managing submissions demonstrates her integrity and accountability. Recently, she cleared a two-year backlog of electronic lab notebook updates, further exemplifying her dedication to operational compliance and research integrity.

Standard 7 – Safety and Security: Ensure a safe, secure, and healthy environment

Emily contributes to a safe and supportive workplace by promoting wellness and teamwork through community-building efforts. Her leadership fosters a healthy and productive atmosphere, even in high-pressure situations. Her calm composed presence and ability to manage overlapping projects without disruption ensure continuity and stability in the work environment.

Having worked across institutions in India, the UK, and the USA, I can confidently state that Emily is by far the most exceptional staff member I have encountered. Her professional excellence is matched only by her genuine care for the success of others. Emily’s dedication, outstanding performance, and consistent embodiment of the University of Alabama’s standards make her an invaluable asset to our community. I am honored to nominate her for this well-deserved recognition.”

"I am pleased to nominate Vanessa Goepel, Executive Director of the Office of Disability Services, for the Ethics Hero Award. Vanessa exemplifies the values of integrity, respect, and accountability in every aspect of her work. She consistently chooses to do what is right—even when it is not the easy path—by advocating for students with disabilities while balancing institutional policy and resource limitations with fairness and care.

Vanessa leads with empathy and professionalism, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration across campus. She approaches complex and often sensitive issues with clarity, discretion, and sound ethical judgment. Her work reflects an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and ethical excellence.

Although her team’s impact is often behind the scenes, the difference she makes is profound and enduring. Recognizing Vanessa as an Ethics Hero would not only be well-deserved, but also a fitting acknowledgment of the principled leadership she models every day."

"Mona definitely provides quality work and results for all that seek help from her. I work daily with Mona and she never takes shortcuts when researching how to complete a task. She goes above and beyond to fulfill work requests that are assigned to her and even assigned to others on her team. She is always ready to help others in order for the outcome to be the highest standard possible." 

"I am honored to nominate Cara Houser as an Ethics Hero. She is someone who lives out the values of the University of Alabama's Code of Ethical Conduct through her everyday actions. She leads with integrity- making tough decisions based not on what's convenient, but on what's right. She is honest, accountable, and takes her responsibilities seriously. I've seen her handle difficult moments with courage and transparency, always doing what is best for her team and the community, even when it isn't easy. She also models deep respect and kindness in every interaction, regardless of who they are or what they believe in. No matter who she's working with, she treats everyone equally- with dignity, fairness, and patience. As a person who works directly below her, I have always felt valued, seen, safe, and supported.  Cara goes above and beyond for the faculty, staff, and students and shows that she genuinely listens and cares to their questions, concerns, or ideas. I feel that this is an excellent reflection of the University of Alabama's commitment to inclusion and respect for all individuals and cultures. Her standard of excellence is just as clear. She does her work with care, and it's obvious that she takes pride in doing things the right way- not just for the results, but for the people involved. She does not seek recognition, but I hope this nomination helps her see just how much of an impact she makes. I'm truly grateful to work for her. "

"Consistently leads with integrity, honesty, accountability, and fairness. She always commits to doing her work with care for others, and goes above and beyond for everyone."

"Tom Moore goes above and beyond to ensure that UA’s code of ethical conduct is followed. In his short time in his position, he has worked hard to learn the rules and boundaries that govern the role for which he was hired. He has not only complied with applicable laws, regulations and policies, but he has created a culture of trust and compliance. Tom Moore understands why rules exist and how they positively affect an environmental outcome. "

"Stephanie goes above and beyond to make sure she is doing what is right to get the job done. It doesn't matter what anyone else does, she cannot be swayed. She knows how she wants to be treated, and she strives to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. She always makes sure to follow policy and procedure and would never take advantage of her position. Stephanie is truly my Ethics Hero!"

"Kathy Quinn goes above and beyond to treat everyone with respect and kindness. She remains professional and presentable at all times. She is someone that I look up to and I can count on her to always give the most ethical advice. She follows the rules, laws, regulations, contracts, and UA policies and procedures applicable to her work. She is a wonderful stewardess of UA's resources and time. As a coworker, she is always respectful and provides a professional work and educational environment."

"Susan Reynolds is an editor in our department, Alabama Heritage. She is tasked with working with authors, editors, and designers for our magazine. Within those responsibilities, Susan must uphold the majority of the codes of ethical conduct. For example, when she contracts with these vendors, she must ensure the invoices and billing are appropriate, compliant, and confidential, and that accurate payments are made in a timely fashion. She oversees the publication to ensure we're producing a quality product that represents us and the university well. She also makes presentations about our publication at various conferences and in the classroom. Susan is also a great leader in showing respect for differences and ensuring everyone has a voice."

Photo shows Susan Reynolds (on right) with her supervisor Rebecca Minder (left) at an Ethics in 8 year-end celebration.

"Jessica is our "compass" for ethical conduct here in the Office of Testing Services. Her model for integrity embodies all the standards that construct the UA Code of Ethical Conduct. Her work attitude always reflects her role as a team-player, but she is also a team-sharer. She makes regular, enhanced attempts to encourage and inform our small work group of "Ethics in Eight" and puts new concepts into practice immediately. Her commitment to ethical conduct verifies her presence in leadership and teamwork. We appreciate her genuine focus for recruiting others to share her own exemplary model of compliance, fairness, and respect in the Capstone community and beyond."

"It is with great pride that I nominate Iesha Smith for recognition under the Code of Ethical Conduct. Iesha consistently exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and ethical integrity in her role with Alabama REACH and the Capstone Center for Student Success. As a social worker committed to the NASW Code of Ethics, Iesha’s daily interactions with students—from marginalized backgrounds such as foster care and homelessness—reflect her deep dedication to fairness, transparency, and service.

Iesha is a dependable and accountable team member who completes tasks efficiently and consistently delivers high-quality support to students and colleagues alike. She actively fosters collaboration, contributes to team goals, and continually seeks professional growth through feedback and self-reflection. Her integrity is unwavering, and she models honesty and ethical behavior in all areas of her work.

Her communication style is clear, compassionate, and responsive—whether she is making campus referrals, supporting students in gaining admission to Crimson Scholars or Camp 1831, or celebrating their academic and personal milestones. Iesha’s genuine care is evident in the personal touches she adds—birthday shoutouts, congratulatory messages, and words of encouragement—that affirm students’ worth and potential.

Passionate about student development, Iesha helps students navigate personal and academic challenges with empathy and purpose. Her impact is lasting, her approach ethical and student-centered, and her commitment to excellence is unmatched. For these reasons, Iesha Smith deserves this recognition for her embodiment of the values in the Code of Ethical Conduct."

"Kathy completes tasks swiftly and follows the UA processes asking to verify the correct processes if unsure and encourages other to do the same. She keeps all parties informed that need kept in the know and is respectful to leadership."

"Dr. Todd goes over and beyond to help with anything in the Mechanical Engineering Dept.  She is committed of going out of her way to help students, other faculty members and staff personnel."

"Dr. Todd is a great faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department and is willing to help out in every way possible when needed.  She goes above and beyond her job duties as a faculty member and administrator."

"Dr. Todd is more than deserving for this award below is a list of things I have noticed from her since being here since February.

1. She's honest when performing her duties and always does it with a smile one her face.
2. She's by far the most respectful person I have ever met, and values all opinions.
3. Give's everybody equal opportunities.
4. Her laugh is contagious she's always able to find an answer on how to fix all things as well.
5. By far the most kindhearted person I have ever met in my life, she's a joy to work for. "