Adriel D. Johnson, Sr. Mentoring Award

New – Adriel D. Johnson, Sr. Mentoring Award

Alabama Academy of Science


The Alabama Academy of Science is pleased to announce the Dr. Adriel D. Johnson, Sr. Mentoring Award and Call for Nominations for the 2024 Award to be given at the 101st Annual Meeting at jacksonville State University.

Dr. Adriel D. Johnson, Sr., PhD, was a native of Tuskegee Alabama and following graduation from Tuskegee Institute High School, earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Johnson earned two master’s degrees – one in biology-population genetics from Tennessee Technological University in 1981, and the second in biology-muscle protein biochemistry from University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in 1986. Dr. Johnson earned his doctorate in Animal Science and Nutritional Physiology from North Carolina State University (1989). Dr. Johnson was a member of the biology faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for over twenty years.

During his career, Dr. Johnson mentored and encouraged countless students across the United States in STEM degree attainment. He served as the faculty advisor for multiple student groups and held leadership roles in the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participants, the Bridge to Doctorate, and the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) programs. He received numerous awards including the NASA/ASEE Award for Research and Summer Research Mentor Award, and UAH Student Government Association Outstanding Faculty Award.

Serving his community, Dr. Johnson was a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, mentored hundreds of scouts through Merit Badge advisement in the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and served as a coach for community baseball. He was a life member of the Alabama Academy of Science (AAS), providing significant leadership as an officer and member of the AAS Executive Committee. His students presented to the Annual Meeting, and he served in numerous roles in the Academy.  His vision for the Academy included growing its mentoring of students across all educational and professional levels. He was beloved by students and colleagues alike.

Though he encouraged and mentored all students, mentored faculty colleagues and other professionals, he had a deep passion and commitment to mentoring minority students. He is one of the consummate models of mentoring. One of his favorite phrases was “Success equals Graduation.”

Call for Nominations

The Adriel D. Johnson, Sr. Mentoring Award is instituted in this the 101st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Alabama Academy of Science to recognize outstanding mentors at the collegiate and high school levels.

Criteria:

  1. Resident, native or previous resident of Alabama.
  • Evidence of exceptional mentoring of individuals in Alabama. These may be high school students, college students, graduate students, faculty, colleagues, scientists, professionals, or others.

Other related information: Nominees should not have received the mentoring award the past ten years; if received previously the nominee should demonstrate novel impacts that differentiate from the previous award. Nominations remain active for three years; however, they may be updated before the end of that three-year period. Nominees should not have been subjected to penalties or under current investigation for issues such as harassment. Individuals do not have to be a member of the Alabama Academy of Science to receive a nomination. Awards may vary from recognition to monetary awards after the AAS Adriel Johnson Mentoring Endowment is established.

Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of the AAS Awards Committee, Prakash Sharma, pcsharma@hotmail.com by January 15.

The nominations for the Adriel Johnson Award of the Alabama Academy of Science distinction should consist of the following documents, which must be received by January 15.
(i) Formal Nomination Letter highlighting the individual’s contributions through mentoring in science
(ii) Vitae and at least three letters of references from experts who support this nomination and can address the contributions through mentoring in science and service to the Academy, one of which should be from a person mentored by the nominee, and

(iii) A one-page citation that can be used for presentation of the award.

The Inaugural Award will be presented at the 101st annual meeting banquet on Thursday evening.