By Naima SalvaryPhoto by Jordan WaldThree years ago in May 2023, Ashley Jones-Thompson hung up her cap and decided to leave her teaching position at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) to lead the UAB Honors college. Now she’s back, as the head of the creative writing department replacing long-time chair and former colleague, TJ Beitelman. Jones-Thompson, … [Read more...]
Show Me The Line: A new documentary highlights the rollercoaster of fertility medicine and the power of art to connect us
By Nausicaa ChuBirmingham’s Emily Capilouto knows her way around the healthcare system. She worked in India on cervical cancer screening access, has two master’s degrees in epidemiology and medical anthropology and directs outreach initiatives for prostate cancer at the Mike Slive Foundation.But nothing could have prepared her for her quest to … [Read more...]
Spirituality in the Key of D: John Burruss on the parallels between art and ministry
By Lee HurleyPhotos by Jordan WaldThe Reverend John Burruss will tell you that his musical life is not merely a hobby or an interlude from his calling in the ministry. Music and ministry are not separate tracks in his life. They are different forms of the same calling. Burruss, rector of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal church in Mountain Brook, traces his … [Read more...]
Alec Lewis Writes Sports
By Lee HurleyAn Army Colonel once said to me, “Son, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who know what they want and those who don’t.” I was scared he might ask me which one I was, so I nodded quickly, but it reminded me of the joke, “I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.” Indecisive does not apply to Alec Lewis. The Mountain Brook native … [Read more...]
Mary Raines Alexander Receives Fulbright U.S. Student Award for 2026-2027
Mary Raines Alexander, a recent graduate of Northeastern University and a Mountain Brook High School alum, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan for the 2026-2027 academic year. As a Fulbright ETA, Alexander will teach young Taiwanese students English in Taichung, Taiwan, for approximately … [Read more...]