They are Barb Bondy, Art; Brigitta Brunner, Communication and Journalism; Jeff Jakeman, History; Jim Johnston, Psychology; and Carole Zugazaga, Sociology. The program is designed to support superior faculty in the college, and, through the quality of the recipients' work, to strengthen student and faculty engagement in the local community as well as nationally and internationally. Each chosen faculty member will hold the title of CLA Engaged Scholar for a three-year appointment and will receive an annual supplement of $5,000. A committee selected the five recipients based on exemplary professional citizenship and participation in promoting the college's commitment to civic engagement.

The Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) named Myers as "Social Worker of the Year" for 2008. NASW is the foremost professional organization for the social work profession. They garner nominations from the eight chapters in Alabama and the nominees are sent to the State Office for consideration. Myers received her award recently at the state NASW meeting in Tuscaloosa.

Myers, MSW, LCSW is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Social Work Program since 1995. She earned her MSW from Louisiana State University and BSW from the University of Southern Maine. She teaches and conducts clinical research in aging, adoptions, HIV/AIDS, addictions and community practice. Her outreach efforts include: serving on the East Alabama Services for the Elderly board, is a founding member of East Alabama AIDS Outreach, and participates in several outreach efforts with East Alabama Medical Center . As a private independent practitioner of social work, she conducts adoption home studies and co-facilitates an adoption support group through the Alabama Post Adoptions Connections.

Her University service includes serving on the President's Diversity Leadership Council, the Title XI Committee and Women's Studies Committee. She is the local chapter advisor for Alpha Delta Mu, a National Social Work Honor Society.

The Office of the Vice President for University Outreach has awarded more than $100,000 in competitive Outreach Schoarshop Grants to six faculty initiatives for 2007-08.

Royrickers Cook, assistant vice president for university outreach, noted that the program provides AU faculty members with resources to connect their research with pressing needs of the state.

Six projects were funded out of 23 proposals submitted for the competitive grant program.

"The Outreach Scholarship Grants Review Committee felt these proposals show enormuous potential for connecting research to the direct benefit of external audiences," said Cook. "These projects will contribute greatly to Auburn University's efforts toward improving the quality of life for individuals, organizations, counties and towns throughout the state of Alabama," he added.

One of the projects selected for funding is Jennifer Gillis' project on Providing Diagnostic Services to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Training, Tele-Health, and Sevice Demonstration Project that is going to deliver low-cost diagnostic and follow-up services to students and their families.