The University of South Alabama was established on May 3, 1963. The Mobile City Council celebrated the school’s 60th anniversary with a resolution on Tuesday.
District 7 Councilwoman Gina Gregory presented USA president Jo Bonner with the resolution.
“I think each of you and the city of Mobile for recognizing your University of South Alabama in this special way at this special time,” Bonner said.
Bonner said the university has progressed quickly to impact the community and state significantly.
“Let me tell you, it took the University of Alabama, Alabama’s oldest university, 141 years, it took Auburn 101 years, Alabama’s land grant university, to get to be where we were today at age 60,” Bonner added.
The USA is acquiring Providence Hospital in the fall of 2023, which Bonner said will make it the largest academic health center in South Alabama and one of only two in the state.
Bonner was named USA’s president in November 2021 while he was Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s chief of staff. He was chosen from a nationwide list of highly qualified candidates, including Damon Andrew, the Education Dean at Florida State, and Michael Tidwell, the former president of the University of Texas, both of which had doctoral degrees.
Bonner was a former congressman who served as vice chancellor for Economic Development at the University of Alabama.
“As I said on the first day that I took this job, last year, last January, no matter what other colors you have in your closet that you might pull out this time of year, everyone loves the red, white and the blue,” Bonner said while addressing the council Tuesday. “We are your University of South Alabama and we’re proud to be home-based, right here in the Port City of Alabama.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
