Dr. Tom Powers joined UAB in 1985, after receiving a Ph.D. in Marketing from Michigan State University. Prior to his doctoral studies, Tom was marketing manager with Ford Motor Company, holding progressive assignments in sales, product forecasting, and distribution. Thus, he brings both academic and real-world lessons to his classroom and to his scholarship. Early in his career at UAB Tom established a reputation, supported by 25 years of very positive testimony from students, as a caring, rigorous, and committed teacher—both at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting with Tom when he received recognition for 25 years of exceptional service to UAB and the School of Business. Tom was especially excited, as he had just received notice from a respected peer-reviewed business journal that a part of his recent research portfolio was accepted for publication. I then learned that 25 years ago Tom had set a professional goal to have 100 peer-reviewed journal articles in the first 25 years as a professor. He had met the goal that day! Tom sees the need to be current in the technology, theory, and practice of marketing. His consistency of pursuing research year after year reflects both a genuine pride in his professional commitment to the profession and to his students---but also reflects his daily passion for discovery.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Powers for his exceptional career and for his consistency in scholarship over a sustained period of 25 years. But fear not. Tom is not retiring or slowing down. His passion for discovery and teaching is unquenched. He told me at the celebration of his 25 years of service that he loves this fine institution we call UAB, and he loves his work with fellow scholars and students. This gives us all pleasure, as we know he blesses us all with his exceptional professional demeanor and his vey contagious excitement for discovery.
