(21,639) that marked the university’s fifth straight year of surpassing 21,500 students. “You might say, ‘why is that important?’” Watts commented. “Well, if you read any of the headlines, you see that two-year and four-year college enrollments are down across the country. So our team has worked hard to make sure that we’re still providing a great education to our young people, our citizens, so they can be the leaders of tomorrow.” A freshman class in fall 2022 that was again UAB’s most diverse ever (66 percent female; 55 percent underrepresented; 35 percent first-generation) and a record number of international students (1,476) representing 84 countries. “And that is intentional,” Watts pointed out. “Because, as you know, diversity is one of our core values and to bring international diversity for our in-state students, many of whom have not left the United States, gives them an opportunity to learn from one another. Learning in the classroom is important but [so is] learning outside the classroom and learning about other people and really learning that, while we might seem different, we’re all much more alike, and learning to understand one another’s culture.” After discussing UAB’s new Blazer Core Curriculum (scheduled for rollout in fall 2023) and recognizing UAB’s 16 graduate programs ranked in the top 25 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, Watts noted, “Our people are continuing to earn national and global recognition” as well, including three new members of the National Academy of Medicine, making for seven UAB faculty currently in the Academy and 17 members total in UAB history. Partner Southern Research “is retooling through a new strategic plan in concert with UAB to build a new modern campus,” Watts explained. Local and state leaders including Alabama Governor Kay Ivy participated in the May 16 groundbreaking for what Watts described as a “beautiful new building…[that] will be a beacon of hope as it shines at night. It’s going to double their lab space, expand their capacity, grow their talent, and have a doubling of their economic impact….. [W]e’re working with the City, the Housing Authority, Southern Research, and Corporate Realty to put together a master plan to build affordable housing, market rate housing, retail, dining, but also an urban biotech research park that will drive the economy of Birmingham and Alabama.” Watts described how UAB’s Grand Challenge, Live HealthSmart Alabama, “continues to expand in its scope and impact….We’re making