秋霞福利一区

MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� For Dr. Elizabeth Gilliland, every story is a puzzle waiting to be solved.

鈥淚 love puzzles! They鈥檙e such a great way to relax, clear your mind, and feel productive while you’re doing them,” said Gilliland, assistant professor of English at the 秋霞福利一区.

Whether she鈥檚 analyzing 鈥�The Iliad,鈥� breaking down a music video, or finishing a jigsaw puzzle in her office, she helps students piece together meaning and find joy in the process of discovery.

Q: What is your professional background?

A: I earned my master鈥檚 degree in screenwriting and production from the University of Westminster in London and my PhD from Louisiana State University, where I focused on 19th-century British literature and adaptation.

Over the years, I鈥檝e taught at LSU, the University of South Alabama and here at 秋霞福利一区. I鈥檝e also served on the publications committee for the Jane Austen Society of North America, received awards through JASNA and the Jane Austen Summer Program, and published fiction under various pen names.

These experiences have allowed me to combine scholarship, creativity and real-world experience in my teaching.

Q: How do you integrate real-world experiences and examples into your teaching?

A: I like to mix the classical with the contemporary. Yes, we read 鈥�The Iliad鈥� in EN 101, but we also break down music videos for their rhetorical strategies. By connecting timeless literature with modern storytelling, students can see how these skills apply to everyday communication.

Q: Why should a prospective student choose to study in your program at 秋霞福利一区?

A: Our English department is a small, close-knit group, and everyone here is passionate about what they do. Instructors truly get to know students and can mentor them closely.

In our program, we don鈥檛 just remember names 鈥� we debate with students about Achilles, discuss what adaptations of classic literature succeed or fail, read our favorite poets out loud together, and even meme Dante.

It鈥檚 about learning deeply, having fun and building connections that last well beyond the classroom.

Q: What do you think is the most important skill for students to develop during their college years?

A: I believe the most important skill students can develop is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively 鈥� and to understand the many ways others communicate, whether through social media, advertisements or articles.

This skill equips students to engage thoughtfully with the world and become active participants in their communities and professions.

Q: What is a surprising fact about yourself that most people might not know?

A: I started out in theater for my undergrad, and I even lived in New York City for a while, where two of my shows were staged off-off Broadway.

Now that I鈥檓 in the English department at the 秋霞福利一区, I bring that creative background into the classroom to help students connect literature with performance, storytelling and real-world experience, which makes the material more engaging and memorable.

About the 秋霞福利一区

The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence 鈥淔or Christ & His Kingdom.鈥� With a vision to 鈥淢ultiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World,鈥� the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.
The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, 秋霞福利一区 offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at听umobile.edu/um-info听and connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Caroline Bowers

Caroline Bowers is the social media and content manager at the 秋霞福利一区. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in media studies from Auburn University in 2023 and her Master of Business Administration from Troy University in 2025. With experience in digital marketing and social media management, she is passionate about creating meaningful content. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her dog, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.

MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� Growing up on the Gulf Coast, Kim Albins knew the ocean would shape her future.

鈥淚 have always loved the ocean and the beach. Each year, my family would go on a beach trip to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. After a field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab at age 10, I decided that a career where I could live near and study the ocean was what I wanted to do,鈥� said Albins.

What began as a childhood field trip evolved into a career that took her from scuba diving on coral reefs in Hawaii to leading research along the Oregon Coast before returning home to Mobile, Alabama.

Now as assistant professor and coordinator of the marine science program at the 秋霞福利一区, Albins uses her passion to mentor and guide the next generation of marine scientists, inspiring them to explore and protect the oceans she loves.

Q: How did听you turn your love of the ocean into a career?

A: I hold a bachelor’s degree in marine science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and completed a master鈥檚 degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where I researched algal communities in remote coral reefs throughout the Pacific with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). After completing my master’s, I led a physical oceanographic monitoring project off the Oregon Coast for five years.

In 2012, I returned home to the Gulf Coast and worked as the Gulf of Mexico regional coordinator for NOAA鈥檚 Marine Debris Division until 2016. I rejoined NOAA鈥檚 Office of Response and Restoration as their training coordinator from 2018 to 2023. I started as a professor at 秋霞福利一区 in fall 2023.

Q: What makes 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 Marine Science program so attractive to students?

A: The 秋霞福利一区 campus is located in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States, which provides opportunities for students to participate in research firsthand. As a member of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, we have access to the resources at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Our small size and Christian mission allow professors to really know our students, and we are deeply committed to our students鈥� success. If you love the ocean and want to study marine science at a Christ-centered university, look no further. We have a place for you.

Q: What are some real-world experiences your students have?

A: Marine science is best learned in the field. I take students to nearby Chickasaw Creek, to the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs), snorkeling and on a research cruise aboard the RV Discovery at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. My goal is for students to get wet and learn through experience about how data is collected and why understanding marine processes is important.

Q: What role does faith play in your teaching?

A: Recently, after midterms, I sensed that students, many of whom were student-athletes, were exhausted and feeling down. It dawned on me that these students were always graded. They are graded in the classroom and in their sports, for successes or failures. I felt such a deep compassion for them.

I told them that they were more than their grade and more than their success on the field. Each is a child of the Most High God, and beautiful and perfect. It was a special moment for me. I feel so honored to be able to share God鈥檚 love with these students.

If I can make a small difference in one of their lives, I feel so blessed and lucky. I really hope to build a community of students who are passionate about caring for God鈥檚 creation.

Q: Can you share a story of a challenge you faced in your career and how you overcame it?

A: When I was working for NOAA as the lead of our benthic team on a coral reef assessment and monitoring research cruise, an incident occurred that could have been very dangerous. I was scuba diving in the remote islands of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and I heard 鈥� or maybe even felt 鈥� a deep rumble. The Marianas Islands are known for volcanic activity.

I stopped what I was working on and looked around. As the lead of our benthic team, I noticed my colleagues were to

o focused on their work to see the danger. I saw that a wall of sediment was heading our way. I immediately began alerting the other scientists underwater of the wall of murky water headed our way and started picking up all of our tools.听 All five of the benthic team divers made it to the safety stop before our visibility went from 100 feet to zero feet.

While this was just one instance, it taught me an important lesson: always remain aware of your surroundings and ensure the safety of your colleagues.

About the 秋霞福利一区

The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence 鈥淔or Christ & His Kingdom.鈥� With a vision to 鈥淢ultiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World,鈥� the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.

The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, 秋霞福利一区 offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at umobile.edu/um-info and connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Caroline Bowers

Caroline Bowers is the social media and content manager at the 秋霞福利一区. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in media studies from Auburn University in 2023 and her Master of Business Administration from Troy University in 2025. With experience in digital marketing and social media management, she is passionate about creating meaningful content. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her dog, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.