Dr. Newman Is Making History As a Neuroscientist In Alabama

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2024 Black History Makers of Alabama.

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Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter, for their continued support.

Black History Maker of Alabama – Sharlene Newman, Ph.D

Sharlene Newman, Ph.D. is a cognitive neuroscientist who uses magnetic resonance imaging to understand human neurocognition.  Dr. Newman moved to the University of Alabama in 2019 and is a professor in the department of psychology, and adjunct professor in electrical and computer engineering.

"Black history is my history. it is American history. It is world history. History helps you understand who you are. For me, learning about the contributions of Black people to our society and learning about the obstacles they overcame gives me hope and strength to move forward and try to make the lives of those who come after me better. It makes me want to be a good ancestor. While I celebrate Black history all year, I love sharing it even more loudly in February." - Sharlene Newman, Ph.D

In addition, she is the executive director of the Alabama Life Research Institute (ALRI) which has as its mission to use research to improve the lives of the people of Alabama.  Before coming to UA she was the Class of 1948 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University.  In 2022, Dr. Newman was elected as a neuroscience fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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