Our Dean
Message from the Dean
Dear Prospective Students, Parents and Members of the Honors College Community,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to The University of Alabama Honors College, where excellence, innovation and community thrive. As the Dean, I am honored to lead a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars who are passionate about exploring multiple fields of study, embracing transdisciplinary approaches to learning and making a positive impact in the world.
At UA Honors, we are committed to providing an unparalleled educational experience that prepares students to excel in an ever-changing global landscape. From our innovative academic programs and cutting-edge research opportunities to our immersive study abroad experiences and personalized support services, we offer a wealth of resources and opportunities designed to empower students to reach their fullest potential. Our commitment to personalized support ensures that every student receives the guidance and assistance they need to succeed academically and personally, fostering a strong sense of belonging and pride within our community.
As you explore our website and learn more about UA Honors, I invite you to discover what sets us apart and makes us a premier destination for the best and brightest students across the country. Whether you are drawn to our transdisciplinary approach to education, our vibrant community engagement initiatives or our commitment to leadership development, we are confident that you will find a home here at UA Honors. Join us as we continue to push boundaries, challenge conventions and unlock new possibilities together.
With Warm Regards,
Dr. Tiffany A. Sippial
Associate Provost, Undergraduate Education
Dean, Honors College
About Our Dean
Dr. Tiffany A. Sippial is a distinguished scholar with an extensive background in Cuban history, Latin American studies, and university administration. She serves as the Dean of the Honors College at the University of Alabama, where she also teaches in the Department of History.
As Dean, Dr. Sippial leads one of the largest Honors Colleges in the nation, serving over 7,000 students with a mean ACT score of 33.4 and an average GPA of 4.4. Under her leadership, the Honors College has undergone transformative growth, focusing on academic innovation, student engagement, and resource generation. She oversees the academic and administrative operations of the Honors College, including its four educational programs, six partner programs, and a team of faculty and staff. Dr. Sippial’s leadership is defined by a strategic vision for excellence and a dedication to expanding opportunities for all students.
Since arriving at The University of Alabama, Dr. Sippial has implemented various initiatives to enhance the student experience and elevate the College’s reputation. She spearheaded the launch of a comprehensive strategic planning process, engaging stakeholders across the College and campus to guide its trajectory through 2030. She also restructured the College’s organizational chart to improve efficiency and developed a robust annual reporting process to ensure accountability and strategic alignment across all units.
Dr. Sippial’s tenure has been marked by significant fundraising success. She raised $7.7 million in the 2023-2024 academic year—the most successful fundraising year in the Honors College’s history. These funds have supported student scholarships, endowed academic programs, and expanded faculty and staff development opportunities. She also collaborated with University Counseling Services to bring an embedded therapist to the Honors College, ensuring students have greater access to mental health support.
Her focus on academic innovation includes launching the Honors Pedagogy Institute, which selected 11 inaugural fellows to lead the way in interdisciplinary collaboration and inventive teaching methodologies. She also created new strategic roles, such as the Director of Experiential Education, to deepen student learning through research and co-curricular initiatives. Under her leadership, the Achieve Scholars Program was transformed to provide tailored mentorship and support for students from underrepresented communities, ensuring their academic and personal success.
Dr. Sippial has prioritized enhancing the College’s physical infrastructure, overseeing plans for the renovation of Honors Hall and developing renderings to inspire donor support. Her commitment to student recognition and community building includes initiatives like the inaugural Honors Scholarship Dinner, which celebrated over $200,000 in student scholarships, and the creation of eight new awards for the Honors College community to be honored at the Board of Visitors Awards Ceremony.
A recognized historian, Dr. Sippial is the author of two award-winning books: Prostitution, Modernity, and the Making of the Cuban Republic, 1840–1920 (University of North Carolina Press, 2013), which received the Alfred B. Thomas Award, and Celia Sánchez Manduley: The Life and Legacy of a Cuban Revolutionary (University of North Carolina Press, 2020). Her research explores the intersections of gender, race, and identity in Cuban and Latin American history.
She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and art history from Southwestern University, graduating magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received her master’s degree in Latin American Studies and her Ph.D. in Latin American history from the University of New Mexico, earning distinction for her work. Before joining The University of Alabama, she served in leadership roles at Auburn University, including Director of the Honors College, where she led innovative academic programs and expanded student opportunities.
Dr. Sippial has been recognized with numerous awards for her teaching, leadership, and scholarship, including Auburn University’s Inclusive Excellence Award, the Alfred B. Thomas Book Award, the Teaching Excellence Award from the Auburn Alumni Association, and the Early Career Teaching Award. She also received a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant and has been named a fellow of the HERS Leadership Training Institute.