BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Kelly K. Nichols, OD, Ph.D., dean of the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been named Alabama Educator of the Year by the Alabama Optometric Association. The award is presented annually to a qualified Alabama doctor of optometry in recognition of their performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession, optometric education, and the visual welfare of the public. “It is truly an honor to be named the ALOA Educator of the Year. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and for the opportunity to contribute to the education and growth of future optometrists in Alabama and beyond,” Dr. Nichols said in an announcement from the school.