Olivia Melvin

It is a hard to task to sum up what a professor means to a young growing mind and how much a good professor impacts the lives of the students that he/she teaches. As students, we come to college to learn, but then we get hit with a world far larger than we had thought. We take classes that open a whole new world and follow paths that we never even knew that we could wander on. I think that it is no understatement to say that Dr. Bullard is one of those professors that inspires a passion for learning that is as infectious as her laugh. Her love for Sociology and investing in her students is evident in everything that she did/does. I cannot say how many times she stayed after class to hash out a question or spent an extra few minutes in lecture to explain something that was particularly complex. I swear that even though Symbolic Interactionism is a micro theory, I will always argue that it can be used as a macro theory because of one of her lectures. It is also funny that my first class with her was Medical Sociology seven years ago and as a current medical student, I am still quoting concepts that she taught me. If that does not show what an amazing teacher she is, then I do not know what will. I am so very grateful for everything that she did for me and I hope that I can one day make an impact on someone else’s life in the way she has impacted mine and so many others.

All the best from a proud graduate!

Olivia Melvin

UNA Class of 2013

Dr. Amber Paulk

New faculty members are in need of a great deal of guidance, but not everyone is lucky enough to find someone who is willing to give of their time and expertise. When I arrived at UNA in fall 2011, Dr. Jerri Bullard immediately reached out to me to offer her support and friendship, and she has been an incredible mentor to me ever since.

Jerri’s door (and cell phone!) has always been open. There has never been a question too big or too small. No time too early or too late to give her “a buzz.” Her style of mentorship is such that she never tells me what decision I should make but instead helps me think through options. By letting the choice ultimately be my own, she helped increase my confidence exponentially and really helped me find my voice as a faculty member. She never ceases to advocate for me. I have heard on multiple occasions from multiple people, “I was just talking to Jerri Bullard and she was saying great things about you.” When someone is that big of a cheerleader for you, you cannot help but start to believe in yourself!

While Jerri has always encouraged me to reach my professional goals, she has also advised that I never sacrifice my personal life to do so, and she has modeled that with her own career and life balance. There are no adequate words to describe the invaluable impact she has had on my life, and I hope she knows how much I truly appreciate the gift of her friendship.

Amber Paulk, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Sociology and Family Studies

Indigo Fort

While most of my learning occurred online throughout my program, Dr. Bullard is responsible for my initial exposure to Sociology. Entering the Introduction to Sociology online course my sophomore year, I had no idea that I’d become a Sociology major and have the desire and passion that I have now. Her teaching methods are transparent, easy to understand, and fun to learn. The fact that she was always available to assist and answer questions, is amazing. She always provided great explanations to any questions and would provide relatable examples, if needed. She helped me decide that Sociology was for me! 

Indigo Fort

Class of 2015

Madeleine Frankford

Dr. Bullard taught several of my Sociology courses, specifically for my Gerontology concentration. I was constantly amazed at how much energy she brought to the classroom! I remember thinking how incredible it was that she managed to make our "Death, Dying, and Bereavement" class uplifting and enjoyable. Her genuine care for students and interest in the concepts she teaches is always evident. I don't think I'll ever forget the time she did the dougie during class!

Madeleine Frankford

Class of 2014

Ryan Pigg

I took Intro to Sociology the spring of 2008 and it was a turning point in my collegiate career. Until that point, I was a Secondary Education Social Sciences major because I had wanted to be a high school teacher and a coach. The problem was I no longer wanted to be a high school teacher and a coach. I had no idea what I wanted to do and I was a year and a half from graduation (give or take a few lucky finals). I aced Dr. Bullard's intro class and switched my major to Sociology the next semester. While I didn't ace the rest of my sociology classes, I thoroughly enjoyed each class I took that Dr. Bullard taught. My GPA overall wasn't great but I know my GPA in her classes was much higher and I left each semester feeling like I had learned something new and I had a new perspective on the rest of the world. I feel like that is what the Sociology Department and Dr. Bullard at UNA most wanted to get across to a rowdy young man who had never left Florence, Alabama. They wanted me to realize there is a great big world out there full of culture, history and people and I needed to get out and see it. I have carried that desire for a new perspective and a sincere curiosity of people and where they came from into a career in sales development and customer service. Thanks Dr. Bullard! The COOLEST TEACHER IN THE GAME!

Ryan Pigg

Class of 2009

Wiley Jones

To say that Dr. Bullard had a tremendous positive impact on my life would be an understatement. When I first met her I was working all the time and frankly struggling as a college student. My grades were not the best and I found myself questioning not only if I would ever finish my degree but also if I even wanted to. Academically I was losing hope. Graduating from college was a goal that I'd had my entire life but it seemed like something that was becoming impossibly far away. When I changed my major to Sociology and Dr. Bullard became my advisor, things changed. She encouraged me to keep going, and she believed in me when I wasn't sure that I believed in myself. She was able to get through to me when nobody else really could. She really inspired me when I was ready to give up. Through her advice and guidance, I learned what it took to be a successful student. She cared about me as a person and was always available to me and all of her students which I am sure was exhausting. My grades improved dramatically and I began doing great in all of my classes. I even made the Dean's List my final semester which is a testament to how far I'd come and how much her advice impacted my grades. She was an excellent professor whose courses were both challenging and very exciting. I can honestly say that over 10 years after I graduated I still employ many of the theories I learned in her classes. I went from not thinking I would finish my degree to being a very proud graduate. I will forever love Sociology because of her. All of my success at UNA can be directly attributed to the things that she taught me. She was truly a blessing in my life and I can say without a doubt that I couldn't have achieved my degree without her. After I graduated, she helped me write my first resume and I still use the very format that I got from her. I still reach out to her from time to time just to say hello. Dr. Bullard is one of the most caring, and compassionate people I have ever met and I will forever be grateful for everything she did for me. 

Wiley Jones

Class of 2007