TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s Rehabilitation Counseling program was selected as one of two programs nationally to receive the Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation Education and Training.

The award recognizes rehabilitation education and training programs for outstanding achievement and distinction in meeting the personnel needs of the state-federal rehabilitation program.

“Receiving this award was a great honor that would not have been possible without the hard work and collaboration of a lot of people,” said Dr. Jamie Satcher, UA professor of counselor education and program director. “Our program faculty, as well as staff from the College of Continuing Studies and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, were instrumental in developing and implementing a quality distance education program.”

Developed by Satcher in 1995, this program was among the first in the nation to deliver a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling using distance education technology. It was the first master’s degree at UA to be approved for distance delivery using interactive video technology.

A national panel comprised of representatives from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation selected Satcher and the UA program to receive this award.

Satcher earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at Mississippi State University and joined the UA faculty in 1991.