By Sarah Robinson

Contributing Writer

Suzanne Horsley, a University of Alabama advertising and public relations professor, was recognized Friday as a “Champion of Change” at the White House for her service to the American Red Cross.

Horsley was among other Red Cross staff workers and volunteers honored for their outstanding work building resilient communities. She received the news a week before the event and said she was shocked, excited and overwhelmed to know her nation’s capital was keeping up with her community service.

“I thought ‘Wow, they really just said my name at the White House’,” Horsley said.

Horsley met Federal Emergency Management Agency and White House administrators during her visit to the White House. Government officials like Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, congratulated her and the rest of the “Champions of Change” honorees.

Cari Euart, a UA graduate, said her former professor deserves the honor.

“She is a pillar of the Tuscaloosa community and her work with the American Red Cross undeniably deserves recognition,” Euart said.

Her commitment to service started at a young age. Horsley’s family often spent Saturdays visiting nursing homes or volunteering in the community and her upbringing inspired her to continue the contribution to various community service projects.

She developed an Adult Literacy Committee through Campus Outreach and Resources her junior year at Mary Washington College, which worked with a local literacy council to recruit, train and place tutors throughout the community.

Eager to do her part for the community, she was pleased to find out American Red Cross needed a public relations volunteer.

“I love the work I have been doing at the Red Cross,” Horsley said. “It fits in so well with my teaching and research as a professor.”

She has been involved with the Red Cross since 2005. Hannah Scott, a UA graduate, admires her former professor’s hard work and passion.

“I love to see that she has a real connection to her work,” Scott said.

In 2011, Horsley’s APR 433 Public Relations Campaign class, which teaches seniors to plan and implement a campaign for a non-profit client, led to a healthy donation to one of Alabama’s infamous disasters.

The student fundraiser “Dollar for the Next Disaster” resulted in a $2,000 donation to the local Red Cross chapter and was immediately put to work when the April 27 tornadoes hit Alabama the next day.

Horsley battled strong emotions while she helping her town rebuild.

“Working through the tornado response was probably the most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life,” Horsley said.

Horsley said her “Champion of Change” honor helped push her forward when she was having a difficult time balancing her tornado relief efforts and her job at the University.

“This has really energized me to want to get back out there and get some more ideas into what we can do for Tuscaloosa,” she said.