INSIDE The University of South Alabama
Mobile Register, November 14, 2004 Section: F Page: 2

Gordon Moulton, President

AGE: 64 EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in industrial management, Georgia Institute of Technology; master's in business administration, Emory University
FIRST JOB: Cotton gin operator
BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN: Leave anything or any place better than you found it.
ADVICE YOU WOULD OFFER MOBILE: The Mobile area has a lot going for it. Let's continue to work harmoniously - business, education and government - to sustain our community's positive momentum.

Q & A
What role does a university play in the community?
USA is the primary provider of undergraduate and graduate education for the vast majority of professionals in our area. The university awards more than 2,300 degrees a year, with most of these graduates remaining in the Mobile area and boosting the economy. USA has 54,000 alumni, including 1,700 physicians. USA trains teachers, engineers and scientists, computer professionals, business executives, doctors, nurses, health care professionals, people in the arts and humanities - a wide range of highly skilled individuals who are vital to our work force. USA also has an important health care mission through its College of Medicine, physician practice network and its three hospitals. USA cares for 250,000 patients each year, in addition to training doctors and conducting medical research. The university is the second-largest employer in Mobile County and enhances our quality of life by providing community service; supporting the local schools; and offering art, cultural and athletic opportunities.

How can a university impact regional/local economic development? In addition to providing an educated work force, USA adds more than $1 billion annually directly to the economy through its teaching, research and health care missions. We help attract top-quality professionals and students of all ages to Mobile and work in strategic ways with city and county government and the busi! ness community to stimulate the economy. Two recent economic developme nt initiatives are the USA Cancer Research Institute and the USA Technology and Research Park. The cancer institute provides top-quality cancer research and treatment, close to home, and over the next few years should create some 700 jobs. The institute stimulates the creation of biotechnology businesses in the region. The research park is also boosting the economy, linking our faculty and students to the rapidly expanding technology and biotechnology companies located in the park. The park attracts and retains clean and sustainable high-tech jobs, now employing more than 200 local citizens. While our business partners are thriving through close research collaborations with our faculty, our students are gaining first-hand experience in the technology industry.

University of South Alabama
FOUNDED: 1963 PRODUCT: Higher education, research and health care
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 5,600
EMPLOYEES IN MOBILE: 5,600
ALUMNI: 54,000
STUDENT ENROLLMENT: 13,500 2004-2005
BUDGET: $572 million - $87 million state funding and $485 million generated by
USA ANNUAL PAYROLL: $241 million, largest dollar-value payroll in Mobile County
TRENDS: USA is the fastest-growing university in the state, and over the last five years has grown by 17 percent, compared to a statewide average university growth of 7 percent. The university continues to increase its economic impact through its funded research program, which has grown by 40 percent over the past five years. Since 1998, USA has brought more than $63 million in direct federal funding to the community to address critical issues such as health care, the bay and coastal environment, natural resources, school improvement, and many others.

This article reproduced with special permission from the Mobile Register.