Caring for the Future: A Conversation with a Faculty Donor

Karmie Johnson, D.N.P., opens doors for honors students and future nurses.

To say that UAB has been a big part of Karmie Johnson’s life would be an understatement. She earned three degrees at the university, worked as a UAB charge nurse in mental health care, and is now an assistant professor for the School of Nursing.

UAB has made her the person she is today, she says. And for that, she’s giving back.

Johnson has named UAB as a beneficiary for her retirement fund to establish the Dr. Karmie Johnson Endowed Honors Scholarship in the UAB Honors College. Here, she explains her motivation to give and what she hopes the scholarship will accomplish.

What inspired you to leave a legacy in the form of a UAB Honors College scholarship?

When I graduated high school, I wanted to come to UAB. But even with my high ACT score, I didn’t qualify for institutional scholarships—though today I probably would have. But I interviewed with the University Honors Program (UHP, now part of the UAB Honors College). Not only did that make me sure that UAB was the university I wanted to attend, but UHP also awarded me a scholarship. If I hadn’t gotten that scholarship, I would have had to take out massive loans. UHP changed the course of my life.

Your endowed, merit-based scholarship gives preference to an underrepresented student from Birmingham who is interested in pursuing nursing at UAB. Why is that important to you?

When I started college, I was pre-med. I discovered nursing later on, and it is a wonderful profession—the best foray into health care, in my opinion. If there is a student who realizes the myriad options nursing can provide, then I want to help that student. Plus, one day I’m going to retire from the UAB School of Nursing, and this is my way of giving back.

I’m a Birmingham native, and I hope that this scholarship opens up opportunities, relieves someone from their financial burden, and lets them explore their options as an undergraduate.

You also made a pledge to establish a second scholarship now: the Dr. Karmie Johnson PITA Honors Scholarship. What does PITA stand for?
I am a member of the Honors College council that makes decisions on applications and scholarships. And a lot of people have jokingly referred to me as a PITA, or a pain in the—you know. But in all seriousness, it’s because I’m always asking questions and questioning our decisions. I want us to think about why we do things a certain way and if there is a more efficient way to do it. Are we helping the people who deserve it most? Are we missing anyone we could be helping? We’ve come up with a slightly more appropriate PITA acronym—Provocative Individuals Transforming Alabama. I think it works.

You’re younger than most planned giving donors. Why is it a good idea to think about a legacy at this time of life?
You’re never too young to give back to an organization that has contributed to your success. Plus, when you start to factor giving into your budget, you can begin to plan for a time in life when you’ll be in a position to give more.

There are lots of places where you can put your money. Why UAB?
The UHP changed my life. It opened up my horizons and made me a deeper thinker. It helped me understand the difference between a scholar and an intellectual. It shaped me into who I am today—a person who asks questions, is inquisitive, and who wants to help my community. That’s why giving to UAB is important to me.

The pandemic laid bare the need for more nursing professionals, and staffing challenges have continued. What does your scholarship mean to you in this context?
I really wanted the recipient to be in the honors program. It’s the best and brightest and people that, importantly, develop their voice for advocacy.

I often have students ask: What’s the one thing you’d change about nursing? ‘I love being a nurse,’ I say, ‘but the one thing I’d change is our ability to self-advocate.’ Nurses are very good at advocating for their patients, but they are not good at advocating for their profession. Our profession has been very overworked, especially over the last two years.

So, for me, having someone who is intellectually pushed to have a voice is the person I want in nursing.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT—THEN PAY IT FORWARD

When Johnson retires, she’ll get to enjoy her hard-earned funds long before they impact UAB. Here are three reasons to consider giving retirement assets to UAB:

1. If you decide to pass along your assets to a loved one, he or she might be subject to income taxes as high as 37%. And estate taxes could consume even more. UAB is tax exempt, so every dollar goes to work.
2. You can make changes to your designation at any time. We’re flexible, and we want you to enjoy what you’ve worked to earn.
3. Like Johnson, you can support an area at UAB that matters to you and make a lasting difference in the lives of students, faculty, staff, and community members for years to come.

Your legacy gift can make a difference in the lives of future UAB students. For help finding the right gift for you, contact the Office of Planned Giving at (205) 996-7533 or plannedgiving@uab.edu today.