Named after one of the founding faculty of the UAB School of Public Health, the Dr. Herman F. Lehman Classroom is the largest in the Ryals Public Health Building. A tribute to one of the most colorful and beloved figures in School history, the Lehman Classroom is a focal point of School activities, from student presentations to lectures from visiting speakers.

Sixteen years after dedicating the classroom in Dr. Lehman’s memory, one of the School’s top priorities is renovating the Lehman Classroom to bring it into the 21st century. With the help of dedicated partners in the community, we will be able to ensure not only that the classroom provides a world-class environment for our students, but also that it lives up to Dr. Lehman’s extraordinary legacy.

Dr. Lehman’s impact on his students was immense. A believer in the Socratic method, he mentored hundreds of students in the principles of epidemiology through probing questions and riddles. In his free time, Dr. Lehman expounded upon his encyclopedic knowledge of baseball trivia, college football lore, and jazz history. He often regaled students with private concerts from the comfort of the piano in his office, and even taught a night course in the history of jazz.

We are seeking not only to update the Lehman Classroom—replacing the room’s audiovisual equipment, improving its lighting, removing old carpeting, and more—but also to expand its seating so that it can serve more students. Although currently the largest classroom in the School of Public Health, the space can only fit slightly more than 100 students at the moment—a far cry from equivalent lecture halls in other schools across campus that hold several hundred students or more.

To thank you for your $2,000 or more leadership gift honoring Dr. Lehman, you will be recognized as a top tier Lehman Legacy Society donor on a plaque to be added to the lecture hall upon its completion.