Students’ successes are George’s rewards

Students’ successes

are George’s rewards

hen Dr. Bagie George was only four years old, she dreamed of being a doctor when she grew up. She held tight to that dream as she earned a W bachelor’s degree in biology and then went to graduate school. Yet, when she began receiving acceptance letters from prestigious medical schools, she had second thoughts.

George recalled a moment of indecision during a graduate school research excursion. Why, when she had always wanted to be a doctor, was she in a boat 10 miles deep into the Okefenokee Swamp, with a stalled motor jammed full with water lilies and surrounded by dozens of alligators?

“I was slowly beginning to gravitate away from medicine and toward my true calling … teaching,” she said.

Dr. Bagie George stands among the college’s collection of instructional models in the Anatomy and Physiology Prep Room. Because of her varied interests, her research papers and presentations have been about innovative instruction, invertebrates and even hormones. George also advises the registered student organization Starting Careers and Research Using a Bachelor’s of Science, or SCRUBS.

It was during graduate school that George received her first award for her teaching ability. Surprised by the recognition and being called an innovative and experiential instructor, she began to reconsider her career options. Not only was she good at teaching, she enjoyed it.

Acceptance into the University of Georgia (UGA) entomology program and selection as a teaching assistant in human anatomy and physiology seemed to be the best of both worlds for George. The combination fed her interests in invertebrates as well as medicine, and gave her a chance to keep teaching.

It was during her assistantship at UGA that she experienced the energy and excitement from students that still fuels her passion to teach today. Dr. Stas Preczewski, president of GGC, Dr. Bagie George, associate professor

“In Latin, doctor means teacher,” George said. “My dream job of biology, and Dr. Thomas Mundie, dean of the School of Science and was not to become a physician, after all, but to earn my doctorate Technology, recently celebrated George’s receipt of the Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award at the 14th annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala. and become a professor. And to me, this is the best type of doctor – one who teaches our future physicians and scientists.” George said it means a lot to know that she has helped both

After obtaining her Ph.D. in entomology, George taught at biology majors and non-majors find success. Some have even two University System of Georgia (USG) institutions before chosen different life paths because of her support. joining Georgia Gwinnett as a charter faculty member in 2006. “We all have students who might need just a word of encourShe quickly made her mark. agement or five minutes of our time to show them that they “Dr. George was instrumental in the creation of our enviable matter and we see their potential,” she said. “The reality is that biology program and the design of our newest laboratory science we may never know the impact this will have on their lives.” building,” said GGC President Stas Preczewski. “Perhaps most What started as words of encouragement led Cindy importantly, she authored our initial faculty manual, a document Valenzuela, ’15, to change her major to biology. that set the cultural tone of student-focused instruction for all “Dr. George took the time to not just learn my aspirations, GGC faculty.” but my struggles,” said Valenzuela in her nomination letter.

George, associate professor of biology and assistant dean in “Dr. George believed in me when I did not have any hope or the GGC School of Science and Tech- intention to continue my journey.” nology, is known by both science and Today, Valenzuela works in a local eye non-science majors as a champion for “Dr. George took the time to clinic’s laboratory and plans to apply students and faculty alike. Her instruc- not just learn my aspirations, to medical school. tional creativity is unparalleled. but my struggles. She be“Dr. George pushed me to do some-

“She is the complete mosaic of a sin- thing I did not think would be possible cere, enthusiastic, meaningful and gift- lieved in me when I did not at this stage of my education,” said ed teacher,” Preczewski said. “She chal- have any hope or intention Taylor Holbrook, ’15, biology, in anothlenges all whom she teaches, mentors to continue my journey.” er letter. She recently asked George for and inspires.” career planning advice. “I wasn’t even

George’s students are just as com- – Cindy Valenzuela, ’15 her student anymore, but she went plimentary. In fact, due to a student’s above and beyond to help me.” nomination, George recently won the George also maintains connections college’s 2017 Outstanding Teaching Award. GGC automatically with many former students, such as charter student and GGC’s submits each year’s winner of this award for the Felton Jenkins, first Student Government Association president, Stephen Haney, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award, the USG’s highest faculty honor. ’09, biology, who recently succeeded in completing medical school

Five members of GGC’s faculty have won this award since the and his medical residency in Chicago. college opened in 2006. This spring, George became the sixth. Results like these confirm George’s decision to become a

While this prestigious award means a lot to George, she said college professor. She expresses pride with each example of her the student and alumni letters submitted with the college’s students’ successes. nomination bring her the most joy. “Not only have I found my dream job; I now am able to help

“These letters are the awards.” my students find theirs,” she said.