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Grant will fund research on disease forecasting. Read more at news.uga.edu/columns.
Bounce houses can put children at risk, study shows. Read more at news.uga.edu/columns.
August 15, 2022
Vol. 50, No. 4
50YEARSOFCOLUMNS
news.uga.edu/columns
More on Page 3
University breaks fundraising record with $257M in FY22
By Clarke Schawbe ccschwabe@uga.edu
University officials and honorees cut the ribbon on the newly constructed Black-Diallo-Miller Hall.
Chamberlain Smith
Residence hall dedicated
University of Georgia alumni and friends gave back to UGA at unprecedented levels over the past fiscal year, breaking the university’s fundraising record with over $257.4 million in donations. “It has been an exceptional year for our university, and the generous contributions provided by UGA alumni and friends have been a major factor in our success,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I offer sincere thanks to the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees and each and every donor for
helping our students turn their dreams into reality, supporting our faculty to advance their teaching and scholarship, and growing our public service and outreach programs that strengthen communities and expand economic development.” The record-breaking amount came from 71,302 donors. In five of the last six years, UGA’s yearly fundraising total has been over $200 million, and the university’s three-year rolling average, which averages the three most recent years of giving, reached $212.5 million for FY22. See FUNDRAISING on page 2
Black-Diallo-Miller Hall named in honor of first African American students to enroll as freshmen and graduate FRANKLIN COLLEGE, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony Aug. 4 to celebrate the naming of BlackDiallo-Miller Hall, UGA’s newest residence hall. The residence hall, which is located on Baxter Street, is named in honor of Harold Alonza Black, Mary Blackwell Diallo and Kerry Rushin Miller, the first African American students to enroll as freshmen and complete their undergraduate degrees at UGA. It will house 525 first-year students in double occupancy rooms beginning this fall, which marks the 60th anniversary of the year Black, Diallo and Miller enrolled
as freshmen. “The three alumni we are honoring today faced challenging circumstances when they were here as students in the 1960s, but each of them persevered and went on to earn their degrees and make significant contributions to our society throughout their lives and careers,” said President Jere W. Morehead at the dedication ceremony. “The naming of this building is our way of ensuring that their stories are now forever a part of our institution’s history.” Other speakers at the event included Jadin Marshall from Powder Springs, Georgia, who
will be a resident assistant in Black-Diallo-Miller Hall this fall; Victor K. Wilson, vice president for student affairs; and all three of the honorees for whom the residence hall is named. All the honorees recognized family members, friends, mentors and colleagues who supported and inspired them throughout their lives. “I would like to thank my family and friends who are here,” said Miller, who was the first African American to earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia in 1966 See HALL on page 4
OUTREACH
Mandela Fellows visit historic sites, share ideas, participate in community service during program By Katie Cowart
klcowart@uga.edu
The University of Georgia recently hosted 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging civic engagement leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as
they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across Africa. The cohort of Fellows hosted by the University of Georgia is part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 27 educational institutions across the United States. At UGA, the program’s focus was civic engagement. The Fellows are all active in civil society organizations in their communities and countries, and during their time at UGA, they were exposed to key American civic engagement and leadership concepts to adapt for potential application in their home countries. During their six weeks
in Georgia, they participated in meetings and events that followed weekly themes such as food security, social justice, advocacy and public health. They also traveled to Atlanta to visit the Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Human Trafficking Task Force and visited Montgomery, Alabama, the birthplace of the American civil rights movement. “UGA is incredibly fortunate to be able to host such a distinguished group of young African leaders,” said Brian Watkins, director of international initiatives for the Office of Global Engagement at UGA. “We learn as much from See FELLOWS on page 2
UGA establishes School of Computing In response to rising student enrollment and the growing role of computing in a range of fields, the University of Georgia has elevated its longstanding department of computer science to a School of Computing. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the School of Computing will be jointly administered by the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. Its creation was effective July 1. “The University of Georgia is committed to creating synergies across our campus that foster new opportunities for students and faculty and better serve communities in Georgia and around the world,”
said President Jere W. Morehead. “I am excited about the positive impact the School of Computing will have on research and education in the STEM disciplines at UGA.” The establishment of the School of Computing stems from the work of a seven-member Task Force on the Future of Computing that included faculty and academic leaders from both the Franklin College and the College of Engineering. The task force was charged by Provost S. Jack Hu and chaired by Marisa Pagnattaro, who was recently named vice president for instruction. “Our students will benefit greatly from a School of
See COMPUTING on page 4
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES
Three new deans begin their roles at UGA school, colleges
Meg Amstutz
Margaret A. “Meg” Amstutz, an experienced higher education administrator known for guiding significant University of Georgia initiatives, was named dean of the Jere W. Morehead Honors College, effective Aug. 1. S i n c e F e b r u a r y, Amstutz has led the Morehead Honors College in an Meg Amstutz
interim role, overseeing the operations of the college as well as the campus-wide Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities and the Foundation Fellowship, the university’s top academic scholarship. Amstutz previously served as associate provost for academic programs and chief of staff in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at UGA. A key adviser on administrative and academic affairs, she led university-wide initiatives of the See DEANS on page 4
2 Aug. 15, 2022 columns.uga.edu
NSF grant enables UGA to expand statewide STEM program A highly successful UGA-led statewide alliance has received a major boost in federal funding to increase participation in STEM fields among students from underrepresented groups. The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Georgia $2.5 million to expand the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)—a coalition of six public colleges and universities in Georgia formed to increase the number of underrepresented students statewide who complete undergraduate and advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The initiative provides academic enrichment, professional development, financial support, peer and faculty mentoring, and research opportunities for students. Initiatives include summer research programs, GRE test preparation, faculty mentor programs, academic planning and advising seminars, tutoring and K-12 outreach, and STEM career planning. Faculty, staff and students at UGA are joined in this alliance by their counterparts at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University-Perimeter College, Kennesaw State
FELLOWS
University and two historically Black universities: Fort Valley State University and Savannah State University. “As Georgia’s flagship public institution, we are proud to lead the Peach State LSAMP, which has created new opportunities for thousands of students statewide,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.“We greatly appreciate the National Science Foundation’s continued support of this successful alliance.” Since the launch of the Peach State LSAMP alliance in 2006, there has been a 325% increase in enrollment of students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields and a 550% increase in the number of these students graduating with baccalaureate degrees in STEM at UGA alone. The new federal funding will enable Peach State LSAMP to partner with faculty from the alliance’s institutions to launch Technology Training Workshops that will prepare students with high-demand scientific and emerging technical skills required for 21st century STEM careers. “Our goal is to ensure that LSAMP students are not only completing STEM degrees but also are highly competitive and prepared to pursue a wide range of career pathways,
including graduate and professional school,” said Senior Vice Provost Michelle Cook, who serves as the initiative’s principal investigator. “These workshops will provide students with the knowledge and critical skills they will need to be successful in their chosen professions.” The new NSF award also will provide funding for the alliance to study the impact of faculty-led research opportunities for underrepresented students. Building on its successes, the Peach State LSAMP recently developed a new partnership with the Georgia Research Alliance to help underrepresented students pursue or continue scientific research. The Peach State LSAMP and GRA developed a pilot program last summer called GRA Student Scholars, which allowed for 10 of Georgia’s university students to work alongside some of the state’s most accomplished scientists and engineers. This year, the program is funding 15 LSAMP students to engage in research at five institutions in Georgia: Augusta University, Clark Atlanta University, Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia.
In addition to their civic engagement work, the Fellows participated in a series of networking events to foster discussion of shared issues and challenges, broaden perspectives, and position U.S. organizations for international engagement. “Being part of 25 Fellows from different African countries reinforced my cultural understanding of diversity by realizing that social conflicts may have a positive impact if we seek to understand before being understood,” said Jadmire Feret, an elementary teacher at the American International School of Brazzaville in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After completing the program at UGA, the Fellows flew to Washington to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit. There, they took part in networking and panel discussions with U.S. leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Following the summit, up to 100 competitively selected Fellows will participate in four weeks of professional development with U.S. nongovernmental organizations, private companies and government agencies. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, Leadership Institutes will offer programs that will challenge, motivate and empower young leaders from Africa to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
Mandela Washington Fellows Arlindo Caiombe, Yohane Banda and Kimmerling Razafindrina pose for a photo while volunteering at UGArden.
donors. Gifts to the project total over $10 million as of July—significant progress toward the $27 million private funding goal. The state-of-the-art facility, expected to be complete in fall 2023, will train future generations of leaders in one of Georgia’s most important industries. The successful Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program continued to attract donors and expand support for students with financial need. In August, the UGA Foundation allocated an additional $1 million in matching funds—a popular component of the program that allows donors to immediately double their impact. These funds were quickly accounted for, and today, the program is responsible for more than 650 scholarships and nearly $100 million in commitments to need-based aid.
Donors also made a significant impact on March 31—Georgia Giving Day—when UGA supporters gave 9,339 gifts to the university in 24 hours, far surpassing the day’s initial goal of 1,785 gifts. Georgia Giving Day gifts totaled $5.3 million, and each of UGA’s 18 schools and colleges received donations. Donors—including over 600 students—originated from 130 Georgia counties, all 50 states and 16 countries. “This year, more donors gave to the University of Georgia than ever before. All of our metrics indicate that Bulldogs’ commitment to giving back is not just sustained but strengthening,” said Kelly Kerner, UGA vice president for development and alumni relations. “I don’t know if there’s ever been a better time to be a Georgia Bulldog than the last 12 months.”
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them as they do from us, and the program has already created tremendous networking opportunities in the United States and across Africa.” UGA’s 2022 program is a collaborative effort of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, the UGA Office of Global Engagement and the African Studies Institute at Franklin College. “Site visits were great opportunities to talk with senior professionals directly and learn from their experiences, away from the formal sessions we usually had,” said Rabiatou Njapdounke, one of the Fellows who is a communications and project coordinator for the Rural Women Center for Education and Development. Her organization promotes the health, education, livelihoods and human rights of rural women, girls, youths and children in the northwest region of Cameroon. “I was amazed at the kind of strategies used by the Georgia Human Trafficking Task Force to eradicate human trafficking. Most especially, how they support recovery of victims of all forms of exploitation while ensuring that they are ready for college, work and a successful future.” The Fellows also engaged in several forms of community service including working in UGArden, assisting with a field day with Extra Special People, and lending their voice to Books for Keeps by reading two children’s books to be added to the BFK virtual library.
FUNDRAISING
Chamberlain Smith
from page 1
“The remarkable generosity of UGA donors illustrates the strong and distinctive philanthropic culture throughout the UGA community,” said Neal Quirk, chair of the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees. “This record-setting year will benefit our students, our campus and our state long into the future, and our trustees are extremely grateful to all donors who made this happen.” Collectively, donors created 116 scholarship funds and 18 endowed faculty positions, bringing the university’s total to 340 endowed faculty positions. Private giving to the university fueled significant progress across all areas of campus, including several marquee and priority projects. The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation committed $15 million to the $30 million renovation of the HolmesHunter Academic Building, the historic North Campus building named for Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, UGA’s first Black students. The project will include an array of improvements that will significantly enhance functionality while also restoring historic features of the building and honoring Holmes and Hunter-Gault. Following a transformational gift of over $3.5 million from the estate of M. Louise McBee, UGA paid tribute to the former administrator and state legislator with the naming of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. The gift—the largest in the institute’s nearly 60-year history—will benefit the Louise McBee Distinguished Professorship in Higher Education and the Louise McBee Lecture in Higher Education and create an endowment providing broad support for the institute. The $54.1 million Poultry Science Building project is receiving robust support from industry, alumni and other
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columns.uga.edu Aug. 15, 2022
3
Columns celebrates 50 years Publication continues to share the university’s stories By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu
For 50 years, Columns has shared all the news that’s fit to print with the university’s community. What started as a simple bulletin became a steady voice across UGA’s campuses, sharing everything from important news and updates to the latest research and innovations to interesting profiles of UGA employees. It began as a means to keep faculty and staff better informed about university activities, and that purpose continues today. “I have been a Columns reader since 1986, when I became a faculty member at UGA,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I have always appreciated its role in connecting faculty, staff and administrators to our institution and to each other by reporting on university news and celebrating the accomplishments of our community members. I would like to congratulate the staff of Columns on an outstanding 50 years and wish them continued success.”
The story unfolds
Columns existed in a few different formats before it became the publication faculty and staff know today. Let’s take a look back at its predecessors… The first University Staff Bulletin was published by the Office of Public Relations on Oct. 30, 1951. The one-page mimeograph, distributed twice weekly, was meant to “reduce the number and expense of individual notices for the benefit of members of the staff.” Dyar Massey, then director of public relations, noted in the 1951-52 annual report that it “has been very well accepted and has considerably reduced the number of campus-wide notices by consolidating them into the one publication.” The Bulletin included notices up to 200 words—540 copies of larger notices were to be provided and then attached to the Bulletin. The Weekly Calendar, already being produced in the same office, continued its Saturday run. Both publications were discontinued in 1954. Wednesday was introduced on Sept. 22, 1954, to replace them. The “brief mid-week summary of university activity” included updates from around campus as well as things to do. This publication lasted for 10 years until it was discontinued in 1964. As noted in the 1964-65 Office of Public Relations annual report, Wednesday was replaced with Fortnight—“similar but twice as large and consuming less manpower and time to produce.” “The change was made largely to provide more time for other publication efforts and it paid off in quantity and quality,” according to the report. As the name indicates,it was published every two weeks, beginning on Sept. 23, 1964, but was discontinued in 1965 at the recommendation
Dorothy Kozlowski
The first issue of Columns as a newspaper, right, featured an image of the Arch on the cover. Early editions talked about ongoing issues such as parking, left, and squirrels on North Campus, top.
of a special study committee. Instead, two new publications from the Office of Public Relations began in September and October 1965, respectively. Calendar provided a list of upcoming events for the week, including seminars, meetings and even pep rallies. Notebook, published monthly, provided four pages of news and updates to the university’s faculty and staff.Those publications continued until 1970. It is mentioned above that Columns is celebrating its 50th year—and that’s true. But the first issue of Columns actually was published nearly 52 years ago on Nov. 23, 1970, by the Office of University Relations. At the time, it was printed on traditional 8.5x11 paper. In the 1972-73 fiscal year, Columns became an official newspaper, restarting with Vol. 1, Issue 1, “to develop more of its potential as a source of news and views.”Vol. 50, Issue 1, was published digitally on July 11, 2022. “I was editor from mid-1996 to mid-2005, while Columns moved from the Alumni House to the Coliseum to the Hodgson Oil Building. Eight tabloid pages every week, the work of a passel of productive writers around campus, a creative designer and a great associate editor. Early on, we proudly began to offer Columns on the World Wide Web; by the time I retired, we feared, rightly, that the ink-and-paper version was an endangered species,” said Beth Roberts. Columns’ digital presence began in 1996, but it remained primarily a print publication until the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, it switched to digital delivery, with the exception of a few special issues, in order to reach more faculty and staff virtually. But that is far from the only change Columns has seen through its years. Certainly, the photos in early issues of Columns are a blast from the past, and it’s fun to flip through issues of Wednesday, each printed on different colored paper. Clothing styles,
Dorothy Kozlowski
What became Columns originally started as University Staff Bulletin in 1951.
The flags, or nameplates, of Columns’ predecessors.
hairdos and even newspaper design have ebbed and flowed over time. The Columns flag—the newspaper’s nameplate—now looks vastly different from the way it first appeared in 1970. But the more things change, the more things stay the same. Even in the earliest issues of Columns and its previous counterparts, readers found stories about new buildings on campus, record enrollments (11,000 students in 1964, as reported in the first Fortnight!) and even coverage of the State of the University address. Thankfully, the Special Collections Libraries houses a well-kept archive of these publications so that anyone can take a look back.
The moral of the story
And that is the value of Columns. It’s a record of what was happening at the University of Georgia at any given time. It shares our story with our own community, and that is important. “As a member of the UGA staff for nearly 30 years, I have long looked to Columns as a reliable source of information, first in a weekly print edition and now online,” said Kathy Pharr, vice president for marketing and communications and chief of staff to the president. “I think it offers an important point of connection for our campus community, which is why we continue to dedicate resources to its production.” Through the years, Columns has celebrated the accomplishments of UGA’s faculty and staff—whether that is a new breakthrough in research or coverage of Honors Week. It also has been a resource for information the university community needs to know, such as dates
Dorothy Kozlowski
for significant events and updates to policies. “Columns is an incredibly valuable resource for all faculty members, and I have appreciated reading it for my 21 plus years at UGA,” said Luke Naeher, professor in the College of Public Health and chairperson of the University Council’s Executive Committee. “It helps keep us connected to what’s going on at the university, and it’s a great way to share what we’re doing in our classrooms and in our research.” Perhaps even more importantly, Columns has given readers the chance to learn about the incredibly interesting people they work with each day. “Congratulations to Columns (and the Marketing and Communications staff) for celebrating 50 years of spotlighting not only the accomplishments of the University of Georgia as a whole but also the positive impact that our students, faculty and staff members make across the state and the world,” said Savannah Hembree, business manager in the Office of Emergency Preparedness and president of the Staff Council.
The story continues
In 1970, Columns made a promise to its readers: “We’ll give you all that we can give.”As its current editor, I’d like to echo that promise. I love sharing your achievements, making sure you have information you need to know and introducing you to people across our campuses you might not know. The UGA community is full of remarkable stories, and it is our pleasure to bring them to you every Monday morning. See you next week.
“I have always appreciated its role in connecting faculty, staff and administrators to our institution and to each other by reporting on university news and celebrating the accomplishments of our community members.” — uga president jere w. morehead
4 Aug. 15, 2022 columns.uga.edu HALL
COMPUTING
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and shortly thereafter began an extensive professional career in the telecommunications industry. “I am so honored to have this building bear the name of Miller on it.” Miller retired from BellSouth after 29 years of distinguished service, primarily based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was a participant in Leadership Charlotte and received numerous accolades for her service to the Charlotte community. She joined the Urban League of Central Carolinas, Inc., following her retirement from BellSouth, and later joined the Charlotte Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC). While with the Charlotte Club, she developed an award-winning education program designed to help at-risk elementary and middle school students raise their self-esteem, strive for excellence and achieve their personal best. “To President Morehead, members of the Board of Regents, platform guests and members of the audience, I would like to express my sincere appreciation of this honor,” said Diallo, who was the first African American student from Athens to enroll in the University of Georgia. “I would love to call the names of hundreds of people who have made this day possible for me, but my time is limited before you. I would like to thank the University of Georgia for recognizing the contributions my fellow classmates and I have made to the history of this institution.” Diallo earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French literature from UGA and a doctorate from Emory University. She taught at Morehouse College and at Florida A&M University (FAMU), from which she retired last year after a long and productive career. She served as coordinator of language and study abroad programs and as an associate professor of French. She had previously served as president of FAMU’s faculty senate and as a member of the university’s board of trustees. She was a contract interpreter
DEANS
for the U.S. Department of State and participated in Fulbright Exchange Teacher Fellowships in Benin and France. “It’s going to be almost 60 years to the day that I walked into Reed Hall as a freshman that freshmen will enter this building. I can guarantee you one thing: the atmosphere will be a lot warmer, a lot more welcoming than it was 60 years ago,” said Black, the University’s first African American male freshman and the first African American graduate of the Terry College of Business. “It was an interesting time, an interesting experience, and I want to thank everyone past and present who helped make that possible.” Black retired as professor emeritus of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville after 24 years of service as the James F. Smith Jr. Professor of Finance. A native of Atlanta, he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University. Through the years, he served on the faculties of American University, Howard University, the University of North Carolina and the University of Florida. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has received numerous awards for his teaching and research as well as honors from the U.S. Department of Treasury, National Credit Union and the National Urban League. The Terry College has established the Dr. Harold A. Black Professorship at the Terry College of Business in his honor. Portraits of all three honorees are on display in the lobby of the building. Construction of the six-story, $50 million project began in December 2020. The building features an exterior courtyard and is the first new residence hall since 2013. When residents move in for the fall semester, they will enjoy large windows, built-in closets, inroom temperature control and privacy-enhanced community bathrooms, as well as extensive shared lounge and study areas to support academic success and personal growth.
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Computing that will be supported with resources from both the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering,” Hu said. “The strategic hiring of new faculty will create new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate instruction while also supporting research in areas that are of strategic importance to our state and world.” Enrollment in computer science courses has grown rapidly in recent years, and the College of Engineering is UGA’s fastest growing college. The School of Computing will administer the university’s bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs in computer science as well as the master’s program in cybersecurity and privacy. Its establishment comes at a time of high demand for graduates with expertise in computing and related fields. “The department of computer science has grown significantly since its founding in 1984,” said Franklin College Dean Alan T. Dorsey. “Its new, elevated status as the School of Computing reflects the vital role of computer science in our university and in our world.” Interdisciplinary research has become a hallmark of UGA.Accordingly, faculty in the School of Computing will also be engaged in the university’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Institute for Cybersecurity and Privacy, Georgia Informatics Institutes, and Center for Cyber-Physical Systems. “The College of Engineering continues to grow rapidly,” said Dean Donald J. Leo, “and the establishment of the School of Computing with the Franklin College marks the beginning of an exciting new era for our university.”
Submitted photo
UGA has elevated its department of computer science to a School of Computing.
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Provost’s Office and worked closely with campus and external stakeholders. Since 2019, she has served as UGA’s accreditation liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, overseeing the university’s ongoing reaccreditation process and ensuring that compliance with accreditation requirements is built into UGA’s planning and evaluation processes. During her career, she has regularly taught Honors seminar courses, led Honors book discussions, and participated on Foundation Fellowship selection committees. In the Provost’s Office, Amstutz oversaw the Office of Academic Programs, the Office of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness, and the Provost’s Office staff, who reported through her to the provost. She coordinated the selection processes for major awards administered by the Provost’s Office; oversaw leadership programs for faculty, including the Women’s Leadership Fellows Program and the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program; and co-chaired the UGA Commencement Committee. A past president and current officer of UGA’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Amstutz also served as an adviser to UGA’s chapter of Blue Key Honor Society. She currently sits on the editorial board of the University of Georgia Press. From July 2017 to July 2018, Amstutz served as interim president of the College of Coastal Georgia, a state college in the University System of Georgia. Under her leadership, the college saw enrollment growth for three consecutive sessions and prepared to welcome its incoming president. Amstutz’s work in the University System of Georgia began in 1997 with 16 years of service in UGA’s Office of the President. Her initial 10 years as assistant to the president were followed by six years as chief of staff. Amstutz received her bachelor’s degree in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and master’s and doctoral degrees in English and American literature from Washington University in St. Louis. — Stephanie Schupska
Philip Hong
Philip Hong, an academic leader and scholar whose research focuses on poverty alleviation and workforce development, was named dean of the University of Georgia School of Social Work, effective July 1. Hong was most recently professor and associate dean for research at the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work where he also directed the Center for Research on SelfSufficiency (CROSS). He recently held the Philip Hong Lucian and Carol Welch Matusak Professorship and served as the director of the doctoral program at Loyola’s School of Social Work. As associate dean for research, a position he has held since 2018, Hong established a grant and scholarship development office that helped increase extramural funding by more than 200%. He also supported faculty in establishing three externally funded research centers, formalizing four externally funded training institutes and sustaining three externally funded community-engaged programs. As director of the social work doctoral program, a position he held from 2018 to 2021, he implemented recruitment and curricular innovation strategies to help increase the number of applications and partnered with the Graduate School to increase scholarships and stipends. Hong’s research has been supported by more than $4.6 million in funding from foundations and federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The social work intervention model he developed, Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP), is a national model for social policies that promote self-sufficiency and family strengthening. TIP is being applied and tested as a model to support communities in the areas of employment and workforce development, health promotion, youth development and empowerment, returning citizen reentry, substance use recovery, and violence prevention. He is the author of
more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and other publications and 100 refereed conference presentations. Hong earned his Master of Social Work degree and Ph.D. in social work from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social welfare from Yonsei University in South Korea.
Anisa M. Zvonkovic
Anisa M. Zvonkovic, an academic leader with a distinguished record of promoting student success and impactful research and outreach, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, effective July 1. Zvonkovic was most recently the Harold H. Bate Distinguished Professor and dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University. As dean of the ECU College of Health and Anisa M. Zvonkovic Human Performance, a position she has held since 2018, Zvonkovic enhanced undergraduate advising to focus on career success, oversaw an increase in research activity that enabled the college to consistently exceed $15 million in annual grant funding, established new endowed professorships, and launched a college-wide racial equity task force. She fostered interdisciplinary collaborations through an annual prevention science initiative that has focused on areas such as trauma and resilience, aging well, and design for disability. At Virginia Tech, where she was head of the department of human development and family science from 2011 to 2018, she
developed and implemented a new major and minor that increased enrollment and enabled the creation of new faculty positions. Zvonkovic also has held leadership roles at Texas Tech University, where she created a mentoring program on grant-writing that doubled the amount of research awards, and at Oregon State University, where she directed the graduate program in human development and family sciences. Her research, which focuses on the effects of work and other demands on individuals and their relationships, has been supported by nearly $2 million in funding from agencies such as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She is the author or co-author of more than 90 referred journal articles, book chapters and other publications. Zvonkovic received her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies from the University of Virginia and earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. in human development and family studies from the Pennsylvania State University.
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Editor Krista Richmond Art Director Jackie Baxter Roberts Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski The University of Georgia is a unit of the University System of Georgia. The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
EDITOR’S NOTE: COLUMNS WILL NOT BE PRINTED THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW SPECIAL EDITIONS SUCH AS THIS ONE. TO RECEIVE THE DIGITAL VERSION, EMAIL COLUMNS@UGA.EDU.