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Assistant professor focuses research on environmental drivers of disease FACULTY PROFILE
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St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig to perform Nov. 16 in Hodgson Concert Hall
November 13, 2017
Vol. 45, No. 16
www.columns.uga.edu
UGA GUIDE
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Economic developer training helps state attract new industry Sonia Altizer
Marie-Claude Boudreau
Jody Clay-Warner
Mary Hondalus
Maria Len-Rios
By Christopher James chtjames@uga.edu
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of stories about UGA and economic development in rural Georgia.
Nancy Manley
Amanda Murdie
Emilie Smith
Shavannor Smith
Taking the lead
Nine faculty members named 2017-2018 Women’s Leadership Fellows By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu
Nine University of Georgia faculty members have been named to the 2017-2018 class of the university’s Women’s Leadership Fellows Program. Faculty members in the 20172018 cohort include representatives from eight schools and colleges. During the yearlong program, they will meet monthly to learn from senior administrators on campus as well as visiting speakers from academia, business and other fields. The program, which was created in 2015 as part of the university’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, also features a concluding weekend retreat for more in-depth learning. “Developing a diverse and talented pipeline of people who
can excel in formal and informal leadership roles is vital to maintaining the university’s extraordinary upward trajectory,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. “I am delighted to welcome the 2017-2018 class of Women’s Leadership Fellows into the program, and I know that they will make even greater contributions to the University of Georgia in the coming years.” The 2017-2018 Women’s Leadership Fellows are: • Sonia Altizer, UGA Athletic Association Professor of Ecology in the Odum School of Ecology. Altizer previously served as an associate dean in ecology and was recognized for her teaching and mentoring by the university and the Honors Program. Her research examines the relationships between infectious disease ecology, animal
behavior and global change. • Marie-Claude (Maric) Boudreau, associate professor and head of the management information systems department in the Terry College of Business. Boudreau’s research focuses on the role of information systems to support environmental sustainability, along with the impact of digitization on individual, group and organizational identity. • Jody Clay-Warner, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and head of the sociology department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Clay-Warner has received several awards for research, teaching and mentorship, including the Owens Creative Research Award. Her research examines responses to injustice. • Mary Hondalus, associate See FELLOWS on page 8
COLLEGE OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
It didn’t take long for Larry Brooks to connect the dots during one of his Georgia Certified Economic Developer classes. Brooks, executive director of the Walker County Development Authority, already was looking for a site to locate a new industry when he attended a financing course offered by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
In the class he learned he could use money from a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to purchase land and develop it. Using the SPLOST money allowed Walker County to develop an industrial park, and as a result, Audia International, a plastics manufacturer, nearly doubled the size of the facility it planned for the county. “The program happened to be immediately applicable for what we were doing,” Brooks said. “Audia is now looking at putting up another building. That means new investments, new jobs, new
See TRAINING on page 8
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
USG chancellor, vet med dean will give fall Commencement addresses By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley will deliver the fall undergraduate Commencement address at the University of Georgia on Dec. 15 in Stegeman Coliseum. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the graduate ceremony to follow at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Lisa K. Nolan, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, will deliver the Commencement address at the graduate ceremony. “There are few—if any—who have done more to elevate public higher education in this state than Chancellor Wrigley,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It will be a great honor to welcome him back to campus for
Steve Wrigley
Lisa Nolan
Commencement, and I know our graduating seniors will benefit tremendously from his remarks.” Samuel Peraza, who will receive his bachelor’s degree in public relations from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is the student speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. In addition, the university will give two posthumous degrees to Virginia Katelyn Chandler, a bachelor’s See COMMENCEMENT on page 8
PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH, COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
UGA Extension, Rural Georgia Healthy Housing University to hold 2018 Public Health Leadership Academy Advisory Board receive national recognition By Christina Conner
christina.conner25@uga.edu
A team of University of Georgia family and consumer sciences experts has earned a national award for its efforts to create healthier and safer environments for children, both at home and in day care settings. UGA Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agents Keishon Thomas and Mitzi Parker and Extension Housing Specialist Pamela Turner were honored Oct. 19 at the 2017 National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences annual
session in Omaha, Nebraska. They received the National and Southern Region Environmental Education Award for their work with the Rural Georgia Healthy Housing Advisory Board. The award recognizes NEAFCS members for outstanding educational programs conducted for families and/or communities on various environmental issues concerning water quality, air quality, recycling and natural resource conservation. “Rural Georgia Healthy Housing Advisory Board members focus on improving knowledge about how to make changes to the indoor environment that
improve health,” said Turner, who is also an associate professor in the financial planning, housing and consumer economics department in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “Extension agents provide programs for child care providers and parents on reducing asthma triggers and poisoning hazards. This has led to action steps that result in healthier and safer environments for children.” Amer ican s spen d about 90 percent of their time indoors, and almost 70 percent of their time in a home, according to the National Human Activity Pattern See EXTENSION on page 8
The University of Georgia is helping to build healthier, stronger communities statewide through a program that combines education with leadership development. The UGA College of Public Health and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development announced the 2018 Public Health Leadership Academy during the recent annual State of Public Health Conference at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. Starting in February 2018 and continuing through the fall, participants will complete leadership training and experiential learning projects, conduct discussions with national public health leaders and
experts and network with peers to enhance their roles in a collective approach to improving health outcomes in their communities. Georgia Power is providing support for the academy. “Creating a culture of health in Georgia’s communities will require collaboration from community stakeholders and public health professionals alike,” Fanning Institute Director Matt Bishop said. “This academy will build a diverse network of individuals who will both learn about complex public health issues and develop the leadership capacity to work collaboratively to transform the health of their communities.”
See ACADEMY on page 8
2 Nov. 13, 2017 columns.uga.edu
FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Around academe
U. of Alabama, Clemson researchers examining conflicts between nations
Douglas Gilber, a professor and researcher at the University of Alabama Institute for Social Science Research, and Steven Miller, an assistant political science professor at Clemson University, are researching why countries fight. Using a database they developed, the two researchers will look at about 2,300 conflicts spanning from 1816 to 2010 and look at the fluctuations between each nation’s positions and demands over the course of the conflict, according to a report from the University of Alabama.
State University of New York at Fredonia reverses enrollment decline
The State University of New York at Fredonia has made strides in reversing its enrollment decline. According to a report in Inside Higher Education, this year’s freshman class is nearly 25 percent larger than last year’s, and the second largest in Fredonia’s history. In particular, SUNY focused on reaching out to more students in its region and in New York City, responding to applications in an average of five days and providing information on eligibility of aid.
EITS provides free, online training for UGA employees and students
News to Use
The goal of UGA online training programs is to help provide faculty, staff and students with access to essential training material in a timely and convenient manner. Enterprise Information Technology Services currently offers online training with lynda.com and Microsoft Imagine Academy, which formerly was called the Microsoft IT Academy. Lynda.com, which is part of LinkedIn, offers high-quality videos in design, technology, business skills, education, web development, photography and more. Popular courses include those about InDesign, Excel, HTML, Final Cut Pro and WordPress. Lynda.com offers videos for all skill levels that can be viewed a few minutes at a time or longer. Lynda.com allows users to create playlists to share with colleagues, friends or students. Lynda.com has thousands of courses segmented by topic for people who want to view specific tutorials in a course. Instructors can use lynda.com videos to supplement course materials by selecting specific courses or tutorials. Students can get a head start on their careers by learning about additional skills through lynda.com courses. UGA faculty, staff and students have unlimited, free access to lynda.com. It is available via the MyUGA Portal at my.uga.edu. Source: Enterprise Information Technology Services
#GIVINGTUESDAY IS NOV. 28 Entering its sixth year, #GivingTuesday is a national day of giving that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This movement provides an opportunity to advocate for the causes that matter most. By giving to the University of Georgia on #GivingTuesday, faculty and staff demonstrate the importance of public higher education and the work we do. Make UGA your cause at give.uga.edu.
As part of the retreat, doctoral candidates Joe Seale and Matt Bloodgood led a breakout session on writing style.
Parents Leadership Council grant supports fall student writing retreat On Oct. 21, a group of students gathered in the Reading Room at the Miller Learning Center to spend a Saturday writing. With a grant awarded by the Parents Leadership Council, English department faculty and writing program administrators Elizabeth Davis, Lindsey Harding and Sara Steger coordinated a writing retreat open to all UGA undergraduate students. According to one participant, it “was an awesome event” and “more people need to know about it.” The retreat offered students fullor half-day sessions to learn from and work with graduate student writing mentors Joe Seale, a doctoral candidate in the Creative Writing Program, and Matt Bloodgood, a doctoral candidate in chemistry and a Writing Intensive Program teaching assistant. Students could sign up for one-onone consultations and attend a series of six breakout sessions throughout the day. Bloodgood and Seale developed breakout sessions to help students “level
up” their writing skills and focused on topics ranging from creating tables and figures to working with sources. For students, the retreat offered the opportunity to advance current writing assignments and research projects in a quiet and comfortable place, apart from their typical weekend life. Attendees worked on essays, research articles, philosophy arguments, personal statements, application essays, literary analyses and creative writing projects. According to one participant, “I loved being able to focus on writing without any distractions.” Another student reflected, “[I]t was a great environment to get work done with other productive people.” Students attended the retreat from 14 departments across campus, including physics and astronomy, kinesiology, English, theatre and film studies, psychology, philosophy, educational theory and practice and the College of Environment and Design. “It was particularly exciting to see
undergraduates writing in so many diverse programs of study,” said Harding, director of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Writing Intensive Program. “Writing is the lifeblood of learning. It’s how we make sense of and communicate knowledge. It was nice to see so many students united by their engagement in an activity that connects all of us here at UGA.” Retreat coordinators and participants look forward to more undergraduate writing retreats in the future. While 95 percent of the students who completed a feedback survey expressed interest in attending again, 78 percent said they hoped for similar events at least four times a year. “As faculty, we all know how vital writing skills are to future success in any field, so it means a lot to be able to provide our students with as many resources as we can to help them develop their writing skills,” said Davis. “We are very grateful for the PLC’s support for this initiative.”
HUMAN RESOURCES
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY
With the transition to the OneUSG Connect– Benefits platform, there has been a change in the method in which benefits premiums are collected for nine-month faculty members. In the past, monthly premiums were deducted equally out of nine checks from August to April, and three months of summer premiums were deducted out of the tenth paycheck in May. This academic year, premiums will be deducted on a 5/5 basis in the fall and on a 7/5 basis in the spring. This means that during the fall semester, five months of premiums will be deducted evenly from the five checks received from August through December. During the spring semester, seven months of premiums will be deducted in five equal portions from the five checks received from January through May. Premium deductions from August to December will be an equal amount to cover each of those same months. Premium deductions from January to May will be more even in value across the semester than in the past but will be higher than in fall because they will cover the additional months of June and July. Plan accordingly for the higher deductions January through May to provide coverage for the additional two months. Nine-month academic faculty who have questions about these premium deductions should contact Human Resources at hrweb@uga.edu or 706-542-2222.
The New Approaches to Promote Diversity and Inclusion grants program, announced by UGA President Jere W. Morehead in August, has garnered 39 proposals from units across campus. Supported by $250,000 in private funds dedicated by the president, the program will award grants from $10,000 to $25,000 to selected recipients. The grants will be used for the development or adoption of new projects that support the recruitment, retention and success of underrepresented and underserved students at UGA. A six-member committee charged by Michelle Garfield Cook, vice provost for diversity and inclusion and strategic university initiatives, and Arthur Tripp Jr., assistant to the president, is diligently reviewing the submitted proposals. Successful individuals and units will be informed of their award status on Dec. 15, and funds for their projects will be available Jan. 2. “One of the things that’s most exciting for me is to see the broad range of proposals that units from across campus have submitted,” Cook said. “People are viewing diversity through the lens of underrepresentation in their respective areas, and there’s an incredible sense of ownership across the university for the work of advancing diversity and inclusion.” The members of the grant proposal review and selection committee are Michele Howard, associate vice president for the Division of Student Affairs; Henry N. Young, the Kroger Associate Professor in Community Pharmacy and president of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization; Rosa Driggers, associate director of admissions for diversity and access in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; Akash Shah, an undergraduate student majoring in cellular biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and an orientation leader in summer 2017; Carolyn Medine, a professor of religion and African American studies in Franklin College; and Tim Samples, an assistant professor of legal studies in the Terry College of Business and a core faculty member in the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute.
Nearly 40 proposals submitted Benefits premium deduction will change for university’s new diversity for nine-month faculty and inclusion grants program
DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
columns.uga.edu Nov. 13, 2017
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Digest UGA will celebrate its second annual GIS Day with events on Nov. 15
Wingate Downs
Student ambassadors from several schools and colleges across campus joined UGA President Jere W. Morehead to thank donors at the 2017 Presidents Club Reception.
University honors leadership level donors at 2017 Presidents Club Reception held Nov. 3 The university hosted a reception on Nov. 3 to recognize fiscal year 2017 Presidents Club members. These leadership level donors collectively contributed over $146 million to the Commit to Georgia Campaign in FY17. More than 740 members attended the event, which was held in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall. “What you do for this institution matters,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It matters to me. It matters to our faculty, staff and students. And
it matters to the communities we serve across this state and around the world.” Established in 1973, today the Presidents Club includes donors who give at least $1,500 each fiscal year. Members’ annual gifts are put to immediate use in areas that matter most to the donors. Presidents Club members are playing a leading role in advancing the university’s strategic priorities of increasing scholarship support for students, enhancing the learning environment and solving grand challenges.
Many faculty and staff choose to give at the annual leadership level. In fiscal year 2017, 452 Presidents Club members were current or retired faculty and staff. “Through their support, Presidents Club members demonstrate a strong belief in the importance of world-class public higher education,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Kelly Kerner. “We are fortunate to have such commitment from these University of Georgia leaders.”
RESEARCH NEWS
College of Education study to determine how to turn political emotions into classroom assets By Kristen Morales kmorales@uga.edu
A political discussion can easily turn emotional. But when these emotions erupt among middle and high school students, they can become powerful teaching tools to keep kids engaged and learning, according to a University of Georgia researcher. A new study by UGA College of Education associate professor H. Jim Garrett aims to determine these emotions to help understand not only how students weigh facts and sources, but also how students draw a line between their own beliefs and reality. While much of the curriculum in schools focuses on how students dissect information and understand sources, terms from political psychology such as “motivated reasoning” and “confirmation bias” that have crept into the lexicon have added a new dimension to understanding how facts are looked at and conclusions are made. “We have research that helps students use evidence to make arguments and become critical consumers of information,” said Garrett. “But since November 2016, I’ve encountered all these terms from political psychology and the idea that we’re not just rational consumers of knowledge—and little of the research in social studies education accommodates this feature of political thinking. So this project will hopefully add to that.” The study, which is funded by the Spencer Foundation, will focus on classroom discussion among middle and high school students, with the research team taking videos and analyzing the emotions that result from those
On Nov. 15, the University of Georgia will celebrate the second annual GIS Day at the main library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to the UGA community, the event will showcase how students, faculty and organizations use geographic information system technology to visualize, analyze and interpret data in teaching, research, outreach and decision-making. GIS Day will feature lightning talks on realworld GIS applications, tours of the UGA Map and Government Information Library, internship information and free snacks. This year, the event will also feature a Mapathon and a map contest with prizes for the winners. The Mapathon will map Africa with PEPFAR in support of World AIDS Day. The map contest will judge student-produced maps on creativity, technicality and clarity of content. To participate in the Mapathon, contact djk69301@uga.edu or search for “UGA Mapathon Marathon” at www.Eventbrite.com. To sign up for the map contest, visit https://goo.gl/kJ8SF4. This year’s GIS Day will feature speakers from across campus including representatives from the geography department, the College of Environment and Design, the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, the Center for Geospatial Research and NASA Develop, and from institutions such as Centers for Disease Control, the Nature Conservancy, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services and Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services.
Terry College MBA program adds area of emphasis in financial technology
Full-time MBA students at the University of Georgia now have the option to bolster their resumes with an academic area of emphasis in the rapidly growing field of financial technology, or fintech. The fintech sector focuses on the use of technology to facilitate everyday financial transactions. The state of Georgia has flourished as a fintech hub, said Benjamin C. Ayers, dean of UGA’s Terry College of Business. Companies based in Atlanta process 70 percent of all credit, debit and prepaid card transactions in the U.S. The area of emphasis includes 12 hours of relevant coursework culminating in a fintech project with a corporate partner. The curriculum is designed to teach students the latest trends and topics in business process management, cyber threat intelligence and legal issues in the financial services industry, said Santanu Chatterjee, director of the college’s full-time MBA program.
Graduate senior named to women’s soccer SEC Community Service team Kristen Morales
Jim Garrett teaches social studies education in the College of Education, where he examines anxiety teachers may have in teaching uncomfortable topics.
discussions. This age group is critical, said Garrett, who teaches social studies education, because it’s a point where students begin to question lessons that they don’t feel apply to their own lives. If students cannot relate to what is being taught, they are less likely to be engaged in the subject, said Garrett. Political discussions, often fraught with emotion no matter the age group, are one way teachers can keep students engaged. The goal is to recognize the point when students encounter information that runs counter to their own beliefs and the path they take—do they discard it or do they try to understand it, Garrett said. “This way it’s more about asking, ‘How is it that people encounter knowledge about the world?’ ” he said. The study builds on Garrett’s previous research that explores the
anxiety educators may have in teaching “uncomfortable” topics. Often lessons involving race, discrimination or war— topics that connect with students in classrooms today—may cause stress but also pose great teaching opportunities, Garrett said. “A discussion in a single class is not going to solve the problems of slavery, nor will it solve the problems of current racial tension,” he said, adding that sometimes teachers avoid these realities because of the tension they cause. “But we can be honest about the realities in really careful, responsive ways and check in with our students throughout the discussion about how they feel.” Ideally, he said, this study will help teachers better anticipate their and their students’ emotions when discussing difficult topics. By responding and being flexible in where the discussion leads, it creates an opportunity to engage and empower more students.
UGA graduate senior Summer Burnett earned a spot on the 13th annual women’s soccer SEC Community Service team, announced Nov. 2 by the conference. Burnett is the epitome of a well-rounded student-athlete. Not only did she graduate cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, but she also was inducted to the University of Georgia Athletic Association Leadership Academy. In addition to being the co-president and soccer representative of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, she is currently pursing a master’s degree in accounting. The SEC sponsors Community Service teams for all 21 league sponsored sports. The Community Service team highlights a studentathlete from each school who gives back to his or her community in superior service efforts.
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4 Nov. 13, 2017 columns.uga.edu
CAMPAIGN FOR CHARITIES
GRADY COLLEGE
Peabody Awards adds two media professionals to its board of jurors By Margaret Blanchard mblanch@uga.edu
Peabody has appointed Joshua Brand and Mike Monello to its board of jurors, which each year evaluates entries and bestows the Peabody Awards for excellence in electronic media.The program is housed in the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. “It’s always exciting to bring fresh voices and insight to the judging process,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of the Peabody Awards. “We strive for a mix of top-level industry leaders from varied backgrounds who are wellversed in media excellence, and Joshua and Mike certainly fit the bill.” Brand is a writer, director and producer who has worked on five Peabody Award-winning programs, including St. Elsewhere, I’ll Fly Away, Northern Exposure and The Americans. Earlier in his career, he was a story editor on The White Shadow and later shared credit for developing the first season of Amazing Stories with Steven Spielberg. Brand also co-created A Year in the Life and Joshua Brand Going to Extremes. In addition to Peabody Awards, he is the recipient of multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, a Producer’s Guild Award and a Humanitas Prize. As a director, he was nominated for an Emmy and a Director’s Guild of America Award for the two-hour pilot of I’ll Fly Away. In 2013, he received the Paddy Chayefsky Lifetime Achievement Award from the Writer’s Guild of America. In 2015, an episode of The Americans he wrote, “Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?,” was nominated for an Emmy. Monello is a true pioneer when it comes to immersive storytelling and innovative marketing. In the late 1990s, Monello and his partners at Haxan Films created The Blair Witch Project, a story told across the burgeoning internet, a sci-fi channel pseudo-documentary, books, comics, games and a feature film, which became a pop-culture touchstone and inspired Mike Monello legions of “found-footage” movies in its wake. It forever changed how fans engage with story and how marketers approach the internet. Inspired by the possibilities for engaging connected fan cultures and communities online, Monello co-founded Campfire in 2006. There, he leads an agency that has developed and created groundbreaking participatory stories and experiences for HBO, Amazon, Netflix, Cinemax, Discovery, National Geographic, Harley-Davidson, Infiniti and more. Monello regularly speaks at high-profile events such as Advertising Week, SXSW, Digital Hollywood and more. The Peabody board of jurors is made up of media industry professionals, media scholars, critics and journalists who are appointed by the program’s executive director to a renewable three-year term of service. The current board of jurors includes: • Marcy Carsey, TV producer, co-founder, Carsey-Werner Company • Eric Deggans, TV critic, NPR; guest host, CNN’s Reliable Sources • Eddie Garrett (chair), executive vice president, Global Digital Strategies, Porter Novelli • Herman Gray, professor of sociology, University of California-Santa Cruz • Jonathan Gray, professor of media and cultural studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison • John Huey, former editor-in-chief, TIME Inc. • Kathy Im, director of journalism and media, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation • Henry Jenkins, professor of communication, journalism, cinematic arts and education, University of Southern California • Simon Kilmurry, executive director, International Documentary Association • Kim Masters, editor-at-large, The Hollywood Reporter; host, KCRW’s The Business • Mark McKinnon, TV producer and political analyst • Martha Nelson, global editor-in-chief, Yahoo Media • Monica Pearson, retired news anchor, WSB-TV Atlanta • Naibe Reynoso, co-host, HOLA! LA on KCAL/KCBS; host and producer, Ora TV • John Seigenthaler, senior counsel, Finn Partners; former anchor, NBC News Submissions are now being accepted for the 77th annual Peabody Awards at www.peabodyawards.com. Judging will begin in early 2018, and the awards ceremony will be held May 19 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.
Scout’s honor
Barbara Galvond, shown third from left with her Girl Scout troop, has worked with girls in scouting at every age level.
Dorothy Kozlowski
COE staffer supports Girl Scouts as troop leader By Emily Webb
sew30274@uga.edu
Barbara Galvond didn’t become a Girl Scout until she was a woman. As a youngster, she wanted to join the organization but never had the opportunity. Years later, her husband, David, signed her up as a leader at the same time that he signed up their then 5-year-old daughter as a Daisy. “He thought I could do it, and I’ve been involved ever since,” said Galvond, who is an academic advisor at UGA’s College of Education. “We laugh about that.” Thirty-four years later, Galvond has seen her involvement with the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, one of the state’s two councils, come full circle. “I actually had some girls who were in my troop when my daughter, Dava, was in [Girl Scouts] become Girl Scout leaders,” she said. The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is one of more than 1,400 charities benefiting from UGA’s Campaign for Charities, which ends Dec. 15.
Troop leaders have to be approved by the Girl Scouts Council. Once they are, they go through training to learn how to work with girls of different age groups. Galvond has worked with every age level. With her daughter’s troop, she started with the Daisies, the youngest age group, and went through to Seniors, which at the time was the highest level of Girl Scouts. Currently, she is the leader of a troop of six Juniors and Cadettes, who are fifth-grade and sixth-grade students. “They’re old enough to make decisions on their own,” Galvond said. “With the Juniors, you can give them a little bit more responsibility.” As Juniors, the girls can take part in different activities. This past summer, they went camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. During the trip, they explored caverns. For some of them, it was their first time inside a cave. While there, they noticed that the creek within the cave was clear, unlike the water in a creek outside. The trip helped them understand
the effects of pollution. Some of the troop’s activities help others. In the spring, the girls made packages for people employed by the county sheriff’s department. The packages included snacks, a knock-knock joke and an inspirational quote. There are two K-9 members of the department, and the girls made bags with a toy for them, too. Founded by Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low in 1912, Girl Scouts currently is made up of 1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults in 92 countries. The mission of the organization is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. “It’s a great program. It really and truly is,” said Galvond. “We teach them about leadership because as they get older, they do take on more and more responsibility. “Scouting puts them in a learning environment that’s not a school environment, where if they fail, it doesn’t matter,” she also said. “It’s more fun. It helps them grow.”
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Disability Resource Center recognizes 28 students, 1 faculty member at reception By Jim Lichtenwalter
james.lichtenwal25@uga.edu
When Alexa Lee was in high school she was diagnosed with lupus, a serious autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. After undergoing chemotherapy, she was ready to shed the stigma of being constantly ill and start anew during her freshman year at the University of Georgia. However, her health problems grew more complicated when she learned that the disease had affected her kidneys, and in her sophomore year she had to undergo a kidney transplant. The cost for her medical care has taken a toll on her family’s finances. However, last month, Lee received a scholarship at the annual Disability Resource Center Student and Faculty Recognition Reception. Lee was one of three students awarded the Lupuloff Family Scholar-
ship, which is provided by UGA alumna Jan Lupuloff and her husband, Aaron. The other two Lupuloff scholarship recipients are Joseph Guyton and Anastasia Klosterman. “I cannot thank the Lupuloff family enough for this scholarship,” said Lee. “This award has allowed me to continue my studies and relieve some of my family’s financial burden. I am extremely thankful to the Lupuloffs for allowing me to continue my educational pursuits.” A total of 28 UGA students registered at the DRC received scholarships Oct. 24 at a reception in Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. During the program, each student had the opportunity to thank the scholarship donors and talk about their personal experiences. The ceremony also honored Deanna Walters, an instructor and practicum coordinator in the College of Public Health’s health promotion
and behavior department, who received this year’s Outstanding Faculty Award. The DRC assists more than 1,500 UGA students a year, providing them with help navigating campus, extra time on tests, note-takers or anything else students might need to succeed. “You all truly do make a difference on campus,” said Bill McDonald, UGA’s dean of students. “Your stories inspire us, but more importantly what you do every day inspires us.” Other scholarship recipients were Shreya Visvanathan, Frances Dean, Liam McCabe, Hillary Rowell, Akash Shah, Carlie Horn, Anna Davidson, Nadia Hopkins, Ada Spratlin, Sean Tackett, Ansley Spears, Charnel Byrnes, Alan McDonald, Chang-Kyu Kwon, Taylor Bradish, Risa Matsumura, Hannah Ruby, Michael Veal, Tyus Williams, Lavette Leflore, Bradley Allen, Jade Maltese, Ashley Stone, Matthew Hukin and Matthew Lemer.
UGAGUIDE
columns.uga.edu Nov. 13, 2017
For a complete listing of events, check the Master Calendar on the Web (calendar.uga.edu/). The following events are open to the public, unless otherwise specified. Dates, times and locations may change without advance notice.
EXHIBITIONS
Gold-digging in Georgia: America’s First Gold Rush? Through Dec. 5. Special collections libraries. 706-542-8079. jclevela@uga.edu Louise Blair Daura: A Virginian in Paris. Through Dec. 10. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu A Partial View. Through Dec. 15. Circle Gallery, Jackson Street Building. 706-542-8292. mtufts@uga.edu Covered With Glory: Football at UGA, 1892-1917. Through Dec. 22. Special collections libraries. 706-542-7123. hasty@uga.edu Martha Odum: Art Intersects Ecology. Through Dec. 31. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and Tete-a-Tete. Through Jan. 7. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu
MONDAY, NOV. 13 HUGH HODGSON FACULTY SERIES Known for innovative and exciting programs, Jaclyn Hartenberger, conductor, associate director of bands and assistant professor of music, presents her first Hugh Hodgson Faculty Series recital with the help of several chamber ensembles. 8 p.m. Ramsey Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752.
TUESDAY, NOV. 14 LECTURE The Best President the Nation Never Had is an insider’s view of Sam Nunn’s unlikely rise from unknown backbench Georgia legislator to one of the most influential U.S. senators to ever serve, a man known for his exhaustive mastery
of issues, who marched ramrod straight to an ethical standard second to none. Roland McElroy will discuss the journey he took with Nunn as he presented a message of common sense conservatism to the people of Georgia in 1972. 4:30 p.m. 285 special collections libraries. 706-542-3879. lnessel@uga.edu MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. USC-Upstate. $15. 7 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15 STATE OF TECHNOLOGY ADDRESS Timothy M. Chester, vice president for information technology, will give the annual State of Technology address. All students, faculty and staff at the university are welcome to attend this presentation and open forum and ask questions about technology services at the university. 10 a.m. Chapel. 706-542-7071. mohsinayusuf@uga.edu PANEL DISCUSSION “Plastic: Land to Sea Connections” focuses on the problem of plastic waste in oceans and what can be done about it. Panelists: Maia McGuire, Sea Grant extension agent at the University of Florida, who will discuss research and outreach efforts focused on microplastics; Jenna Jambeck, associate professor in the College of Engineering, who will talk about her Marine Debris Tracker mobile app that allows the public to report the location of litter and marine debris anywhere in the world; Branson Ritchie, research professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and New Materials Institute, who will discuss the impacts of plastics on marine animals; and Katy Smith, water quality program coordinator for UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, who will cover effective outreach and education about plastic waste and marine debris. 4 p.m. Auditorium, Odum School of Ecology. 706-542-7247. atkinsr@uga.edu
Performing Arts Center to present Georgia Brass Band By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu
The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the Georgia Brass Band, the state’s premier British style brass band, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. Admission to the concert is free. Founded in 1999, the Georgia Brass Band is made up of Atlantaarea professional and amateur musicians, all of whom are selected by audition or referral. Joe Johnson serves as music director and conductor. Johnson holds degrees in trumpet performance and music education from the Boston University School for the Arts, and he has performed in concert halls ranging from Boston’s Symphony Hall to London’s Royal Albert Hall. In addition to concert and festival appearances, the Georgia Brass Band has earned a reputation for excellence through its success at the annual North American Brass Band Association Championships, scoring victories in two different divisions at the competition and establishing itself as one of the finest brass bands in the U.S.
Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Marketing & Communications. Notices are published as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available at calendar.uga.edu/.
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St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig set concert By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu
The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. Johann Sebastian Bach served as music director for 27 years beginning in 1723, and together they performed hundreds of his works. The choir’s Athens program will include sacred music by Bach, Heinrich Schutz, Johann Hermann Schein and Felix Mendelssohn. Established in 1212, the St. Thomas Boys Choir is Leipzig’s oldest cultural institution and one of Europe’s most revered musical treasures. The St. Thomas Choral Foundation originally included a seminary intended to train boys for the priesthood; however, the choir was soon opened to boys who were not part of the foundation. Today the choir consists of 106 choristers ranging in age from
THURSDAY, NOV. 16 ONESOURCE TOWN HALL The OneSource project, now in its second year of operation, is a multi-year, comprehensive business transformation project to adopt leading business practices, align UGA systems with those used by the University System of Georgia and use a new finance and human resources administration system. All faculty and staff will experience changes in the areas of finance and human resources processes and information technology. Learn more by visiting onesource.uga.edu. Registration is requested but not required. 10 a.m. Room K/L, Georgia Center. 706-542-3145. onesource@uga.edu CONCERT This is a rare opportunity to hear Johann Sebastian Bach’s own legendary choir. Established in the year 1212 in Leipzig, the St. Thomas Choir is one of Europe’s greatest musical treasures. With members ranging in age from 10 to 18, the choir is dedicated to maintaining a rich tradition. $30-$76. 8 p.m. Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400. (See story, above.)
FRIDAY, NOV. 17 DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT BORDERS “Indonesia: More than just Eat, Pray, Love,” Wisnu Agung Pradana. A Fulbright scholar from Indonesia, Pradana will give an overview of Indonesia and its range of cultures, ethnicities, biodiversity and languages. Pradana will focus on Indonesia’s linguistic diversity, including a dialect common among transgender communities, Bahasa Binan. 3:30 p.m. Intersection, Tate Student Center.
The St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig will perform at Hodgson Concert Hall on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.
10 to 18. The New York Times called a recent performance at Lincoln Center “exquisite” and said, “Surely this is what it must have been like to hear Bach lead the ensemble in one of his cantatas.” Tickets for the St. Thomas Boys Choir concert are $30 to $76 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, 706-542-2900. haleyd@uga.edu BLUE KEY AWARDS BANQUET Blue Key recognizes undergraduate and graduate men and women of outstanding character and ability who have achieved distinction for scholarship and recognition for service and leadership. Blue Key Service Awards and the Blue Key Young Alumnus Award will be presented. Recipients of the Tucker Dorsey Memorial Scholarship, the Richard B. Russell Student Leadership Award and the AT&T Student Leadership Award also will be announced. $30 per person; table sponsorships are available. 6:30 p.m. Hill Atrium (reception) and Mahler Hall (dinner and program), Georgia Center. 706-542-0017. jholcomb@uga.edu
SATURDAY, NOV. 18 FOOTBALL vs Kentucky. Televised on CBS. 3:30 p.m. Sanford Stadium.
SUNDAY, NOV. 19 MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. $15. 1 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum. CONCERT Hailed as a “major force in the North American brass banding world,” the Georgia Brass Band has entertained audiences with its style of music making since its founding in 1999. 3 p.m. Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400. (See story, left.)
MONDAY, NOV. 20 STUDENTS’ THANKSGIVING BREAK Through Nov. 24. No classes.
TO SUBMIT A LISTING FOR THE MASTER CALENDAR AND COLUMNS Post event information first to the Master Calendar website (calendar.uga.edu/). Listings for Columns are taken from the Master Calendar 12 days before the publication date. Events not posted by then may not be printed in Columns.
Any additional information about the event may be sent directly to Columns. Email is preferred (columns@uga. edu), but materials can be mailed to Columns, Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.
online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400. UGA students can purchase tickets for $6 with a valid UGA ID, limit one ticket per student. A pre-concert lecture will be given 45 minutes prior to the concert. The lecture will take place in Ramsey Concert Hall in the Performing Arts Center.
TUESDAY, NOV. 21 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Western Carolina. $5. 7 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
THURSDAY, NOV. 23 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS Through Nov. 24. No classes; offices closed.
FRIDAY, NOV. 24 VOLLEYBALL vs. Kentucky. 5 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
SATURDAY, NOV. 25 FOOTBALL at Georgia Tech. Time to be announced. Atlanta.
MONDAY, NOV. 27 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Tennessee Tech. $5. 7 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
COMING UP HOLIDAY BOOK AND FRAME SALE Nov. 28 through Dec. 1. Shop at the museum’s annual holiday book and frame sale, featuring new and used publications in all genres as well as a selection of frames. Credit cards are accepted. Those who have books to donate should call 706-542-4662. 10 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. hazbrown@uga.edu NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES Nov. 22 (for Dec. 4 issue) Dec. 6 (for Jan. 8 issue) Jan. 3 (for Jan. 16 issue)
6 Nov. 13, 2017 columns.uga.edu
Members of UGA’s Center for Simulational Physics and the physics and astronomy department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences participated in the IX Brazilian Meeting on Simulational Physics held Aug. 21-25 in Natal, Brazil. David P. Landau, Distinguished Research Professor and founding director of the Center for Simulational Physics, presented the opening invited talk, “The Ising Model at 92.” He also presented an invited tutorial on Replica-Exchange Wang-Landau Sampling. Professor of physics Michael Bachmann and doctoral candidate Alfred Farris gave presentations, with Farris participating as a recipient of a joint American Physical Society/Brazilian Physical Society competitive travel fellowship. The meeting included participants from Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S., in addition to representatives from multiple Brazilian institutions, and featured a celebration of 20 years of these biennial meetings. The concept for this series is based on the annual workshop sponsored by the Center for Simulational Physics. Jessica Daniels, who coordinates the Terry College of Business’ Online BBA Program, won an Outstanding New Advisor Award from NACADA, the global network for academic advising. Daniels was on hand in October to accept the honor at the association’s annual conference in St. Louis. Now in its third year, the Online BBA is only the second fully online undergraduate degree-completion program housed at UGA, and it was the first at Terry. Notable among her many accolades, Daniels received 100 percent excellent scores in all areas of her advisor surveys throughout 2015 and 2016. And the workload doesn’t end with students who register for classes. In the program’s first two years, she provided admissions advice and transfer credit guidance to more than 1,500 prospective students. Daniels also volunteered to assist general business BBA students on UGA’s Griffin campus when the program found itself without an advisor last year and set about streamlining advising practices to better serve those students. Prior to Daniels’ award recognition from NACADA, she was the recipient of UGA’s Outstanding New Staff Advisor Award in August and Terry College’s Academic Advisor of the Year this past April. Charles S. Bullock III, the Richard B. Russell Professor of Political Science, a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and University Professor, has won the 2018 V.O. Key Award for The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act. The award is given to the best book on Southern politics. Bullock is the only three-time winner of this award in the history of the Southern Political Science Association. In tracing the development of the Voting Rights Act from its inception, Bullock and co-authors Ronald Keith Gaddie and Justin J. Wert explore the political and legal aspects of the Jim Crow electoral regime. Detailing both the subsequent struggle to enact the law and its impact, they explain why the Voting Rights Act was necessary. Bullock, Gaddie and Wert Charles Bullock draw on court cases and election data to bring their discussion to the present with an examination of the 2006 revision and renewal of the act, and its role in shaping the Southern political environment in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. Bullock has been at the University of Georgia since 1968 with the exception of one year when he served as legislative assistant to Congressman Bill Stuckey and two years when he was professor of political science at the University of Houston. Kudos recognizes special contributions of staff, faculty and administrators in teaching, research and service. News items are limited to election into office of state, regional, national and international societies; major awards and prizes; and similarly notable accomplishments.
FACULTY PROFILE
Dorothy Kozlowski
Courtney Murdock, an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Odum School of Ecology and the College of Veterinary Medicine, conducts lab and field experiments with computer modeling to predict disease spread.
Assistant professor focuses research on environmental drivers of disease By Beth Gavrilles bethgav@uga.edu
Courtney Murdock was well on her way to becoming a veterinarian; as a pre-vet student at the University of Michigan she majored in biology and volunteered at a small animal hospital. But then she spent the summer before her senior year working at the university’s biological field station. “I learned about general ecology and field mammalogy, and by the end of that summer, I knew I wanted to study ecology in graduate school,” she said. For her doctoral work, also at the University of Michigan, she researched avian blood parasites, becoming interested in the ecology of disease transmission. That led her to Penn State University where she spent five years as a postdoctoral research scholar studying the ecology of disease vectors, the living organisms that carry and transmit diseases. Now Murdock has come full circle. In 2014 she joined the faculty at UGA as an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Odum School of Ecology and the College of Veterinary Medicine infectious diseases department. Murdock’s research program is focused on the environmental drivers of disease transmission and the ecology of vector-borne diseases. She is particularly interested in two types of diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes: human malaria and arboviruses, which include dengue and Zika. She and her group combine lab
and field experiments with computer modeling to generate predictions about disease spread and to evaluate disease control strategies in the context of changing environmental conditions. As the recent outbreak of Zika demonstrated, the stakes are high. “Often mosquito interventions are the only way to mitigate these diseases,” Murdock said, which is why understanding how variables like temperature, rainfall and land use affect mosquitoes’ capacity for transmitting disease is so important. Murdock’s research interests inform her teaching, which includes an upperlevel undergraduate/graduate course on the population biology of infectious diseases. A participating faculty member in the Infectious Disease Ecology Across Scales interdisciplinary doctoral training program, she also enjoys teaching general ecology for undergraduates. “It broadens your thinking,” she said. “And working with students with different skill sets and backgrounds has helped me become a better mentor.” Murdock’s teaching goes beyond the classroom. She is currently developing an Athens-based outreach project to inform people about the risks—and how to mitigate them—of living with mosquitoes, and she recently taught a course on Zika for the UGA Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. “People want to learn about these issues,” she said. “They want to be engaged.” The kind of diversity she values in her students is something Murdock
FACTS
Courtney Murdock
Assistant Professor Odum School of Ecology and Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Post-doctoral Research Scholar, Penn State University, 2009-2014 Ph.D., Resource Ecology and Management, University of Michigan, 2009 B.S., Biology, University of Michigan, 2001 At UGA: Three years
also appreciates about her faculty colleagues. “The appeal of UGA was the joint position with the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Odum School, and having access to so many renowned colleagues with different expertise than mine,” she said. Murdock cited the Faculty of Infectious Diseases, the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases as important resources that make UGA an ideal place for her to work. “If you’re curious, ecology is a good field,” said Murdock. “It’s theory driven: you make hypotheses and design experiments to test. There are a lot of major problems that can benefit from an ecological perspective and integration from other fields, like antibiotic resistance and urbanization. This is a great time, and a great place, to be an ecologist.”
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
UGA police officer receives Kassinger Scholarship The Edward T. and Sarah Laurent Kassinger Scholarship board has awarded the 2017 Kassinger Scholarship to Officer Alan Krish with the University of Georgia Police Department in recognition of his academic achievements and work pursuits. Steve Harris, director of the UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness, presented the award to Krish on behalf of the Kassinger Scholarship board. The scholarship is provided to graduate and undergraduate students who complete academic degrees while employed full time as a UGA police officer or as a working student in the
criminal justice studies program, an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program jointly administered by the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the School Alan Krish of Publ ic and International Affairs. The award is named for Edward Kassinger, who served as director of the UGA Public Safety Division from 1969-1983, and his late wife, Sarah. The award was established in 1984 by
former employees and friends of the Kassingers who believe that students who work to help pay educational expenses should be recognized. Krish has been employed by the university’s Police Department since 2016. Prior to his employment with UGA, Krish served as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. In June 2017, Krish received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice management from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Kassinger Scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to candidates and is administered by the UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness.
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ENTERPRISE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
columns.uga.edu Nov. 13, 2017
Change Champions help educate employees about OneSource Project By Kat Khoury
kat@fastcopy.org
The Change Champions are here to help UGA through one of its biggest financial and human resources transformations. About 150 nominated or volunteer representatives across UGA’s various divisions are assisting fellow faculty and staff in making a smooth transition to Oracle’s PeopleSoft starting in 2018 as part of the OneSource Project. The Change Champions are outgoing, involved individuals with strong communication skills who advocate for the OneSource Project, promoting the change and facilitating two-way communication between the project and its end users. “There isn’t a requirement for a particular personality type. You really just have to be willing to communicate,” said Steve Gibson, business affairs manager in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Business Office who is a part of the team that created the group. “It’s been a fantastic experience so far, just connecting with people from every nook and cranny of the university.” The PeopleSoft system will link all UGA departments—across the U.S. and internationally—and handle financial and human resource processes. Making sure people are updated and on board is central to OneSource’s mission, but the team knew from the beginning that it would need help reaching UGA’s staff and faculty. Susan Cowart, associate director for finance and human resources in the Division of Student Affairs, serves as a Change Champion for OneSource. She refers to the university’s separate and different systems as silos, or independent sources of information, that don’t communicate with each other. “It’s overdue,” Cowart said. “Getting us to PeopleSoft is a fantastic move.” The Change Champions have held weekly meetings since April to discuss concerns and ways to build excitement and readiness for the change and to answer questions from co-workers and others within their areas. The meetings typically incorporate one of many nicknames the group brainstormed during the kick-off meeting “to see all the different aspects of our
Atlanta couple’s gift to State Botanical Garden a tribute By Kelly Simmons
simmonsk@uga.edu
Dorothy Kozlowski
Change Champions spread the word and answer questions about the OneSource Project.
role,” Gibson said. “We call ourselves something different each week.” As “Guardians of Getting the Word Out,” the Champions’ main goal is to spread awareness. “The more that people and employees are informed, the more they’re going to feel comfortable with the change,” said Brooke Rooks, administrative financial director and Change Champion for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Sarah Fraker, the change management lead, said, “In terms of awareness, we are leaps and bounds ahead of anything I have seen, looking at it from the outside.” She credits the successful level of awareness on campus to the Change Champions’ hard work attending meetings, hanging signs, making promotional material, speaking with leadership and other methods of spreading news about OneSource. The Change Champions chose “Bridge Builders” as another nickname because they take their knowledge of the OneSource project and their individual involvement within their divisions to connect the two. Many place a sign on their office door that states: “I’m your one source for OneSource.” After the “go live” dates for OneSource—July 2018 for the financial system and January 2019 for human resources and payroll—many of the
WEEKLY READER
Book helps ID Southeastern mushrooms
Mushrooms of the Georgia Piedmont and Southern Appalachians By Mary L. Woehrel and William H. Light University of Georgia Press Hardcover: $59.95
PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH
As part of its Wormsloe Foundation Nature book series, the University of Georgia Press has published Mushrooms of the Georgia Piedmont and Southern Appalachians. The book was written by Mary L. Woehrel, founder and past president of the Mushroom Club of Georgia, and William H. Light, a science and technical writer. Mushrooms of the Georgia Piedmont and Southern Appalachians contains accurate and detailed identification tools that will aid professional mycologists, students and mushroom enthusiasts alike. The book provides nomenclaturally and scientifically accurate accounts of the range of mushrooms in the Southeast and covers 182 genera and 354 species, more than 1,000 color photographs that aid in identification and line drawings that detail the complicated and subtle structures that distinguish the various fungi mushroom groups. It also contains sections on the toxic, medicinal and psychoactive properties of some certain fungi mushrooms and detailed comments on distinguishing edible mushrooms from potentially dangerous look-alikes.
Change Champions will shift in their roles. “When the old system is unplugged and the new one is turned on, our jobs don’t end,” Gibson said. Taking another nickname— “Transition Agents”—to the core, they’ll stay involved with the new system as trainers and go-to people for advice. “Change happens at a personal level,” Gibson said. More than 400 volunteers have been answering the day-to-day questions and providing input to the OneSource Project by lending their expertise. Being involved in the project has allowed Susan McCullough, a business manager in the Facilities Management Division, to build on her analytical skills and business process know-how. She estimates she spends 10 to 20 hours per week on OneSource projects. “I want to see us successful here at Facilities Management, and on a personal level, I want to grow, I want to learn how to match up processes, get more experience with that and get more experience in leadership,” said McCullough. Overall, as self-proclaimed “Catalysts for Success,” the Change Champions are working to ensure a smooth and transparent switch for their fellow employees. “I think campus was very ready for the change,” Fraker said.
Adrian and John Robinson met when they were children. Their mothers, both among the first members of the State Botanical Garden Board of Advisors, were friends and both children attended Athens Academy. When Adrian was in second grade, her mother remarried and the family moved to Augusta. Adrian wouldn’t see John again until many years later after college, when they both attended an annual Gardens of the World Ball. A relationship blossomed, and they married a few years later. Now Adrian, John and their children Will and Rice, are honoring their mothers for their years of service to the garden’s advisory board. A $225,000 gift will pay for the stainless steel with polished glass arbor entrance to the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden, which will be under construction beginning this fall. “Each time a child, children or a family walks through the beautiful arbor entrance to the children’s garden, they will hopefully feel as excited and curious to explore and learn about all the amazing plants and flowers as our mothers always felt,” Adrian Robinson said. John’s mother, Margaret Mobley Robinson, who now lives in Sea Island, was a charter member of the State Botanical Garden advisory board when it formed in 1985. Adrian’s mother, Charlotte Carter Merry, who lives in Highlands, North Carolina, joined the board in 1988. Adrian Robinson joined the board in 2016. “It’s all about our mothers,” Adrian Robinson said. “They loved this botanical garden and worked so hard. They truly put their heart and soul into it. ” Garden Director Jenny Cruse-Sanders praised Margaret Robinson and Charlotte Merry for their long-term commitment to the board of advisors and Adrian and John Robinson for the special tribute to their mothers. “Generations of children will visit to play and learn about nature because board members like Margaret and Charlotte loved the botanical garden and wanted to share it with even the youngest visitors,” Cruse-Sanders said. “We are so grateful to John and Adrian for choosing the children’s garden as a way to honor their mothers.” The arbor will be built by Andrew Crawford, an Atlanta sculptor who also sits on the garden’s board of advisors. He exhibited his collection of garden gates at the State Botanical Garden in 2011.
CYBERSIGHTS
ABOUT COLUMNS Columns is available to the community by subscription for an annual fee of $20 (secondclass delivery) or $40 (first-class delivery). Faculty and staff members with a disability may call 706-542-8017 for assistance in obtaining this publication in an alternate format. Columns staff can be reached at 706-542-8017 or columns@uga.edu
Editor Juliett Dinkins Art Director Jackie Baxter Roberts
University Testing Services enhances site
testing.uga.edu
University Testing Services recently updated its website. Features include a new registration system and process, making it easier to register for exams. The site also offers comprehensive information for students, faculty and community members about all the tests they may need
for class, graduate school or professional certifications. “University Testing Services offers an impressive listing of exams with amazing efficiency, and the new website puts all of this at your fingertips,” said Stan Jackson, director of communications for the Division of Student Affairs.
Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski Writer Leigh Beeson Communications Coordinator Krista Richmond The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. The University of Georgia is a unit of the University System of Georgia.
8 Nov. 13, 2017 columns.uga.edu COMMENCEMENT
from page 1
degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and genetics, and Bridget Ariel Thompson, a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. For the undergraduate ceremony, Commencement candidates are allowed six tickets per student. Tickets are not required for the graduate exercise. As the 13th chancellor of the USG, Wrigley oversees 28 public colleges and universities with an $8.8 billion annual budget, more than 48,000 faculty and staff and 320,000 students. The Georgia Public Library System and the Georgia Archives also are part of the university system. He currently serves on the Alliance of Education Agency Heads and is a member of the board of the Georgia Wildlife Federation. In the past, he served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy of Georgia and the Georgia Humanities Council. Prior to becoming chancellor, Wrigley served as executive vice chancellor of administration for the USG from June 2011 until his appointment as chancellor. As executive vice chancellor of administration, Wrigley oversaw the day-to-day operations of the system’s budget, facilities, information technology services, human resources, legal affairs and strategic planning units. Wrigley formerly served as senior vice president for external affairs, as well as vice president for government relations, at the University of Georgia. He also served as director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Prior to his work in the university system, Wrigley worked in state government in Georgia, including five years as chief of staff to former Gov. Zell Miller. During his career, Wrigley has worked on a number of key issues, including the creation of the state lottery and the HOPE Scholarship, along with campus consolidations within the USG. Wrigley earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and his doctorate in history from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He and his wife, Lynne, have two children and reside in Clarke County. “We also are looking forward to hearing from Dean Nolan,” said Morehead. “As a brilliant scientist with three postgraduate
degrees from this university and a distinguished record of research, she is the perfect person to inspire our graduate students as they prepare for the next stage in their lives.” Nolan was professor and Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine prior to her appointment at UGA in July 2017. Previously, Nolan was founding director of the Great Plains Institute of Food Safety at North Dakota State University and chair of the department of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine at Iowa State. Her additional administrative experience includes service as associate dean of academic and student affairs and associate dean of research and graduate studies. Her research focuses on bacterial diseases that impact animal health, human health and food safety. She is the author or co-author of nearly 130 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and her research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, as well as private foundations. Her patents include a vaccine and a biomarker to assess avian Escherichia coli virulence. Nolan has received several honors over the course of her career, including being named a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and an honorary diplomate of the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society. She has received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Blue Key National Honor Society, the Philbro Animal Health Excellence in Poultry Research Award and the Academic Alumnus of the Year Award from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, among other honors. Nolan earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from UGA as well as earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in medical microbiology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Valdosta State College, now Valdosta State University. In the interest of public safety, the 2017 fall Commencement ceremonies will follow the Southeastern Conference Clear Bag Policy. For more information on UGA’s Commencement ceremonies, visit http:// commencement.uga.edu/.
Bulletin Board University Woman’s Club
The University Woman’s Club will hold its regular monthly meeting Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Alps Road Presbyterian Church, which is located at 380 Alps Road. Guest speaker Jody Jacobs, a radiation safety officer at UGA, will give a talk titled “Health Physics: The Unknown Profession.” Tickets for the Dec. 12 holiday luncheon also will be available for purchase. For additional information, contact Shirley Jaeger, publicity chair, at shirley.jaeger1961@gmail.com or 706-566-4477 or 706-548-9291.
Science contest
The University of Georgia Libraries is hosting a Capturing Science Contest to encourage STEM learning in a range of formats and genres. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for $1,500 in prizes. Contestants will explain a STEM, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics, concept to a broader audience using any media. Prizes will be awarded in two categories for undergraduate and graduate students. All currently enrolled UGA undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Students may submit works
used for other class assignments, and multiple entries are acceptable. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on Nov. 27. More information is at guides.libs.uga.edu/capturingscience. Contact Chandler Christoffel, instruction and research librarian, with questions at christof@uga.edu or 706-542-0696.
Freedom Breakfast tickets
The 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast will be held Jan. 12 at 7:30 a.m. in the Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. Recipients of the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Awards will be announced at the breakfast, which is open to the public. The awards recognize individuals from UGA, the Athens area and surrounding counties who have made significant efforts to carry on King’s work. Tickets are $25 each or $200 for a table of eight. They may be purchased online at http://bit.ly/2zsmyCP. Tickets will not be sold the day of the event, and initial ticket sales are limited to one table. To purchase more than one table, email Shirley Reyes at diverse@uga.edu. Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
FELLOWS from page 1
TRAINING
professor of infectious diseases and director of pre-clinical academic affairs in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Hondalus has received numerous recognitions, including the UGA Excellence in Teaching Award and the Tyler Award for Innovative Teaching. Her research involves microbial genetics and vaccine development. • Maria E. Len-Rios, associate professor of public relations in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Her research investigates inequities in health communication and diversity in media representations and public relations. Her work has garnered numerous top paper awards at national and international academic conferences. • Nancy Manley, Distinguished Research Professor and head of the genetics department in Franklin College. Manley, who serves as executive director for sponsored projects administration and director of the Integrated Life Sciences program, focuses her research in developmental biology and molecular genetics with a specific interest in the thymus. • Amanda Murdie, Dean Rusk Scholar of International Relations, graduate coordinator and professor in the School of Public and International Affairs. Her research examines the behavior of international non-governmental organizations and their interactions with people and with state and local governments. • Emilie Smith, the Barber Distinguished Professor and head of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, is a Fellow in Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. Smith’s research integrates complex analytical approaches to examine family and community practices to reducing hyperactivity and promoting positive development in diverse socio-cultural settings. • Shavannor Smith, associate professor of plant pathology, graduate coordinator and Lilly Teaching Fellow in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Smith’s research examines the interactions of pathogens and plants, with a focus on understanding the biological processes for disease resistance and the genetic improvement of crop plants for disease resistance. “I want to congratulate the members of this new class of fellows,” said President Jere W. Morehead.“I am grateful for their commitment to leadership development at this university and wish them the very best on a meaningful and productive experience in the program.” The Women’s Leadership Fellows were chosen from nominations from deans and other senior administrators as well as from self-nominations.The program is administered by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. To learn more about the Women’s Leadership Fellows Program, see https://t.uga.edu/1Mi.
opportunities that are being developed for citizens. What the class did was open up my eyes to what could be done with the resources we had in hand.” That’s the point, said Jennifer Nelson, who directs the Georgia Certified Economic Developer program at UGA’s Vinson Institute. “They get something they can apply right away,” Nelson said. “Some people do great with recruitment, but there’re a lot of other strategies that communities need to implement. I think that’s what we’re doing by looking at economic development across the board.” Brooks is the first graduate of the GCED program, developed by the Vinson Institute and launched in 2016. The goal is to provide economic development professionals in Georgia with the education and tools they need to successfully recruit new industries and jobs. The program was a hit from the start, with courses taught in Athens as well as in other parts of the state selling out. Currently 221 people are enrolled, taking core courses on critical topics like attracting and growing businesses, workforce development, and financing economic development and deal structuring. To become certified, participants must take 36 hours of core courses, take 24 hours of specialized courses on industry knowledge and leadership, and complete a capstone portfolio project. The program made Walker County more competitive, which is crucially important for a county that borders two states—Alabama and Tennessee—that are increasingly aggressive in luring business. “I have a business background, and I understand and recognize the importance of staying current and up-to-date on advancements that are made in the competitive nature of what we do,” said Robert Wardlaw, chairman of the Walker County Development Authority. “The impact of this program is significant because having the Carl Vinson Institute in our state keeps us on the cutting edge and at a competitive advantage.” Brooks said learning about resources available specifically in Georgia has been huge. From guest speakers to classmates, the classes he took exposed him to a plethora of experts. He used contacts he made with the Georgia Department of Labor to help allay workforce development concerns of one prospective company. “I think the greatest tool the classes provide is a very practical and real application that you can take back to the role you serve in,” Brooks said. Nelson “does a great job bringing in professionals who don’t just stand and talk but provide real help and real assistance even if you need it outside of class.”
ACADEMY
EXTENSION
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The 2018 class is the second Public Health Leadership Academy.The initial academy took place in 2015 and included participants from Colquitt, Sumter and Washington counties, as well as the multi-county public health districts representing LaGrange and south central Georgia. “The initial academy proved very successful, and we are pleased to again partner with the College of Public Health to help strengthen communities through leadership development and collaboration,” said Bishop. Participants in the Public Health Leadership Academy may include business, nonprofit and civic leaders; professionals from multiple sectors including health, social work, psychology, ministry and education; as well as other community-based entities that have an impact on factors that affect public health. “Health is greatly influenced by complex social factors—education, neighborhoods, transportation, income and faith—in addition to health care,” said Marsha Davis, associate dean for outreach and engagement in the College of Public Health. “This leadership program empowers leaders to create solutions that address the health inequities impacted by these social factors and move their communities and organizations toward a ‘culture of health.’ ”
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Survey. However, substandard living conditions and small nuances in the cleanliness of homes can result in respiratory illness, reproductive issues, neurological disorders and accidental injuries. The Rural Georgia Healthy Housing Advisory Board works to increase awareness of the dangers lurking in Georgia homes. Since 2013, the board has promoted healthier and safer housing conditions in Georgia, particularly for low-income, children, elderly, minorities and other vulnerable populations living in rural communities. The board prioritizes educating parents and childcare providers about reducing exposure to environmental contaminants and hazards in childcare centers. Board members include representatives from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Houston County Habitat for Humanity, SupAid Community Resources and AT&T Pioneers. For the past two years, the board has partnered with the Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition to provide a healthy homes booth at the Georgia National Fair in Perry.