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Top companies recognized for hiring most graduates from UGA’s Class of 2018 CAMPUS NEWS
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‘Our Town and Beyond’ celebrates centennial of Athens Art Association Vol. 46, No. 37
June 10, 2019
www.columns.uga.edu
UGA GUIDE
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Marsha Davis named dean of College of Public Health at UGA By Sam Fahmy
sfahmy@uga.edu
Dorothy Kozlowski
From left: Young Dawgs student Tanishk Sinha, Franklin College faculty member Janet Westpheling and genetics undergraduate student Noor Sohal, a former Young Dawgs participant, discuss a genetics project.
‘Learn to problem solve’ Young Dawgs Program encourages students’ passions for science and mentoring
By Emily Webb
sew30274@uga.edu
Noor Sohal loved science as a student at Lambert High School in Forsyth County. Her interest in genetics and synthetic biology brought her, as a rising high school junior, to Janet Westpheling’s lab in 2016 as part of the university’s Young Dawgs Program. The lab works to make energy in sustainable and environmentally friendly ways, such as converting plants to fuels like ethanol, butanol and bioplastic. During her Young Dawgs internship, Sohal worked with the o rganism
aldicellulosiruptor bescii, or C C. bescii, which breaks down biomass. She also constructed plasmids—pieces of DNA that have genes on them—to make the organism produce ethanol. “Even though I wasn’t doing something that was huge or completely on my own, I did have a sense of ownership over it, which is something that I learned isn’t very common,” she said. “I learned from the lab environment that you get a sense of pride from your work, and you want to put the best foot forward. “The research was very cool, but what I’ll say to everyone is that
you don’t have to love what you research, you have to just learn the process,” she added. “Learn to problem solve.” Sohal completed her internship as part of the Young Dawgs Summer Science Program, a six-week program focused on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, subjects. The Academic School Year Program, a second Young Dawgs offering, lets students participate for one or two semesters and receive high school credit for successful completion. Since the Young Dawgs Program began in 2008, See YOUNG DAWGS on page 4
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS
University to launch comprehensive alumni-student mentor program; faculty and staff participants sought By Laura Bayne lbayne@uga.edu
The University of Georgia will launch its first comprehensive mentorship initiative, the UGA Mentor Program, June 12. Alumni, including faculty and staff, who are interested in participating can create a profile at https://mentor.uga.edu. The site will open for student sign-ups in August. Following the success of smaller mentoring endeavors in the university’s schools and colleges, and at the recommendation of the Board of Visitors, President Jere W. Morehead formed a presidential task force to create a universitywide mentoring program available to UGA students and alumni. “University of Georgia alumni are eager to support current
students as they explore possible career paths and life goals,” said Morehead, “and our students are excited to connect with members of the Bulldog family who can provide inspiration and guidance. I am grateful that our alumni are willing to give back to UGA in this important way, and I look forward to the many lasting benefits that will come from the program.” The UGA Mentor Program offered a pilot program in January 2019 to 115 pairs of alumni and students. Of the students who participated, 93% said they gained an appreciation for mentoring as a personal and professional development tool. “Having a mentor is a great chance to look at someone else’s journey from UGA to where they are now—especially if it aligns with your interests,” said
LeBria Casher, an English and comparative l iterature major from Douglasville, who will graduate from UGA in 2020. “Mentors are a valuable source of information, and you get out of the mentorship relationship what you put into it. You never know what good will come from that relationship.” The UGA Mentor Program, housed in the Career Center, serves both students and alumni. Each participant commits to only one to two hours per week for a 16-week match. The program website hosts a messaging platform that protects participants’ personal information, and once a mentorship relationship is established, students and mentors can communicate in person or from wherever they are via text message, email or phone. “I was surprised at how easy See MENTOR on page 4
Marsha Davis, a nationally recognized researcher and leader in community-based health promotion programs, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Public Health. Davis, a professor in the department of health promotion and behavior, joined the UGA faculty in 2006 and has served as interim dean since 2018. Her appointment as dean of the College of Public Health was jointly announced by Libby V. Morris, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, and S. Jack Hu, incoming
senior vice president for academic a ffairs and provost. Morris reflected that, “Dr. Davis has an impressive record Marsha Davis of advancing instruction, research and public service and outreach. She has the respect of campus administrators and faculty, and I am confident that the College of Public Health will rise in prominence under her outstanding leadership.”
See DEAN on page 4
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Russian Flagship Program receives scholarship support By Kathryn Kao kathk1@uga.edu
The Russian Domestic Undergraduate Flagship Program at the University of Georgia recently received a $100,000 i ntensive domestic language studies scholarship to help fund the study-abroad experience of Russian Flagship students. The program—which admitted its freshman cohort of 20 students in fall 2018—awards each student $5,000 to study abroad during the summer and $15,000 to study abroad for an entire academic year in any Flagship-approved, Russian-speaking country. Recently, two UGA students qualified to complete their capstone year in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where they will stay
with a R ussian-speaking family, receive intensive instruction in Russian and complete a six-month internship related to their major. “It’s amazing that students who have not gone through the entire Flagship program actually qualified, and both of them are nonheritage students,” said Russian Flagship Director Victoria Hasko, an associate professor in the College of Education’s language and literacy education department. “They are very excited to participate in this academic yearlong overseas program.” Additionally, 11 internal and external awards, totaling nearly $50,000, were received by Russian Flagship students at the university, including scholarships from the Boren Awards and Project GO, See PROGRAM on page 4
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Professional development for faculty on tap for summer, fall By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu
This summer, faculty can broaden and enhance their leadership skills through the 2019 Summer Leadership Institute, scheduled for July 22-25. The program is part of a varied set of professional development opportunities for faculty members that include writing workshops and seminars on mentoring, inclusion and other career-development topics. The three-day Summer Leadership Institute, held at the Graduate Athens, will allow a cohort of faculty to improve their leadership
skills in a shared learning environment. The program is recommended for faculty in any career track or rank who have an interest in leading at any organizational scale, from small research teams to entire academic units. For questions about the program or to apply by the June 21 deadline, contact Carly Surratt at csurratt@uga.edu. “UGA is committed to supporting the success of its outstanding faculty in all stages of their careers,” said Sarah Covert, associate provost for faculty affairs. “The purpose of our professional development offerings is to help UGA faculty
See FACULTY on page 4