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Skidaway Institute, marine sciences department join new conservation consortium
Documentary reveals beauty, biodiversity of streams in the Southeast
RESEARCH NEWS
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Vol. 46, No. 32
April 15, 2019
www.columns.uga.edu
UGA GUIDE
4&5
Peabody board announces award nominees and host
By Margaret Blanchard mblanch@uga.edu
Built in South Carolina, the Proterra Catalyst buses are expected to arrive on campus during the next academic year.
Power purchase
By Allison Brannen
University establishes contract to buy up to 20 electric buses
abrannen@uga.edu
UGA has established a contract to purchase up to 20 Proterra Catalyst E2 electric buses. The move is a significant step forward in reducing carbon emissions and increasing alternative transportation options for the campus transit system, one of the largest of its kind in the country. “Adding electric buses to the UGA fleet will dramatically reduce transportation, maintenance and operating costs for the university, which will in turn help to keep student fees low,” said Don Walter, interim associate director, Auxiliary Services and director, Transportation and Parking Services. Energy costs for operating the electric buses amount to less than $10 per day per bus, compared to energy costs for a diesel bus that
total $90 per day per bus. The new buses also will have twice the horsepower and five times the efficiency of a diesel bus. The buses will be configured to meet specifications laid out by the university that are designed to meet needs specific to campus. “The addition of the buses— which offer a smooth, quiet ride with zero emissions—will make the electric bus fleet at UGA one of the largest in the U.S.,” said Walter. After receiving a $10 million grant from the GO! Transit Capital Program administered by Georgia’s State Road and Tollway Authority, the university evaluated and tested electric bus technology to ensure that students, faculty, staff and visitors would receive the best electric bus possible. Tests evaluated several features including bus capacity, handling, turning, hill climbing, battery range, rider and
driver experience, acceleration, braking, maintenance and durability. The state of Georgia conducted a similar testing and review process and selected Proterra as a statewide vendor for electric buses, enabling the university to procure its new buses under a statewide contract. Built nearby in South Carolina, the Proterra Catalyst bus holds records for acceleration and torque as well as distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge, at more than 1,100 miles. The positive benefits of electric bus technology go beyond maintenance and operations. The buses will advance research and fieldwork opportunities for students and faculty in the College of Engineering by providing access to live field data. Additionally, in an emergency, the batteries have the potential to supply power to buildings that have been appropriately modified.
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors has announced the 60 nominees that represent the most compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting and digital media during 2018. The nominees were selected by unanimous vote of 19 jurors from more than 1,200 entries from television, radio/ podcasts and the web in entertainment, news, documentary, children’s and public service programming. Thirty winners selected from amongst these nominees will be announced beginning April 16. The Peabody Awards were
Ronan Farrow
founded in 1940 at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia and are still based i n A t h e n s
today. “It is our great honor to recognize the most powerful and compelling, but also most brilliant and creative programming of 2018,” said Jeffrey P. Jones, executive
See PEABODY on page 8
FRANKLIN COLLEGE
University researchers create world’s first gene-edited lizards By Michael Terrazas
michael.terrazas@uga.edu
A group of University of Georgia researchers led by geneticist Douglas Menke has become the first in the world to successfully produce a genetically modified reptile—specifically, four albino lizards—using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool. The team’s results, which appeared online March 31, have been submitted for peer review. “Reptiles are very understudied in terms of their reproductive biology and embryonic development,” said Menke, associate professor in the department of genetics. “There are no good methods to manipulate embryos like we can easily do with mammals, fish or amphibians. To our knowledge, no other lab in the world has produced a genetically
altered reptile.” Gene manipulation using CRISPR typically involves injecting gene-editing solutions into an animal’s newly fertilized egg or single-cell embryo, causing a mutation in the DNA that is reproduced in all subsequent cells. However female reptiles can store sperm in their oviducts for long periods, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of fertilization. Also, the physiology of their fertilized eggs, which have pliable shells with no air space inside, presents challenges for manipulating embryos without damaging them. Working with the species Anolis sagrei, commonly called the brown anole, Menke’s team overcame these challenges by microinjecting CRISPR proteins into multiple immature eggs, or oocytes, still See LIZARDS on page 8
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Child welfare expert named Berger Professor Danquah to give keynote address By Laurie Anderson disparities and behavioral health practitioner laurie @uga.edu
A leading authority on child welfare has been appointed the Pauline M. Berger Professor in Family and Child Welfare in the UGA School of Social Work. Harold Briggs, a professor at the school, is nationally known for his innovative studies focused on putting families first in child welfare systems of care. He has been instrumental in identifying and describing welfare service areas that need greater coordination and in developing programs that give children, youth and families more voice in the planning and delivery of services. “Harold Briggs’ scholarly record and passion for reducing health
challenges that affect marginalized children, youth and families makes him an excellent fit for this position,” said Anna Scheyett, dean and professor of the school. “As Berger Professor, he will be a powerful advocate for more culturally responsive and evidence-based approaches to serving those populations in Georgia and beyond.” The holder of the Berger Professorship conducts research on the effects of state and federal policies and legislation on children, youth and families, advocates on their behalf and advances instruction and student understanding of child and family well-being issues. Prior to earning his doctorate Briggs was a social work
and associate executive director of Habilitative Systems Inc., a Chicagobased nonprofit behavioral and Harold Briggs mental health services agency. His firsthand knowledge of the problems that families face has informed his research, which examines, among other things, consumer-friendly practices such as placing different service providers in one location and giving youth a voice in policy development and implementation. See PROFESSOR on page 8
at International Agriculture Day
By Denise H. Horton
denisehorton@gmail.com
Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, founder and director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement at the University of Ghana, will give the keynote address for the eighth annual International Agriculture Day celebration on April 17. Hosted by the Office of Global Programs in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the event and reception are open free to the public. The event will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art. Danquah, a professor of plant
genetics and the director of the Biotechnology Centre at the University of Ghana, founded WAC C I i n 2007 to train plant breeders Eric Yirenkyi to develop imDanquah proved varieties of the indigenous crops of West and Central Africa. His talk will focus on the role WACCI has played in transforming agriculture in the area and the need to modernize African higher
See AGRICULTURE on page 8
2 April 15, 2019 columns.uga.edu
Commit to Georgia 2019
Why I Give
Name: Sandra Whitney Position: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Geology and Anthropology; Assistant Director of the Tanzania Study Abroad programs; African Studies Institute
At UGA: 50 years, which includes time here as a student earning two degrees in addition to her various roles around the university. “I was at my summer orientation during the Apollo 11 moon landing.” Sandra Whitney
Beneficiary of her gift to the university: Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor Award, J. H. Howard III Honors Teaching Award and the President’s Venture Fund Why she contributes: “As a ‘Double Dawg,’ I’ve been here a long time and have had many different roles. As a former Honors student and former associate director of the Honors Program, I value the contributions of outstanding faculty to the lives and careers of their students. It is important to recognize faculty for their efforts, and the Honors Program was a pioneer of faculty teaching awards. In addition, having taken a class from Dr. Howard and having been hired to work with Dr. Tresp, I feel a personal connection to the awards given in their names.”
To make your contribution to the Commit to Georgia Campaign, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 706-542-8119 or visit give.uga.edu.
GRADY COLLEGE
Lecturer calls for more interactive discussion By Leigh Beeson lbeeson@uga.edu
As Eric Deggans gave the 2019 Peabody-Smithgall L ecture, he didn’t want to just stand on stage and pontificate. He wanted an interactive discussion of two of today’s hot button topics: race and gender. But first he had to set some ground rules for his April 3 lecture, “Decoding Media’s Coverage of Race, Gender and Differences,” which also was designated a Signature Lecture. “Talking about race and gender is not racist or sexist,” said NPR’s first full-time television critic and veteran journalist of more than 20 years. “Talking about race and gender is not racist or sexist—I always have to repeat that because the first thing that happens when you try to talk about this stuff is people come back at you and they say, ‘Why are you causing problems? Why are you stirring things up? Why are you making people mad?’ ” For Deggans, though, that’s not the goal of the conversations he leads at NPR, as a contributor and analyst at MSNBC/NBC or in his book, Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. It’s much simpler. “To me, it’s like there’s a pothole in the road, and I’m trying to keep you from stepping in it,” he said. “I didn’t make the pothole. I’m just trying to keep you from getting hurt.” National conversations about race are almost always precipitated by tragedies, Deggans said. Tensions are high; people are on the defensive. That doesn’t make for an ideal climate to have an earnest conversation about the everyday experiences of prejudice and racism faced by black Americans. Even when those conversations are had, it becomes clear that blackAmericans and whiteAmericans have a fundamentally different lens through which they see progress, Deggans said. White people focus on how far the U.S. has come. Black people see how far the U.S. has left to go. With increasingly fractured news media that cater to specific audiences, stoking long-held fears and prejudices, bridging that divide seems insurmountable. But it doesn’t have to be. It can be as simple as having an open, honest conversation with people who have different life experiences and assessing what can be done to make them feel safer. “White people have a stake in race issues; men have a stake in gender issues,” Deggans said. “So often, it is easy to compartmentalize this stuff … but what we find out when we look at these issues is that equality serves everyone.”
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
Research-Occupational Health and Safety Program opens new clinic By Allyson Mann tiny@uga.edu
The patient doesn’t flinch as occupational health nurse Jenney Roundtree inserts a needle in her arm, seeking a vein. Roundtree is drawing blood to test if the research technician—who works in a UGA infectious disease lab—is resistant to hepatitis B. If not, she’ll need a booster shot. Twice a week, Roundtree offers clinical services for the university’s Research-Occupational Health and Safety Program, sharing space with UGA’s Clinical and Translational Research Unit on the Health Sciences Campus. Researchers can be checked for exposure to diseases, get required vaccinations and be fit-tested for a respirator at the clinic. Previously these services were handled by a local medical provider, and it took an average of 72 days for personnel who needed occupational medicine services to get approved for work in biosafety or animal research. Bringing these services back in house and eliminating extra paperwork offers enormous time savings, according to Chris King, associate vice president for research and director of the Office of Research Integrity and Safety. “This new development is going to be great for our researchers,” King said. “It’s vital that people are protected and safe when they are doing their work for UGA, but people aren’t able to do their jobs if they’re waiting on clearance.” King has firsthand experience. This month, he was due to have blood drawn for a rabies titer and a semiannual tuberculosis test. Using UGA’s new Professional Education Portal
Dorothy Kozlowski
Jenney Roundtree offers clinical services for the Research-Occupational Health and Safety Program, which is located on the Health Sciences Campus.
(pep.uga.edu), he made an appointment at the new clinic and was able to get it done in 24 hours. UGA’s Research-Occupational Health and Safety Program oversees workplace safety for personnel involved in research using animals or biohazardous agents. The program applies to faculty, staff, students, volunteers and visitors who work with humans, animals or animal tissues, fluids, secretions and excretions; who work with biohazardous agents; and who handle caging and related equipment contaminated by animal tissues, fluids, secretions and excretions or who routinely enter into facilities where animals are maintained. About 3,500 people are enrolled in the program, and provision of medical services has more than doubled in the last five years, with nearly 500 medical services provided annually. Since the R-OHSP clinic opened March 19, Roundtree has seen about 30 patients, checking their immunity
from prior vaccines, administering new vaccinations and providing other tests. Soon she’ll offer fit-testing for respirators—checking whether the equipment properly fits the face of the wearer—and researchers can have their lung function tested and get fitted for a respirator in one appointment, rather than the two that were required previously. With today’s patient, Roundtree discusses the option of a tetanus shot and then administers a skin test that checks for TB exposure. The patient will need to have the skin test checked within 48-72 hours to determine if further action is needed, but the tetanus shot is optional. “A tetanus shot is not required based on the kind of work done in your lab,” Roundtree tells the patient. “But it’s available if you want it. We just want you to be safe.” For more on UGA’s ResearchOccupational Health and Safety Program, visit research.uga.edu/ohsp.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Student plans to integrate sign language, audiology By Kellyn Amodeo
kwamodeo@uga.edu
Elizabeth Medlock’s grandfather left a lasting impact on her life. And her career path. In 2016, Medlock, a then-finance major, learned about her grandfather’s visit to the audiologist at a local clinic. “I didn’t even know what audiology was three years ago,” she said. She learned about the hearing tests and how they fitted him for his hearing aid. The science intrigued her. Coincidentally, Medlock enrolled in an American Sign Language class in the College of Education at the University of Georgia that next semester. She knew people who used the language and loved the idea of being able to communicate with the deaf community. Little did she know that her dream career was at the intersection of these two life events. Raised in a family of Georgia Tech engineers, Medlock has always loved math and science. But when she got to college, she realized she wanted to work with people. Finding a career that marries the analytical aspects of math and science with personal interaction can be a tough combination to find. “Audiology combines the things I’m good at with the things I like,” Medlock said. “There’s a lot of physics that goes into audiology, and you’re also getting to help people on such a personal level.” Audiologists are specialists who diagnose and treat hearing and balance problems. A typical day can involve hearing tests, hearing aid fittings and discussions about cochlear implants with a range of patients from newborns to older adults. Medlock knew her goal was to
Peter Frey
Fourth-year student Elizabeth Medlock is pursuing a graduate degree in audiology in the fall.
enroll in a four-year clinical doctoral program for audiology, but to get the proper foundation as an undergraduate, she switched her major to linguistics. Through this major, she studies a range of language-related aspects such as language development in children with normal hearing versus those with hearing loss. She also committed to ASL as her major language, allowing her to focus on the language for at least four semesters. She is currently in her second year of research through CURO, the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, with Sandie Bass-Ringdahl, clinical associate professor and program director in the department of communication sciences and special education. She’s studying the connection of early detection hearing loss and language outcome scores in elementary-aged children. Her ultimate goal is to connect the field of audiology with her ASL training. “Less than 10% of audiologists use
ASL. Instead of having an interpreter or communication barrier, I want to figure out how to integrate the two,” she said. She also observed at the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic in the College of Education, a clinic for the Athens-area community that employs a fully accredited audiologist and gives Medlock a chance to work with a range of patients. Medlock credits her professors and mentors at UGA for helping her land a coveted spot in the audiology program at the University of Louisville, one of only 74 audiology programs in the country. Even though the path isn’t clear just yet, she knows the population she wants to serve. The same group that helped her find her passion in the first place: older adults. “The older population has so many stories to tell, so many life experiences to share,” she said. “It’s an underserved population. I just want to help as many people as I can.”
RESEARCH NEWS
columns.uga.edu April 15, 2019
3
Digest Staff Council elects officers for 2019-2020 academic year
At its April 3 meeting, the Staff Council elected officers for the coming year. The elected officers are Vice President Mary Moore with the Office of Institutional Research, Treasurer Jacob Schindler with the School of Public and International Affairs, Recording Secretary Kyla Sterling with The Georgia Review and Coordinator Jennifer Leyting with the College of Veterinary Medicine. They will take office July 1.
Andrew Davis Tucker
The Ocean Visions initiative will address the most pressing concerns facing the world’s oceans, according to Clark Alexander, director of UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.
Ocean health
UGA’s Skidaway Institute and marine sciences department join new conservation consortium UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and the department of marine sciences in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences are joining other leading ocean science and engineering institutions to create Ocean Visions. The initiative aims to foster collaboration between top researchers, conservationists and entrepreneurs committed to solving some of the biggest challenges facing ocean health. The endeavor’s first summit, Ocean Visions 2019–Climate, was held April 1-4 at Georgia Tech. The meeting highlighted ocean-based science and engineering successes that address human, climate and ecological pressures. “Ocean Visions provides a much needed boost to advancing technological solutions to ocean problems,” said Clark Alexander, director of Skidaway. “It establishes a framework and mechanism to bring together the best minds in ocean research, entrepreneurship and industry to address the most pressing concerns facing the world’s oceans.” In addition to the Skidaway Institute and the department of marine sciences, other Ocean Visions participating organizations include the Georgia
Institute of Technology, the Smithsonian Institution, Stanford University, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Birch Aquarium at Scripps, all of which agreed to collaborate on scientifically sound, scalable, impactful and viable ocean conservation solutions. To nurture and work toward these solutions, Ocean Visions will: • create a network that will bring together nonprofits, industry and other private and public groups to focus on translational research; • host regular summits to highlight the latest research and scalable concepts to address ocean conservation needs; • launch a fellows program to foster an integrated community of scientists, engineers, policymakers, stakeholders and other groups who can exchange knowledge and experiences; and • sponsor startup competitions in the heart of academic institutions to engage young talent. “Addressing the challenges facing our oceans will take an ambitious effort that brings together the best talent in
our nation,” said G. Wayne Clough, secretary emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution and president emeritus of Georgia Tech, who opened the summit. “Ocean Visions is unique because it is led by trusted institutions and top scientists and researchers in ocean conservation working together to formulate a call to action to foster, support and advance innovative and viable solutions that can make a difference.” The summit provided networking events for business leaders to learn more about proposed solutions, ranging from advanced concepts to those that are market ready, such as marine algae-based animal feeds and biofuels that can reduce the carbon footprint of biofuel and protein production and sea-level sensor technologies for coastal cities and communities threatened by rising sea levels. “UGA is proud to be part of this initiative and to partner with some of the country’s leading voices in ocean conservation,” said David Lee, UGA vice president for research. “We look forward to bringing our particular expertise in ocean science and coastal resiliency to bear on an issue that affects all of us.”
FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
NIH provides long-term funding for Escalante lab By Alan Flurry
aflurry@uga.edu
The National Institutes of Health announced a Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award granted to UGA Foundation Distinguished Professor Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences microbiology department. MIRA grants are designed to increase the efficiency of NIH funding by providing investigators with greater stability and flexibility, thereby enhancing scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs.The National Institute of General Medical Sciences program also helps distribute funding more widely among the nation’s highly talented and promising investigators. Escalante’s award is one of three currently active MIRAs at UGA. Escalante’s research group has made sustained, seminal contributions to the fields of prokaryotic metabolism and physiology. The new MIRA grant
complements the long-term support of Escalante’s work in this area of research by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences since 1988. In 2010, his efforts in this field were recognized by a Method to Extend Research in Time Award, which provides 10 years of uninterrupted support. One area of investigation by the Escalante lab has focused on the assembly of coenzyme B12, the most structurally complex coenzyme known. Coenzyme B12 is the biologically active form of vitamin B12, an essential human nutrient. A second field of interest is the regulation of protein function by chemical modification. More than two decades ago, the Escalante research group discovered that the functions of proteins involved in metabolism at large were modulated by reversible modification of lysine amino acids contained in proteins. During 17 years of continuous support also by the NIGMS, the Escalante research group investigated this process in bacteria occupying diverse
environmental niches, and rigorously established the paradigm in the field. Escalante’s work in these two areas has resulted in the discovery of new enzymes and pathways and has established fundamental physiologic paradigms that apply to cells of all domains of life. “The exciting feature of a MIRA is that it does not restrict research on any specific area and encourages investigators to explore new opportunities as they present themselves,” Escalante said.“Our lab will take advantage of this feature to examine current and new metabolic and physiological processes that are fundamental to all cells.” The title of the Escalante MIRA, “Analysis of Metabolic Capabilties of Prokaryotic Cells,” provides the platform for findings that could be used to advance a range of research areas of great societal interest, such as synthetic biology, antibiotic resistance, bioremediation, drug delivery, renewable energy, metabolic stress responses and microbiome analysis.
School of Social Work panel to discuss ways to reduce child abuse, neglect
An increasing number of Georgia children are in foster care, but people who have experienced the child welfare system have ideas on how to turn that around. On April 16, the UGA School of Social Work will hold a panel discussion about collaborative ways to help families and reduce child abuse and neglect. The event, “Real People, Real Stories: Engaging Families,” will feature foster parents, former foster youth and child welfare professionals. It will be held at 3 p.m. in the Chapel and is free and open to the public. While the majority of Georgia’s 2.5 million children live safe, supported lives, reports of maltreatment are on the rise. According to the U.S. Children’s Bureau, from 2013 to 2017 the number of investigations for child maltreatment in Georgia rose from 46 per thousand to 65.4 per thousand, a 19% increase. Most of the cases—70%—were for neglect. In 2017 in Georgia, 129,870 children received child welfare services. The panel will include two foster parents, two former foster youth, a staff member from Brightpaths—formerly Prevent Child Abuse Athens—and a staff member from the Department of Family and Children Services. It will be moderated by Rachel Fusco, UGA Athletic Association Professor in Health and Well-Being in the School of Social Work. Panelists will discuss their experiences in the child welfare system, what worked well, what might be done differently and ways that families and service agencies can work in concert. After the discussion, panelists will answer questions from the audience.
UGA Press will use NEH grant for the Georgia Open History Library
The University of Georgia Press has received a three-year, $207,554 Humanities Open Book grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will be used for the Georgia Open History Library, which will publish open digital editions of 50 out-of-print volumes to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. in 2026. The titles selected for the project focus on Georgia and its relationship with other groups, colonies, countries and the new Union. They include studies of Adams and Jefferson; the American Revolution in Georgia; the Creek Nation; the papers of Revolutionary War Gen. Lachlan McIntosh and the colony’s founder, James Edward Oglethorpe; and records of the Germanspeaking Protestant Salzburger settlement. The digital editions will include new forewords, introductions, timelines, glossaries and other supplementary material written by leading scholars. The digital collection will be hosted by Affordable Learning Georgia, the University System of Georgia’s Open Educational Resource website and the Digital Public Library of America. It will be available via a range of openaccess aggregators including Project Muse, Books at JSTOR and HathiTrust.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE STATEMENT Columns (USPS 020-024) is published weekly during the academic year and
biweekly during the summer for the faculty and staff of the University of Georgia by the Division of Marketing & Communications. Periodicals postage is paid in Athens, Georgia. Postmaster: Send off-campus address changes to Columns, UGA Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Athens, GA 30602-1999.
For a complete listing of events at the University of Georgia, 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.
UGAGUIDE
EXHIBITIONS
Stony the Road We Trod. Through April 28. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.
Humanities Virtual Laboratory of Ludwig-Maximilians, University of Munich. Riepl will host a conversation on digital humanities projects. He will discuss recent innovations in digital humanities in Europe. 4 p.m. DigiLab, Main Library. mcginn@uga.edu.
New Gods | Old Gods. Through April 28. Athica. 706-338-2751. lhfancher@gmail.com.
BASEBALL vs. Clemson. $5-$8. 7 p.m. Foley Field.
Fighting Spirit: Wally Butts and UGA Football, 1939-1950. Through May 10. Special collections libraries.
CONCERT Founded in 1993 by four Israeli musicians, the Jerusalem Quartet’s performances sees the group apply its interpretation to works by Haydn, Bartok and Beethoven. Tickets start at $30. 7:30 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400. ugaarts@uga.edu.
Nevertheless, She Resisted: Documenting the Women’s Marches. Through May 17. Hargrett Library Gallery, special collections libraries. 706-583-0213. jhebbard@uga.edu. Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Florence. Through May 26. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu. Jean Mann. Through June 23. Visitor Center, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu. Under the Big Top: The American Circus and Traveling Tent Shows. Through July 5. Special collections libraries. 706-583-0213. jhebbard@uga.edu. Out of the Darkness: Light in the Depths of the Sea of Cortez. Through Oct. 27. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-1817. hazbrown@uga.edu.
MONDAY, APRIL 15 LUNCH AND LEARN Join UGA’s Richard B. Russell Library for a lunch and learn series focused on developing a better understanding of Congress with “The Congressional Delegation and the Federal Emergencies Act.” Civic Knowledge, Civic Power invites guest speakers to give brief talks on topics connected to the history and function of this branch of government, followed by informal discussion. In this talk, Anthony Madonna will discuss the 1976 Federal Emergencies Act. Coffee and desserts provided. 11 a.m. Room 277, special collections libraries. 706-542-5788. washnock@uga.edu. MCGILL MEDAL PRESENTATION AND RECEPTION The 2018 McGill Fellows will present the 2019 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage to Associated Press visual journalists Maad Al-Zikry and Nariman El-Mofty for their work with their colleague Maggie Michael. Their features shed light on the civil war in Yemen. 3:30 p.m. Peyton Anderson Forum, Journalism Building. 706-542-5038. murrayd@uga.edu. BETTY JEAN CRAIGE ANNUAL LECTURE NoViolet Bulawayo will speak on “The Immigrant Experience in America” at the 2019 Betty Jean Craige Lecture. Bulawayo grew up in Zimbabwe. She earned her MFA from Cornell University, where she was a recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship and has also held fellowships at Princeton, Harvard and Stanford, where she now teaches fiction. 4 p.m. Chapel. 706-542-3966. wcha@uga.edu. DEMO DAY: IDEA ACCELERATOR Hear about the launch of seven new companies that are pitching for $5,000. In the final pitch competition, judges will assess each idea’s business viability, the problem being solved, whether the solution actually solves the problem and how suited the team members are to the task. Free food and drinks will be available. 6 p.m. Studio 225. ckurian@uga.edu.
TUESDAY, APRIL 16 DIGI LAB WORKSHOP “What Makes Humanities Digital? And What Does Digitization Do with Humanities Scholars?,” Christian Riepl, Digital
ceh822@uga.edu
On April 18, violin professor Michael Heald will bring to the stage a program that takes the audience past what one would typically expect from an English String Orchestra concert. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Hall. Heald will be leading the performance as concertmaster and will be joined by several faculty guests, as well as student and alumni performers. “This concert is an opportunity for some of our string students to play the rich, expansive English String Orchestra repertoire,” said Heald, who was a member of the English String Orchestra in the early- to mid-1990s and wanted to bring those playing traditions to the School of Music. Current string students will play alongside string area faculty, and six UGA alumni will join the musicians. The program includes music by Purcell, Howells, Finzi, Britten and Elgar. Professors Martha Thomas (piano) and Maggie Snyder (viola) will be playing the solos in Finzi’s “Eclogue for Piano and Strings” and Howells’ “Elegy for Viola, String Quartet and Strings,” which was written over a three-year period as a memorial for Howells’ son, who died young. The concert will end with “Introduction and Allegro for Strings” by Elgar. For variety, Liza Stepanova, who recently was honored as a recipient of the UGA Michael F. Adams Early Career Scholar Award, will join the Secret Sits Ensemble for Elgar’s Piano Quintet, Op. 84. In addition to Heald, the ensemble consists of UGA
Film reveals biodiversity of Southeastern streams bethgav@uga.edu
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 WORKSHOP “Science’s Identity Crisis: Contextualizing the Replication Crisis with Undergraduate Students” is designed for instructors who teach research methodology courses to learn strategies for adequately discussing replication concerns and open science practices with undergraduate students, as well as engage in conversations with other instructors about this topic. 12:20 p.m. M.A.L.L., Instructional Plaza. 706-542-5106. mhhoque@uga.edu. ARTFUL CONVERSATION Join Callan Steinmann, curator of education, for a session of slow looking and conversation about Beauford Delaney’s painting “Portrait of Imogene Delaney” (1963). 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. BOOK DISCUSSION Lillian Leitzel was a star of the Ringling Brothers Circus, where she captivated audiences with her high-flying act. But her scandalous life outside of the big top would make even the reality stars of today blush. Learn more at a discussion of Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus by Dean Jensen. 6 p.m. Room 258, special collections libraries. 706-542-6367. kdotson@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Georgia Tech. First 300 fans receive a Wreck Tech T-shirt. 7 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
THURSDAY, APRIL 18 LECTURE “Renaissance Cassoni: From Storage to Storybook,” Louis A. Waldman, associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Waldman is a specialist in the painting and sculpture of 15th- and 16th-century Tuscany. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Italy. 5:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. THIRD THURSDAY Seven of Athens’ established venues for visual art hold “Third Thursday,” an event devoted to art in the evening hours, on the third Thursday of every month. The Georgia Museum of Art, the Lamar Dodd School of Art, Lyndon House Arts Center, Glass Cube & Gallery@Hotel Indigo-Athens, Cine, the Classic Center and ATHICA will be open from 6-9 p.m. to showcase their visual-arts programming. Full schedules are posted at 3Thurs.org. BASEBALL vs. Missouri. $5-$8. 6 p.m. Foley Field. YOGA IN THE GALLERIES Enjoy a yoga class surrounded by works of art in the galleries. Led by instructors from Five Points Yoga, this program is open free to both beginner and experienced yogis. Space is limited
students Nick Hoy on violin, Nick Lindell on viola and Andrew William Reynish on cello. The ensemble was formed with the intent of the continual development of chamber music across campus, the Athens community and beyond. It was formed in 2017 in memory of Marie Anne DeLattre Patten. The concert will be conducted by Timothy Reynish, who is known in the wind ensemble world for his work across the globe for the past 50 years. Among many professional positions, Reynish was one of the conductors of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, as well as the conductor of the Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra when Heald was attending. “I am thrilled he is leading us for this performance. He studied conducting with Sir Adrian Boult, played French horn professionally back in the glory days of British wind playing and has been one of the pre-eminent leaders in British music life for many years,” Heald said. “He brings an intensity, genuine passion and tough dedication to performances that had a major influence on my own approach.” This concert is presented as part of the Thursday Scholarship Series, which began in 1980. As the flagship concert series at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, it continues the tradition of Music Appreciation Programs started by Hugh Hodgson himself in the 1930s. Proceeds from contributions and ticket sales to these concerts are among the primary means through which School of Music scholarship funds are raised each year. Tickets are $6-$20 and can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu or by phone at 706-542-4400. The concert will be streamed at music.uga.edu/livestreaming for those unable to attend.
Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Marketing & Communications. Notices are published here as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available at calendar.uga.edu/.
4&5
By Beth Gavrilles
Thursday Scholarship Series goes beyond the English String Orchestra at next concert By Camille Hayes
columns.uga.edu April 15, 2019
The rivers and streams of the southern Appalachian region are some of the most biologically diverse in North America. Athens filmgoers will have the chance to see the richness and beauty of these waterways at a public screening of the documentary Hidden Rivers on April 17. The event, which includes a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker and a reception catered by The National, takes place at Cine, 234 West Hancock Ave. It is being held in conjunction with the biennial Georgia Water Resources Conference. Hidden Rivers explores the waterways of the Southern Appalachians, following the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region, revealing the beauty and vulnerability of this aquatic world and how people are finding ways to protect it. The film was produced and directed by Jeremy Monroe of Freshwaters Illustrated, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about aquatic ecosystems through photography, video and film. “We worked for nearly 10 years to make an immersive film that would give audiences a deep dive into the river ecosystems of Southern Appalachia, along with a glimpse of the species and habitat conservation work that is happening throughout the region,” said Monroe. “Our hope is that this film will inspire more conversations about river and water conservation in the Southeast, and that river conservation groups will use the film as a way to enlighten and broaden their own communities.” The program will begin in the Cine Lab at 6:30 p.m.
with a reception and gallery viewing of Freshwaters Illustrated photographs. Hidden Rivers will be shown at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A session featuring Monroe, southeastern aquatic conservation professionals and local interdisciplinary arts researchers. Confirmed panelists include Bernard Kuhajda, science program manager for the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute; Bud Freeman, director of the
and available on a first-come, first-served basis; tickets are available at the front desk starting at 5:15 p.m. Yoga mats provided. 6 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
spent both indoors and out in the garden. This course is part of the Plants and Pollinators Specialization. $50. 9 a.m. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. cscamero@uga.edu.
TAROT WORKSHOP Tarot originated in 14th- and 15th-century Italy and then spread to the rest of the world. Learn a bit about how it rose to prominence during the Renaissance and how it can still be applicable in modern day life. Serra Jaggar of Indie South will lead this exploration of the cards and their meanings, different tarot decks and different spreads to divine meaning. Registration required; email callan@uga.edu or call 706-583-0111 to reserve a spot. $25; includes a Rider Waite tarot deck. 6:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art.
PERFORMANCE SERIES Every third Saturday of the month, enjoy a variety of engaging shows. All performances will take place at 9:30 a.m. with a second showing at 11 a.m. In case of rain, performances will be in the Callaway Administration Building Auditorium. 9:30 a.m. Theater-in-the-Woods, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. bwboone@uga.edu.
CYCLE UNDER THE STARS Enjoy this outdoor cycling class under the stars. There will be glow sticks, music and more. $3. 8:45 p.m. Spectator Lobby Overlook (Outdoor), Ramsey Student Center. 706-542-8023. lisawilliamson@uga.edu.
GOOD FRIDAY Christian religious observance. LUNCH AND LEARN Noon: “Oxford Nanopore Sequencing and Applications and Latest updates,” Kim Fitzgerald, strategic account manager, Oxford Nanopore. 1 p.m.: “The Cannabis Sativa Genome and Its Highly Complex THC and CBD Loci Unraveled with Oxford Nanopore Sequencing,” Todd P. Michael, professor and director of informatics, J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego, California. RSVP to elisa.balducci@nanoporetech.com. 12:30 p.m. 2401 Miller Plant Sciences. LECTURE “Gendered Prisoner Societies: Structure and Status in Male and Female Prison Units,” Derek Kreager, sociology and criminology department, Penn State. 1:30 p.m. 214 Miller Learning Center. ac90189@uga.edu. PERFORMANCE As a companion to the exhibition Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Italy, students and faculty from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music will give a presentation and performance of music that may have been heard at a 14th- or 15th-century Florentine wedding. Selections will include music by Francesco Landini, Guillaume Du Fay and their contemporaries. Performers include vocal students from the studio of Elizabeth Knight with discussion by Peter Van Zandt Lane. 4 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Tennessee. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium. BASEBALL vs. Missouri. $5-$8. 7 p.m. Foley Field. FULL MOON HIKE: PINK MOON Be prepared to hike up to 2 miles on wooded trails and in the garden. Backpack carriers are suggested for young children or infants. Preregistration is required. $5 per person or $15 per family. 8 p.m. Visitor Center Fountain, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. bwboone@uga.edu.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
VOLLEYBALL vs. Georgia State. 10 a.m. Ramsey Student Center.
SOFTBALL vs. Tennessee. Lu’Au Day and post-game autographs. Noon. Jack Turner Stadium. VOLLEYBALL vs. UNC Asheville. Noon. Ramsey Student Center. FOOTBALL G-Day Red and Black Game. 2 p.m. Sanford Stadium.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21 EASTER Christian religious observance. SOFTBALL vs. Tennessee. Dad and Daughter Day. Post-game egg hunt. 2 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
MONDAY, APRIL 22 LUNCH AND LEARN Join UGA’s Richard B. Russell Library for a lunch and learn series focused on developing a better understanding of Congress. Civic Knowledge, Civic Power invites guest speakers to give brief talks on topics connected to the history and function of this branch of government, followed by informal discussion. Jamie Monogan will discuss immigration trends and policy. Pizza provided. Noon. Room 277, special collections libraries. 706-542-5788. washnock@uga.edu. GEORGIA REVIEW EARTH DAY TALK AND RECEPTION National Book Award winner Barry Lopez, one of the country’s most important environmental writers and advocates for several decades, will return to the State Botanical Garden for The Georgia Review’s 11th annual Earth Day program. Review editor Stephen Corey will conduct a live interview with Lopez on “What Horizons Next?” The discussion will focus in part on Horizon, Lopez’s new book, as well as on the writer’s overall career and his sense of the Earth’s future in the current political climate. The evening event will be followed by a reception, and copies of Horizon and The Georgia Review will be available. 7 p.m. Visitor Center Great Room, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-3481.
PASSOVER Through April 26. Jewish religious observance.
COMING UP
CLASS “Landscaping and Planting for Pollinators” will look at a range of woody and herbaceous species and discuss the importance of pollinator interactions and how to integrate these types of plants into an array of gardening situations. Class time will be
TOUR AT TWO April 24. Elizabeth Howe, preparator and curator, will give a special tour of the Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates exhibition. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
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.
Georgia Museum of Natural History; Alex Lamle, aquatic biologist with The Nature Conservancy; and Abigail West, a student in the Lamar Dodd School of Art and intern with the UGA Office of Sustainability. Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the Cine box office or online at http://athenscine.com/ movie/hidden-rivers.
POP-UP GALLERY + ARTIST MARKET The Georgia Museum of Art Student Association hosts the third annual gallery and artist market event at Stan Mullins’ Art Studio, 650 Pulaski St. Featuring work by student and community artists. 10 a.m. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
BASEBALL vs. Missouri. $5-$8. Noon. Foley Field.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
David Herasimtschuk
Hidden Rivers will be shown on April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Cine.
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.
Photos by James W. Porter, Meigs Professor of Ecology Emeritus, who served as a scientific advisor and cast member for the documentary Chasing Coral, will be featured in the Odum School of Ecology’s Corals, from Sea to Screen exhibition.
Odum School to host screening of documentary, Q-and-A session April 19 By Beth Gavrilles bethgav@uga.edu
The Odum School of Ecology will host a screening of the award-winning Netflix documentary Chasing Coral at noon on April 19 in the ecology auditorium. The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with James W. Porter, Meigs Professor of Ecology Emeritus, who served as a scientific adviser and cast member for the film. The Chasing Coral screening is being held in conjunction with the opening of Corals, from Sea to Screen, an exhibition in the ecology atrium showcasing the Emmy®, Peabody and Sundance awards won by the film, plus coral photographs by Porter and a selection of reef-building corals from the Georgia Museum of Natural History. Chasing Coral, which documents the global decline of coral reefs, features a series of underwater photographs taken by Porter that provide a before and after glimpse of the coral reefs of Discovery Bay in Jamaica. The film focuses on the spread of coral bleaching, a phenomenon caused by rising ocean temperatures. When the water becomes too warm for them to tolerate, the symbiotic algae that normally inhabit coral die off, revealing the coral’s bonewhite limestone skeletons underneath. Because corals can’t survive for long without their symbiotic algae, bleaching often leads to coral death. “Coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate,” said Porter. “Chasing Coral attempts to get the word out and to communicate not just the problems, but also the solutions. The film’s success demonstrates that we are doing that.” An opening reception for Corals, from Sea to Screen, with coffee and light refreshments, will take place from 10-11 a.m. on April 19. Exhibition hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays until June 28. The exhibition, reception and screening are open free to the public.
NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES April 17 (for April 29 issue) May 1 (for May 13 issue) May 15 (for May 28 issue)
6 April 15, 2019 columns.uga.edu
CAMPUS CLOSEUP
Xiaorong Lin, professor of microbiology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been elected a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology. The honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, the academy recognizes excellence, originality and leadership in the microbiological sciences. Moon Jang, associate professor of graphic design in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, won a national design competition, the Print Regional Design Award, with her editorial design for the American Craft Inquiry Volume 1, Issue 2. Jang’s winning work will be featured in the allnew HOW + Print book The Best of Design scheduled to be released this summer and in an online gallery at printmag.com. Thousands of art directors, creative professionals and studios not only enter the RDA every year, but also look to it to find the country’s top talent. The RDA collects the best designs from every state across the U.S. Jang worked as the creative director and designer for American Craft Inquiry, Volume 1, Issue 2 published by the American Craft Council in June 2018. Margaret Morrison, associate professor and chair of the painting and drawing program in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, has been selected as a 2019 regional juror for the AXA Art Prize. Formerly known as the XL Catlin Art Prize, this competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in U.S. art programs. The AXA Art Prize shines a spotlight on the reemergence of figurative art in the contemporary art world. Now in its Margaret Morrison second year in North America, the prize is founded on a 10year legacy of a previous prize that was established in the United Kingdom and recognized young artists through a prestigious London exhibition and catalog publication. The contest provides a unique platform for new artistic talent and gives the next generation of figurative artists a forum in which to launch their careers. Christina Hanawalt, assistant professor of art education in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, has been elected as a division director-elect of higher education of the National Art Education Association. A 15-member board of directors serves as the governing authority to advance the association’s mission, determine its goals and priorities, provide strategic direction and fiduciary oversight. All positions are elected by members with the exception of the executive director. The division directors-elect Christina Hanawalt will begin their terms as elects at the conclusion of the NAEA board of directors meeting in Boston. During their terms, they will work with their respective division director in leading work related to their division. The division directors-elect will then join the board of directors as division directors at the conclusion of the NAEA board of directors meeting in 2021 in Chicago. The mission of the NAEA is to advance visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding. Governed by members, for members, the NAEA was founded in 1947. The NAEA is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. 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.
John Leffert has been the lead dentist at the University Health Center for nearly two decades.
Dorothy Kozlowski
University Health Center’s lead dentist enjoys working with patients By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu
It was John Leffert’s own dental work that led him to the specialty. “I worked with a general dentist and oral surgeon through some personal treatment, and my interactions with them really swung me in that direction,” said Leffert, who has been the lead dentist at the University Health Center’s dental clinic since 2006. Leffert’s family has a background in the medical field—both his father and brother are physicians—but he wanted to take a different route. He was interested in health care but didn’t want to work in a hospital. As an undergraduate, Leffert studied marketing, but he said he knew he wasn’t going to be a good salesman. He finished his B.B.A., but his interest in health care continued, and he applied to dental schools after taking several additional science classes. He’s been with UGA for almost 20 years, which allows him to see a more specific kind of patient and, in turn, focus on patient care. “It’s a different type of dentistry than you’d have with a wider range of patients,” he said. “It lets me do the kind of dentistry I like to do.” Leffert pointed out that not many university health centers offer dental services, and UGA’s clinic provides many benefits for students. Patients
can be seen quickly—often the same day—and appointments are convenient because the University Health Center is on the main campus and easily accessible between classes. Current UGA employees can also use the dental clinic. “I think it’s a great thing for students. Getting a student well enough to go take a final as opposed to having to withdraw from a class—things like that seem little at the time, but that could have been a turning point,” he said. “The students, as well as their parents, really appreciate it.” In fact, the patients are his favorite part of working at UGA. “My No. 1 goal is to serve students and enable them to do their studies, stay on track and prevent things that would keep them from missing class and disrupt their college life,” Leffert said. “This is often the first time they’ve made an appointment themselves or gone to an appointment without their parents. I’m always thinking about how I can make it easier for them and help them be better prepared for life.” Working on a college campus does make for unique opportunities. Leffert said that they do see a good number of student-athletes at the clinic and that they treat many injuries and deal with wisdom teeth more than private practices. “We pretty much do everything that a general dentist in private practice
FACTS John K. Leffert, D.M.D.
Lead Dentist University Health Center Dental Clinic D.M.D., Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, 1999 B.B.A., University of Georgia, 1991 At UGA: 19½ years
does, except for dentures and complex restorative cases,” he said. Leffert’s involvement with dentistry doesn’t end at the clinic. He is an instructor for Athens Tech’s dental hygiene and dental assisting programs. He’s a member of the American Dental Association and the Georgia Dental Association and is always looking for new, interesting health care solutions. When he’s not seeing patients, Leffert enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and cycling, something he started doing with his father at a young age. One day, he would like to cycle crosscountry, hike the entire Appalachian Trail and go skiing in the Alps. He’d also like to use his dental skills during mission trips to help those who need it in other parts of the world. “I will try to help or get help for anyone who needs help,” he said. “Life’s too short not to be helpful.”
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Members of promotion, tenure committees announced In accordance with UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure, the membership of the University Review Committees are being announced. University Review Committee members for 2018-2019 are: • Fine and Applied Arts—John Francis Crowley III, Lisa Ann Fusillo (chair), Sujata Iyengar, Peter John Jutras, Milton W. Masciadri, James K. Reap, Frances Nicole Teague and Eugene N. Wright. • Health and Clinical Sciences—Kira Epstein, Eric R. Lafontaine (chair), Kevin K. McCully, Daniel G. Mead, Toni Miles, Luke Peter Naeher, Stephen Lynn Rathbun and Cynthia R. Ward. • Humanities—Yuri V. Balashov, Stacey Dolgin Casado, Mario Erasmo, Cindy Hahamovitch (chair), Baruch Halpern, Elizabeth Ann Kraft and Elizabeth R. Wright. • Life Sciences (A)—Anna Cecilia
Karls, James H. Leebens-Mack, Nancy R. Manley, Christof D. Meile, James Neil Moore (chair), Peggy Ozias-Akins and Catherine M. Pringle. • Life Sciences (B)—Timothy R. Hoover, Ignacy Misztal, Mary Ann Moran, Silvia N.J. Moreno (chair), Ronald C. Orlando, Jerry Tipetchab Saliki and Chung-Jui Tsai. • Physical Sciences (A)—Casimir C. Akoh, Hamid R. Arabnia, Brian Bledsoe, Joseph H. Fu (chair), Steven M. Holland, Nicole Lazar and Glen C. Rains. • Physical Sciences (B)—Miguel L. Cabrera, Liming Cai, William Lloyd Keer, Krzysztof Jan Kochut (chair), Abhyuday Mandal, Henry Schaefer and Wenzhan Song. • Professional and Applied Studies (A)—Maria Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Stephen P. Baginski, Lonnie T. Brown, Allan S. Cohen, Patricia Hunt-Hurst, Charles Rhett Jackson (chair) and
Jane E. Quandt. • Professional and Applied Studies (B)—Scott E. Atkinson, Harold E. Briggs, Sharon Lynn Crowell-Davis, James Frederick Hamilton, Julie Anne Luft, Anneliese A. Singh and Camilla Emanuel Watson (chair). • Professional and Applied Studies (C)—Sundar G. Bharadwaj, Llewellyn Cornelius,Andrea L. Dennis, Maricarmen Garcia (chair), Yan Jin, Alison U. Nealy, Jacek Piotr Siry and Michael S. Trent. • Professional and Applied Studies (D)—Gary Michael Baxter, Robert C.M. Branch (chair), Anandam “Andy” Philip Kavoori, Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, Annette B. Poulsen, Patricia Mullins Reeves and Michael John Yabsley. • Social and Behavioral Sciences— Margaret O. Caughy, Susan Brodie Haire (chair), Joseph C. Hermanowicz, Hilda Kurtz, Lloyd Stephen Miller, Lance Palmer and Jennifer Anne Samp. Source: Office of Faculty Affairs
OFFICE OF INSTRUCTION
‘Above and beyond’
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columns.uga.edu April 15, 2019
Four receive 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards By Anna Lee
anna.lee28@uga.edu
Four University of Georgia academic advisors have received 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards. Mike Merva,Ali Gerlach, Umesh Patel and Antonina Ignatiuc were nominated by their supervisors and a committee of three student representatives from SGA, along with the previous advising award winners. The Office of Instruction and the Office of Academic Advising Services suprised each of the advisors with the award in their offices. Merva, UGA’s Outstanding Advising Administrator, supervises 16 advisors for approximately 3,500 students in more than 40 majors and across departments as the coordinator of lower-division academic advising in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “Being an exceptional advising administrator requires the ability to empathize with advisors and students while enforcing policies and procedures fairly,” said supervisor Diane Miller, Franklin’s director of student academic services. “It requires leadership and teamwork, self confidence and humility, support and challenge, seriousness and humor. Mike Merva is the rare individual who embodies all of these qualities in an exquisite balance. Yet he never seeks accolades or recognition for his contributions, instead going about his work quietly, diligently and expertly.” One of his advising staff said, “He does not hover over or micromanage us, which is greatly appreciated. At the same time, he is always ready with a quick laugh, a friendly smile and an ocean of advice and help any time we need it. That is particularly impressive, given the number of advisors for whom he is responsible.” Prior to coming to UGA in 2007, Merva was an advisor and English instructor at Strayer University and taught English at Western Michigan University, Greenville Technical College and Gainesville State College. Gerlach, Outstanding New
Mike Merva
Ali Gerlach
Umesh Patel
Antonina Ignatiuc
Advisor, advises 300 intended business majors in the Exploratory Center. In addition to advising a full load of students, Gerlach applies her communication arts talent toward developing the Exploratory Center’s successful educational resources, website content and social media messaging. She helps keep students informed and on track through visually appealing reminders about drop/add, drop-back courses, Terry and Grady College application deadlines, course withdrawal, major changing and appointment scheduling. During peak weeks, the Exploratory Center Instagram account has recorded up to 11,000 impressions. “Ali grasped the fundamentals [of advising] within a few weeks and achieved content mastery on par with some of our more seasoned advisors within the first year,” said Jennifer Eberhart, Exploratory Center coordinator. “She is adept at asking questions, listening for understanding, solving complex advising problems and doing research. Ali speaks authentically about her experience as a business major to students pursuing the same pathway and empathizes with students about the challenging coursework, competitive landscape and pressures inherent in establishing Terry College eligibility within the increasingly skilled applicant pool at UGA.” Gerlach’s advisees praised her authenticity and said, “I’ve left all of
my appointments with her feeling a lot less stressed and confident about my schedule and academic goals. Overall, she is the best advisor that I’ve had, and I’m sad to leave her.” Gerlach earned a B.B.A. in marketing from the Terry College of Business in 2012 and an M.A. in teaching in career and information studies. Umesh Patel, Outstanding Professional Advisor, is lead advisor in the College of Education In addition to advising more than 300 students in English education, Patel provides support and guidance to a full team of advisors across nine other majors and fills in to advise their students as needed. His input is often requested during faculty meetings and programs of study, including for the College of Education Double Dawgs programs. “Umesh goes above and beyond to improve the student experience in our college in several ways,” said Justin Burnley, associate director of academic advising and interim director for the Office of Student Services. “His most notable work is with our office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Umesh coordinates and hosts events called Dawgs Talks: Conversations That Matter … students hear from COE faculty, staff and students on matters ranging from gender identity, religion and spirituality, mental health awareness and disability awareness.” Patel’s students describe him as diligent, thoughtful and
responsible, saying, “The advising process can be stressful, but I felt cared for and confident that things could be worked out. … He’s caring and, most of all, patient with redundant questions and worries.” Another student said,“Umesh genuinely cares about those he advises and makes them feel like they have a home. I have always been extremely supported by Umesh … and I always leave his office feeling more at peace and more able to tackle all of the ‘big’ future things. He is highly professional yet personable at the same time; he is a great asset to the College of Education, and we’re lucky to have him.” Patel earned an A.B. in English and an M.A. in religion at UGA, then taught at UGA and the University at Buffalo before returning to his alma mater in 2016 to work with students as an academic advisor. Ignatiuc, recipient of the award for Excellence in Advising Special Populations, has advised 330 intended business majors in the Exploratory Center since spring 2016. Ignatiuc has built a collaborative relationship with the Office of Global Engagement to support UGA’s international students, to which they credit in part to their program’s success. “Antonina is student-centered, empathetic, kind and honest. She is very forthright but also caring and compassionate. She believes in her advisees, encourages them to set ambitious goals and holds them
accountable for their progress,” said Eberhart. An advisee said of Ignatiuc, “Ms. Ignatiuc has been the single most influential actor in my college career thus far. Besides continually providing academic support and guidance, Ms. Ignatiuc takes the time to ask about my overall wellbeing and listens to any struggles and concerns I share with her. After returning to campus following the sudden passing of one of my direct family members, Ms. Ignatiuc shared in my grief and proved to me that life without my loved one is possible. She got me through the onerous adjustment back to college life.” Originally from Chisinau in the Republic of Moldova, Ignatiuc received an undergraduate degree in education and foreign languages from the Ion Creanga Pedagogical State University and an M.A. in clinical mental health counseling from East Tennessee State University. The awards are presented each spring to staff members for excellence in advising undergraduate students on class selection and course of study, assisting them with academic problems and providing guidance on related matters such as decisions about graduate school and careers. The Office of Instruction administers the award each year. The winners will be recognized at the spring Academic Advising Coordinating Council workshop and at the summer AACC luncheon.
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Book details art, politics under Khmer Rouge
The Nature of Revolution: Art and Politics under the Khmer Rouge By James A. Tyner University of Georgia Press Hardcover: $59.95 eBook: $34.95
Published by the University of Georgia Press, The Nature of Revolution provides the first account of art and politics under the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Author James Tyner repositions Khmer Rouge artworks within their proper political economic context: the materialization of a political organization in an era of anticolonial and decolonization movements. Consequently, both the organization’s policies and practices— including the production of poetry, music and photography—were incontrovertibly shaped by and created to further the Khmer Rouge’s agenda. Theoretically informed and empirically grounded,Tyner’s work examines the social dimensions of the Khmer Rouge while contributing broadly to a growing literature on the intersection of art and politics. Building on the foundational works of theorists such as Jacques Rancière, Theodore Adorno and Walter Benjamin, Tyner explores the insights of Leon Trotsky and his descriptions of the politics of aesthetics specific to socialist revolutions.
Columns is available to the community by subscription for an annual fee of $20 (second-class 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
Eduroam allows access across institutions
eits.uga.edu/network_and_phones/wireless/eduroam/ A free wireless service, eduroam allows students, faculty and staff of participating eduroam schools to get internet access across institutions using their school’s credentials. Available at the University of Georgia, eduroam allows all UGA students, faculty and staff to get wireless service when visiting participating eduroam institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Many higher
education institutions in the U.S. are eduroam participants. Eduroam is also available at educational institutions and research facilities in more than 85 countries. Eduroam is a wireless network option available throughout most of the UGA campus with the exception of residence halls. All UGA students, faculty and staff have access to eduroam while on campus with their wireless devices.
Communications Coordinator Krista Richmond Art Director Jackie Baxter Roberts Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski Writers Kellyn Amodeo Leigh Beeson 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 April 15, 2019 columns.uga.edu
PEABODY
AGRICULTURE from page 1 education to train students to solve local foodsecurity problems. According the WACCI website, Africa’s hungry and malnourished population has more than tripled in the past 35 years and now numbers more than 214 million. Because many of the plants grown in sub-Saharan Africa—such as cassava, cocoyam, taro, bambara and cowpea—are of little importance to researchers in the developed world, the majority of crops grown by farmers are unimproved, low-yielding varieties. WACCI is a partnership between the University of Ghana and Cornell University and was originally established with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. It has received additional funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Generation Challenge Program and the German Academic Exchange Service. It also has been recognized by the World Bank as one of 22 Africa Centres of Excellence. Since its inception, WACCI has enrolled 128 Ph.D. students from 19 African countries. Students learn both classical plant breeding and the complementary molecular biology technologies needed for efficient development of superior and adaptable crops, Danquah said. Sixty-six of those students have graduated and are now leading plant-breeding programs in national agricultural research institutions
in Africa, he said. Four years ago, Danquah established a master’s program in seed science and technology that has attracted nearly 50 students. Under his leadership, WACCI has released three improved maize hybrids for commercialization in Ghana. “The WACCI program is training the next generation of plant scientists from Africa,” said Danquah. He noted that African students bring their expertise back to their home countries when they complete their degrees, counteracting the “brain drain” many rural areas experience when students do not return home after their studies. In addition to Danquah’s talk, the International Agriculture Day program will include a short presentation by an International Agriculture Certificate student about her internship experience in Costa Rica, scholarship presentations, recognition of graduating International Agriculture Certificate students and the opportunity to select the winners of the Agriculture Abroad Photo Contest. The reception will feature refreshments by Dondero’s and music by Dan Nettles. For more information on International Agriculture Day and the CAES Office of Global Programs, visit http://www.global.uga. edu/InternationalAgricultureDay/index.html.
Bulletin Board Food for Fines
The Food for Fines program is a Student Government Association initiative in partnership with UGA Transportation and Parking Services and the Northeast Georgia Food Bank. On April 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., UGA students, faculty and staff will be able to donate 10 canned goods of at least 14 ounces to waive or refund their most recent parking citation valued at $50 or less. Donations will be accepted at the surface lot of the Tate Student Center. Those who participate can either drive into the lot where there will be signs and guides to drop off canned goods donation. Pedestrians can go to the far-left end of the lot (right outside the Center for Student Activities and Involvement). Participants will need to present a valid UGA ID. Refunds will be issued after the event. Visit https:// sga.uga.edu/content_page/food-for-fines to view the FAQ and learn more about how to participate.
Spring pottery sale
The UGA Ceramic Student Organization will hold its spring pottery sale April 24-25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the first floor lobby of the Lamar Dodd School of Art, 270 River Road. Work on sale will include handbuilt sculptures, as well as functional pottery: teapots, mugs, boxes, plates, vases and bowls. All work was made by ceramic students or faculty. Prices will range from $10 and up. Proceeds from the pottery sale will support a student educational field trip to a national ceramic conference as well as to help bring resident artists to campus. Hourly parking is available at the Performing Arts Center Parking Deck, which is located next to the Performing Arts Center on River Road. For further information, contact Ted Saupe, tsaupe@uga.edu.
Miles for Moms 5K
On May 4, the East Georgia Cancer Coalition will host its sixth annual Miles for Moms 5K, celebrating mothers who are currently battling or have battled cancer.
The 5K event will highlight all cancer types, with special recognition of the survivors and families who have dealt with cancer. The event will be held at 8 a.m. at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church. Tickets are $20. Started in 2003, the EGGC is a regional cancer organization anchored by Augusta University, the University of Georgia and the medical community. The coalition serves 29 counties in east Georgia. For more information, contact Smitha Ahamed at 706-542-6449 or Melanie Durden at mgd77903@uga.edu or 478-747-2309.
Well-being 5K run/walk
The UGA Well-being “Get Your Dawg On” 5K and 1.5-mile fun run/ walk will be held May 22 at the UGA Golf Course. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m., and the race starts at 6 p.m. Registration is free for the event, which is open to all UGA faculty and staff and their families. Same-day registration is available. For employees participating in the USG Well-being program, this event is worth $25 in well-being credit if they participate as a runner, walker or volunteer. All fitness levels are welcome. The first 200 people to preregister will receive a free 5K T-shirt. Snacks and water will be available after the race. Preregister online at 2019Employeefunrun.eventbrite.com. For a paper registration form or to sign up to volunteer, email wellbeing@uga.edu or call 706-542-7319.
Golf League
The 2019 Faculty/Staff Golf League has begun. All UGA faculty and staff of every skill level are welcome to join each Tuesday evening of daylight saving time for nine-hole events in individual or team formats. Weekly and seasonlong winners will receive golf shop credits. Find more information at golfcourse.uga.edu/facultystaffleague. Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
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director of Peabody. “Across genres and platforms, these are stories that help us make sense of our world and locate our humanity in the joys and tragedies and struggles of people worldwide.” Peabody Award winners and nominees will be celebrated at a red-carpet event May 18 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Ronan Farrow, a contributing writer for The New Yorker and an investigative reporter and producer based at HBO, will serve as host. Farrow’s stories in The New Yorker exposed the first sexual-assault allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein and garnered him a Pulitzer Prize for public service, a National Magazine Award and a George Polk Award, among other honors. He previously worked as an anchor and investigative reporter at MSNBC and NBC News and is currently producing documentaries for HBO. The presenting sponsor is MercedesBenz, the official automobile of the 78th annual Peabody Awards Ceremony. Variety is the exclusive media partner. Over the next several weeks, 30 winners from among these nominees will be announced by category: documentary on April 16; entertainment as well as children’s and youth on April 18; and news/radio/web/ public service programming on April 23. Last month, the board of jurors named Rita Moreno as this year’s Peabody Career Achievement Award presented by MercedesBenz. Nominees for the documentary category, listed in alphabetical order (network/platform in parentheses), are A Dangerous Son, HBO Documentary Films and Moxie Firecracker Films (HBO); Blue Planet II, BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, co-produced with BBC America, Tencent, WDR, France Télévisions and CCTV9 in partnership with The Open University (BBC America); Brides & Brothels: The Rohingya Trade, 101 East (Al Jazeera English); I Am Evidence, HBO Documentary Films and Mighty Entertainment in association with Fixit Productions and Artemis Rising Foundation (HBO); Independent Lens: Dolores, a Carlos Santana Production, in association with 5 Stick Films, and The Dolores Huerta Film Project LLC (PBS); Independent Lens: I Am Not Your Negro,
PROFESSOR
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Briggs has co-authored or co-edited four books on social work practice, nine special issues of social work research journals, numerous academic book chapters and dozens of peerreviewed papers on diverse topics, including service coordination, risky adolescent behavioral health practices, strengthening family networks, and the racial and social predictors of child welfare outcomes. Briggs also is a senior scholar with the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, which focuses on research on child welfare and juvenile justice policy pertaining to LGBT communities. In addition to his scholarship, Briggs’ writing skills have brought significant funding to the school and child well-being organizations. A proposal he wrote for a graduate-level, interprofessional behavioral health and social work training program at the school was awarded
LIZARDS
a co-production of Velvet Film Inc., Velvet Film S.A.S., Artémis Productions, Close Up Films, ARTE France, RTS, RTBF, Shelter Prod and the Independent Television Service (ITVS) presented in association with the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) (PBS); Independent Lens: The Judge, a co-production of Three Judges LLC, Idle Wild Films Inc. and Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) (PBS); L orraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/ Feeling Heart, Lorraine Hansberry Documentary Project LLC in co-production with Independent Television Service and Black Public Media in association with The Film Posse, Chiz Schultz Inc. and American Masters Pictures (PBS/WNET/TV); Minding the Gap, Hulu presents in association with Kartemquin, American Documentary | POV and ITVS (Hulu); POV: QUEST: A Portrait of an American Family, Quest Fury Sound LLC, Vespertine Film and Media Productions Inc., American Documentary | POV, ITVS (PBS); POV: The Apology, National Film Board of Canada, American Documentary | POV (PBS); POV: Survivors, WeOwnTV, American Documentary | POV, ITVS (PBS); POV: Whose Streets? Whose Streets? LLC, American Documentary | POV (PBS); Shirkers, a Netflix documentary in association with Cinereach (Netflix); The Bleeding Edge, a Netflix original documentary in association with Shark Island Institute (Netflix); The Facebook Dilemma, Frontline (PBS); The Jazz Ambassadors, Thirteen Productions LLC, Antelope South Ltd., Normal Life Pictures, in association with the BBC and ZDF in collaboration with Arte (PBS); and The Rape of Recy Taylor, Augusta Films, in co-production with Transform Films Inc., in association with Artemis Rising and Matador Content (Starz). Because of space constraints, nominees for the entertainment/children’s and youth, news/radio/web/public service programming categories could not be included in the print version of Columns. Information about them is online at https://news.uga.edu/peabody-awardsnominees-host-ronan-farrow/.
$1.3 million in federal funding and was recognized as a national model for such programs. Funding awarded to another proposal helped to launch the Georgia Parents Support Network, an advocacy organization for families of children with mental health disorders. Briggs received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Morehouse College. He earned his graduate and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Chicago. He has served on the School of Social Work’s faculty since 2012. The Pauline M. Berger Professorship in Family and Child Welfare was established in 2002 to honor its namesake’s contributions to the social work profession. Berger served on the school’s faculty from 1966 to 1976 as both assistant professor and admissions director. Before joining the school’s faculty, Berger was a caseworker in child welfare.
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located in the lizards’ ovaries. Targeting the tyrosinase gene, they successfully injected 146 oocytes from 21 lizards, then waited for the oocytes to be fertilized naturally. Within a few weeks, they realized their goal: four offspring displaying the telltale trait of albinism, which results when tyrosinase is inactivated. “When I saw our first albino hatchling, it was truly awe inspiring,” said D.V.M./ Ph.D. student Ashley Rasys, who was first author on the study. “I’m most excited about the possibility of expanding this approach into many other reptilian model systems, effectively opening the doorway for future functional studies.” The ability to study the genes of brown anoles could also have implications for human genetics work. The tyrosinase gene is required for certain aspects of eye development shared between humans and anoles,
but absent in the eyes of mice and other organisms commonly used for biomedical research. Researchers looking to explore ways to manipulate this gene for human ocular health did not have a suitable animal model—until now. As an added bonus, Menke’s team noted that the mutant anoles not only displayed the manipulated tyrosinase in the gene copies inherited from their mother, but from the father as well. This means that the CRISPR reagent likely remained active in the mother’s oocytes much longer than anticipated and mutated the paternal genes post-fertilization. “This work could have far-reaching impact not only for the study of reptile genetics but also for the advancement of genomic medicine and application in humans,” said David Lee, UGA vice president for research. “I applaud Dr. Menke and his colleagues on this very significant achievement.”