UGA Columns April 22, 2019

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Businessman works with UGA, Envision Athens to build transport company OUTREACH NEWS

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Hodgson Wind Ensemble closes 2018-19 season with April 23 performance

April 22, 2019

Vol. 46, No. 33

www.columns.uga.edu

UGA GUIDE

4&5

UGA Relay for Life raises more than $240K to fight cancer

By Marilyn Primovic mjp82278@uga.edu

A variety of efforts have contributed to UGA’s increasing six-year completion rate.

Infographic by Lindsay B. Robinson

‘Working together’ University continues initiatives to transform undergraduate education

By Carolyn Crist

columns@uga.edu

When President Jere W. Morehead took the helm of the University of Georgia in 2013, he seized the opportunity to enhance the learning environment even further for the university’s undergraduate students. Since then, the university has rolled out a series of student success initiatives and made dozens of critical improvements to programs.

The impact has been dramatic.

Over the past five years, UGA’s six-year completion rate has increased from 83% to 86%. This increase can be attributed, in part, to innovative changes in the undergraduate experience, from new academic support programs, to hands-on and active learning opportunities, to future-facing

technology and classrooms.

“Working together, we are transforming the learning environment and changing the lives of our students,” Morehead said.

“We are proving that the future of public higher education in America is being molded right here, where it began, at the University of Georgia.”

The impact of these initiatives has fostered an engaging academic environment that combines critical thinking with real-world experience, giving UGA graduates a competitive edge once they enter the workforce.

Advising additions

At the frontlines of undergraduate success, UGA’s academic advisors offer critical guidance for students to navigate their college experience. In 2015, UGA Office of

Instruction administrators noticed that many students pursue double majors, as well as minors and certificates, across a wide variety of university departments. After hiring 35 additional advisors, appointing an advising director and streamlining the advising model across campus, students are better able to access the majors, courses and certificates they need.

UGA opened The Exploratory Center in 2016 for students to experiment with their intended majors, and the center’s 13 advisors have already held more than 24,000 meetings with individual students. For those interested in particular careers, the new PreProfessional Advising Office now supports pre-law and pre-health majors. In addition, the Student Advising and Guidance Expert

See LEARNING on page 8

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

University launches special initiative to name College of Education for Mary Frances Early The University of Georgia College of Education is launching a special initiative to name its college for UGA’s first African American graduate, Mary Frances Early, as the university heads into the final year of its Commit to Georgia Campaign.

“The proposed naming of the College of Education in honor of Mary Frances Early is a tribute not only to her trailblazing integration of UGA in the 1960s, but also to her lifetime of accomplishment and service to others as a music educator,” said College of Education Dean Denise A. Spangler.

Over the course of the next year, gifts benefiting the College of Education may be dedicated in

Early’s honor to go toward the proposed naming, which will be subject to approval by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

“I am deeply honored because I spent my entire career in education, and I never dreamed that I would receive such an incredible recognition from the University of Georgia,” said Early.

A lead gift to the campaign already has been made by UGA President Jere W. Morehead: a designation of $200,000 from the President’s Venture Fund that, when matched by the UGA Foundation, will be used to create four new $100,000 Georgia Commitment

Scholarships for students with financial need. These Georgia Commitment Scholarships will be awarded with a preference for students who intend to pursue majors in the College of Education or music education majors in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

“I am delighted to join Dean Spangler in kicking off this campaign with a gift that not only honors Mary Frances Early but also that supports public education in Georgia by providing need-based scholarships for students who want to follow in her footsteps,” said Morehead. “She has touched the lives of thousands of students over See EARLY on page 8

As the sun rose over Legion Field on April 13 at UGA Relay for Life’s Night of 2019 event, the student organization announced its 2019 fundraising total of $241,812.

Because cancer never sleeps, hundreds of students and community members remained awake at the event from April 12 at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.

Sarah Henning, executive director of UGA Relay for Life, watched as her mom, who is fighting cancer, gave the opening speech. The money raised for research funded by the American

Cancer Society will allow them to celebrate both her and her sister’s upcoming graduations.

“The speech is an opportunity to say thank you to the students who have begged, borrowed and pleaded with friends and family to donate,” said Jill Henning, Sarah’s mom. “I want them to understand the difference they are making— the cost of a luminaria is enough to fund a patient’s ride to treatment.”

The first lap of the night was the survivor lap, followed by a lap with their caregivers. The next lap was a virtual lap, where students used the video feature on their phones to call survivors living far away or

See RELAY on page 8

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA

Marine scientist Samantha Joye named UGA Regents’ Professor

By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu

Samantha Joye, an internationally recognized marine scientist who studies the complex interplay between microbes and large-scale ecological processes in the oceans, has been named Regents’ Professor, effective July 1.

Joye is Athletic Association Professor of Arts and Sciences in the department of marine sciences, part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Regents’ Professorships are bestowed by the board of regents on faculty members whose scholarship or creative activity is recognized nationally and internationally as innovative and pace-setting.

“Dr. Joye combines a commitment to rigorous and innovative science with a passion for sharing

researchbased knowledge with the public,” said Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Libby V. Samantha Joye Morris. “She is an inspiration to students at the University of Georgia and to countless aspiring marine scientists across the nation and beyond.”

Joye’s work explores the deep ocean and the impact of biogeochemical, ecological and environmental factors on microbes and other marine life. She has pioneered new methods of quantifying environmental factors such as microbial metabolism and geochemical See PROFESSOR on page 8

FRANKLIN COLLEGE

Professor awarded fellowship from Guggenheim Foundation

By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu

Scott Nelson, Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Humanities in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship.

Nelson, who specializes in 19th century American social history in the department of history, has authored or co-authored five books, most recently A Nation of Deadbeats: An Uncommon History of America’s Financial Disasters.

“The Guggenheim Fellowship

is a great h o n o r. I t ’s one of the top accolades a historian can earn, and I am excited to represent the University of Georgia,” Scott Nelson Nelson said, adding that he is encouraged that the Guggenheim Foundation found his scholarship to be worthy of such a prestigious award. “This is a recognition that people were moved by my work, and that is

See FELLOWSHIP on page 8

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ODUM SCHOOL OF ECOLOGY

‘Multiplies the happiness’: Ecotones combine love of music, environment

OFFICE OF RESEARCH

By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu

Beth Shapiro, center, shown with Nancy Manley, left, and Douglas Menke, delivered this year’s Boyd Lecture.

Amy Ware

Shapiro discusses science of de-extinction at annual Boyd Lecture on April 4

By Allyson Mann tiny@uga.edu

Spoiler alert: It is not possible to clone a woolly mammoth.

This information undoubtedly will disappoint Jurassic Park fans, but it comes from an expert—Beth Shapiro, the UGA alumna and evolutionary biologist who wrote the book How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction. Shapiro returned to campus April 4 to deliver the George H. Boyd Distinguished Lecture.

During her talk,“Can—and Should—Technology Reverse Extinction?,” Shapiro introduced the audience to the field of ancient DNA and outlined the science required to bring a species back from extinction. Essentially, researchers can’t clone a woolly mammoth if they don’t have access to a living woolly mammoth.

“It is not possible to bring back mammoths, or passenger pigeons, or Neanderthals, or Adolf Hitler, or the dodo, or sabre-toothed cats, dinosaurs, the thylacine, the great auk, the Carolina parakeet or the gastric brooding frog,” said Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz; Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator; and 2009 MacArthur Fellow.

If she had her choice, though, she’d bring back the gastric brooding frog. They became extinct in the mid-1980s, but gastric brooding frogs swallowed fertilized eggs and six weeks later barfed up fully-formed frogs.

“That’s freaking awesome,” she said.

Though the woolly mammoth will remain extinct, technological advances make it possible for scientists to create a genetic match for a living creature—your dog, for example.

But it would not actually be your dog, according to Shapiro.

“We and everything else are much more than the sequence of the As and Cs and Gs and Ts that make up the code of our DNA,” she said.

That same technology—a targeted gene editing tool known as CRISPR—may, however, be useful in helping species that are in danger of becoming extinct. CRISPR allows scientists to search for a genetic sequence and replace it with a sequence from another animal or even another species.

“As we’re facing an extinction crisis, and climates and habitats are changing too fast for evolution to keep up, these technologies may be something that we can do to try and save some of these things from becoming extinct,” she said.

The black-footed ferret, for example, was thought to be extinct until a population was discovered in the mid-1980s.

They were bred successfully in captivity but died of sylvatic plague when released into their habitat.

Scientists are hoping to stage a “genetic rescue” by increasing diversity—and resilience—in the population using genetic sequences from two black-footed ferrets collected prior to the population crash by the Frozen Zoo in San Diego.

A similar strategy worked for the American chestnut tree, which survived fungal blight after researchers introduced a blight-resistant gene from wheat.

Humans have been altering DNA sequences for as long as we’ve existed, Shapiro noted.

“It’s just that these technologies are making these things that we normally do over many thousands of years in trial and error much easier to do,” she said.

The field is young, and scientists can’t know all the potential consequences ahead of time, but Shapiro believes the potential benefit of genetic rescue is worth the risk.

“I would argue, looking at the 20,000 species that are in danger of becoming extinct within the next several decades, it’s far riskier not to think about these technologies, to allow the science to develop,” she said. “It’s far riskier not to do that, because we’re going to lose all of this.”

The Boyd Lecture Series brings national leaders and policy makers in science, education and related fields to the university to talk about applications of research to contemporary issues in education.

In nature, an ecotone is a transitional zone between two ecological communities. And for members of the Ecotones, UGA’s a cappella group of ecologically-minded students, music and the environment also come together in unexpected ways.

“Like the name suggests, we are the buffer between music and environmental activism,” said Samuel Lee, co-musical director. “It’s being able to have your cake and eat it, too. I can be part of a group that loves music while taking care of the environment.”

Founded in 2010 by a group of graduate students in ecology who shared a love of singing, the group now stands at 11 members.

“It combines two things I’m passionate about separately. I’ve loved to sing for a long time, and I’m also involved in environmental activism— reducing, reusing and recycling,” said Connor Lawhead, co-musical director. “Finding an organization that combines these two seemingly very different things into one cohesive element drew me to it.”

While the founders all studied ecology, the current members are majoring in a wide variety of areas. Lawhead is a third-year psychology/sociology double major with an emphasis in neuroscience, and Lee is a fourth-year microbiology major.

But the group stays true to its roots.

Members regularly volunteer with the Upper Oconee Watershed Network doing river sampling. The data on the health of the river then goes to researchers at UGA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also regularly sample Tanyard Creek.

Other members work with UGArden or with the UGA Chew Crew, an effort of the Office of Sustainability to stop the spread of invasive plants by using a herd of goats to manage the land.

The Ecotones also donate 20% of

Dorothy Kozlowski

The Ecotones’ next performance will be April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Chapel.

ticket sales to the Upper Oconee Watershed Network. Their next concert, Ecopella, will be at 7 p.m. April 27 at the Chapel. Tickets are $7 ($5 for students) at the door, and they accept cash and cards.

They perform several times each semester. In fact, last year was the group’s first time at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella where they reached the quarterfinals.

“At that level, the music is so incredible,” Lee said. “It was a really enjoyable experience.”

The sound of the Ecotones has shifted over the years. At its beginning, there was more folk music in the repertoire. Now, the group performs more R&B and pop music.

“Songs with that R&B and pop influence are often more intricate and complicated. It can be a little more interesting to listen to because of all the parts,” Lawhead said. “As our abilities have progressed, so have our song choices.”

Lawhead said he’s looking forward to the group’s interpretation of Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” while Lee is partial to the group’s version of Adele’s “When We Were Young,” which he

arranged. They said that they value diversity in everything, especially musical selection.

The group elects new musical directors at the end of each academic year. They recruit students to audition at the Division of Student Affairs’ Involvement Fair and on social media.

After a quick interview and technical tests involving musical scales and calland-response, where a musician plays a couple of notes that the singer repeats, they perform two solos in contrasting styles—a verse and chorus each—for the entire group. At callbacks, those auditioning learn a song from the group and then perform it with them and then for them. Lee said they’re specifically looking for how well auditionees can blend their sound with others.

Lee said music “has always been a presence” in his life. He played the cello for 13 years and wanted to find a way to still have music in his life at UGA. Lawhead said music serves as an outlet and form of catharsis for him, and he knows it can be beneficial to others.

“It not only does something for you, but it also multiplies the happiness for other people listening,” Lee said.

COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN

Environment and design college recognized at State Capitol

Anna Watkins

The College of Environment and Design was recognized by the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol on April 2 in appreciation of its long history, contributions to the state of Georgia and in celebration of its 50th anniversary as a school. Rep. Matthew Gambill (District 15) sponsored the resolution. BLA student Braden Meadows joined Dean Sonia Hirt and CED’s Director of Development Jennifer Messer at the event.

“With the General Assembly’s adoption of the resolution to recognize the CED, strides were made to inform the general public about the core values and principles that undergird landscape architecture, historic preservation and planning, as well as our positive impact on the state. As an upperclassman in the CED and a future alumnus, I think that the resolution recognizes the CED’s stature and amplifies its relevance within the realm of practicing professionals,” said Meadows.

Meadows is studying landscape architecture and historic preservation at the CED and taking pre-law classes. He hopes to have a career in landscape architecture and real estate law where he will be able to apply his appreciation for historic preservation.

The CED became its own school at UGA under the deanship of Hubert Bond Owens in 1969. Since then, it was designated a college. CED will be celebrating 50 years (1969-2019) with numerous lectures, exhibitions, symposia and special events during the fall semester 2019 and spring semester 2020. For more information, go to ced.uga.edu.

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columns.uga.edu April 22, 2019

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Digest Four College of Public Health dean finalists named, visits announced

Dorothy Kozlowski

Wesley Chenoweth participated in Small Business Development Center training to help grow his business, Grizzly Delivery LLC.

‘Good for Athens-Clarke County’ UGA partners with Envision Athens on training course

By Kellyn Amodeo

kwamodeo@uga.edu

Wesley Chenoweth felt alone when he was starting his business.

“As a startup, minority-owned business in Athens, I felt lost,” he said.“I didn’t know where to start or if I’d ever be able to grow my business like the successful ones I saw downtown.”

His company, Grizzly Delivery LLC, specializes in courier delivery, passenger transportation, nonemergency medical transportation and more. Chenoweth’s goal is for Grizzly to be the leading transportation company in Northeast Georgia in the next five years, but to get there, he needed support.

That’s how he found himself at Emergent: Launch and Learn, a training course offered by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, hosted by Envision Athens.

Envision Athens is a partnership between community and government leaders with the goal of creating a 20-year strategy for community and economic development in Athens-Clarke County.

The organization is based on the idea of government and community working together, making comprehensive community planning more insightful, intuitive and inclusive.

“This is essentially the best of

institutional capacity and grassroots activism combined,” said Erin Barger, project manager of Envision Athens.

In February, the SBDC, a division of UGA’s Public Service and Outreach, worked with Envision Athens to host a training program for business owners looking to grow their companies and potential owners looking for a starting point. Michael Myers and Bart NjokuObi, consultants at the SBDC, instructed upward of 50 participants on subjects from startup mechanics to writing a business plan to cashflow management.

The event was held at the Goodwill Career Center and supported by AthensClarke County Housing and Community Development and Economic Development offices, Enlightened Media, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northeast Georgia Business Alliance.

Myers helped plan the training curriculum.

“Envision Athens had business owners telling them what they’d like to see,” Myers said.“SBDC does training like this all the time across the state. We took the tools and presentations that we have and used them for this specific audience.”

Business owners like Chenoweth benefit from the economic development focus of Envision Athens. Other focuses include—but aren’t limited to— housing, education, social services and

the environment.

The organization partners with larger entities like the University of Georgia, with partnership serving as the cornerstone for Envision Athens’ approach.

“The University of Georgia and Athens-Clarke County are linked.What is good for Athens-Clarke County is also good for UGA,” Barger said. “Any movement would be remiss to not include such a key stakeholder that is the lead employer in the county and also an institution that we look to for expertise in best practices. UGA leadership is key as we pursue our vision of reaching our full potential in Athens-Clarke County in unity, equity, prosperity and compassion.”

The goals of Envision Athens are aspirational; the committee hopes to improve every aspect of Athens-Clarke County over the next two decades. In the meantime, events like the SBDC training are directly helping citizens like Chenoweth.

“It was like a breath of fresh air to see the networking taking place at the training. Entrepreneurs from all walks of life and industries were together, engaging, encouraging and uplifting each other,” he said. “I left with a feeling of inclusion within my community and a clear path to success for my business.”

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Lecturer offers lesson in government accountability

By Shelby Steuart

Shelby.Steuart@uga.edu

Standing before a painting that survived two fires and more than 150 years of Southern heat and exposure, Gene Dodaro, comptroller general for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, urged the next generation of public servants to look beyond the flames they may see in their government today.

Dodaro was on campus March 25 to give the School of Public and International Affairs’ 2019 Getzen Lecture on Public Accountability. Designated one of the university’s Signature Lectures, Dodaro’s talk, “The Many Dimensions of Accountability: GAO’s Mission for Congress and the Nation,” was cosponsored by SPIA’s public administration and policy department.

Despite spending nearly half a century working to reel in a government that occasionally spirals unchecked,

Dodaro spoke with excitement of what might come with a few decades of proactive public service.

Dodaro said he chose to work in the public sector to be part of “the solution.”

“I entered into government because I didn’t want to be somebody who was just sitting and complaining about it,” he said. “I wanted to get in the game and see if I could make improvements.”

Dodaro started at the GAO immediately after college and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming second in command in 1999. Nine years later, he was confirmed as comptroller general.

“GAO exists to support the Congress in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and to enhance the performance and accountability of government for the benefit of the American people,” said Dodaro, whose career has included many highlights, most notably pushing forward

regulations in a period of rapid scientific and technological advancement, urging Congress and the American people to confront the national debt crisis and overseeing regulatory changes in the wake of the Great Recession.

As Dodaro imbued the lessons of his career to future public servants and researchers, he boiled his time at the GAO down to five components: managing risk, facilitating the political balance, analyzing and promoting fiscal health, preparing for the future and promoting accountability.

During his lecture, Dodaro also articulated the pressing importance of public servants with technological expertise.

“We need to protect the integrity of our weapon systems and other projects that deal with emerging technologies,” he said. “Cybersecurity will only get more complicated, not less: artificial intelligence, quantum computing and a lot of other areas.”

Four finalists for the position of dean of the University of Georgia College of Public Health will visit campus in the coming weeks.

A committee chaired by Lisa K. Nolan, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor and dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, conducted a national search to identify the finalists. The committee was assisted by the UGA Search Group in Human Resources.

Each finalist will make a public presentation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in George Hall on the Health Sciences Campus. The finalists and the dates of their presentations are: • Marsha Davis, professor of health promotion and behavior, associate dean of outreach and engagement and interim dean of the UGA College of Public Health, April 23.

• Shawn Gibbs, professor of environmental and occupational health and executive associate dean of the Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public Health, April 25.

• David Holtgrave, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor and dean of the University at Albany, State University of New York, School of Public Health, April 30.

• Maureen Lichtveld, professor and Freeport McMoRan Chair of Environmental Policy in the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, visited campus April 18.

The CVs of the finalists, along with their full campus visit itineraries and candidate feedback forms, are available at https://provost.uga.edu/ CPH-dean-finalists.

Fifth annual Staff Appreciation Celebration to be held May 15

All University of Georgia staff are invited to attend UGA’s fifth annual Staff Appreciation Celebration.

To be held May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UGA intramural fields, the event will include a catered lunch, a variety of activities and a chance for attendees to win a prize.

An initiative of the Office of the President, the Staff Appreciation Celebration is a way for the university to say, “Thank you, Staff!”

Environmental writer Barry Lopez to visit UGA on Earth Day 2019

National Book Award–winner Barry Lopez, one of the foremost environmental writers and advocates in the U.S., will return to the University of Georgia April 22 for The Georgia Review’s 11th annual Earth Day program. The keynote speaker at the journal’s third annual Earth Day program in 2011, he will be the first repeat presenter.

His essays and fiction have been appearing in The Georgia Review since 1993; his Of Wolves and Men (1978) won the John Burroughs Medal for Nature Writing and was a finalist for the National Book Award, which his Arctic Dreams (1986) won.

At 7 p.m. in the atrium of the State Botanical Garden conservatory, Georgia Review editor Stephen Corey will conduct a live interview with Lopez titled “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.

Earlier in the day, from 1:15–2:15 p.m. in the Critique Room (130) of the College of Environment and Design at 285 South Jackson Street, readers may converse with Lopez during an open question-and-answer session.

Both events are open free to the public; the evening event will be followed by a reception with light refreshments and music by Hawk Proof Rooster.

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.

New Gods | Old Gods. Through April 28. Athica. 706-338-2751. lhfancher@gmail.com.

Fighting Spirit: Wally Butts and UGA Football, 1939-1950.

Through May 10. Special collections libraries.

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.

Corals, from Sea to Screen. Through June 28. Atrium, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@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 22 PASSOVER Through April 26. Jewish religious observance.

LUNCH AND LEARN Join UGA’s Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries 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.

MESA DE CONVERSACION The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute is having its spring semester 2019 Mesa de Conversation every Monday from 1-2 p.m. The facilitator is Fernan Cerron Palomino, a native Spanish speaker from Peru who has been providing Spanish instruction at the college level for more than 10 years.

He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Spanish at UGA. The Mesa de Conversacion is a free conversation hour open to all members of the UGA and Athens-area community interested in improving their Spanish conversation ability. No prior knowledge is required, just an interest in speaking the Spanish language.

12:30 p.m. 290 South Hull Street. fcerron@uga.edu.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

FACULTY/STAFF GOLF LEAGUE 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 season-long winners will receive golf shop credits. Weekly event entry fee is $5 per player. League nine-hole green fee is $11.85 including tax. Nine-hole cart fee is $10.17 including tax. 5 p.m. UGA Golf Course. john.crumbley@uga.edu.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 CERAMIC STUDENT ORGANIZATION SPRING POTTERY SALE Work on sale will include hand-built sculptures, as well as functional pottery such as teapots, mugs, boxes, plates, vases and bowls. All work was made by ceramic students or faculty.

Prices start at $10. Proceeds from the ceramic sale will go to support a student educational field trip to a national ceramic conference, as well as to help bring resident artists to campus.

By-the-hour parking is available at the Performing Arts Parking Deck, which is located next to the Performing Arts Center on River Road. 9 a.m. First-floor lobby, Lamar Dodd School of Art. 706-338-3652. tsaupe@uga.edu.

TOUR AT TWO 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.

(See story, right.)

FACULTY LECTURE College of Environment and Design faculty lecture series featuring Marianne Cramer. 4:30 p.m. 123 Jackson Street Building.

SOFTBALL vs. Georgia State. $1 hot dogs. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 LOUISE McBEE LECTURE IN HIGHER EDUCATION The 30th annual Louise McBee Lecture in Higher Education will be presented by Susan Herbst, president of the University of Connecticut. A specialist in political science, Herbst is the author of many scholarly journal articles and books, including her most recent book about incivility in American politics, Rude Democracy. 11 a.m. Chapel. 706-542-0570. sheffiel@uga.edu.

MICROBIOLOGY SEMINAR “CRISPR-Cas 10 Immunity in Staphylococci: Mechanisms and Applications,” Asma Hatoum-Aslan, biological sciences department, University of Alabama. 11 a.m. 404D Biological Sciences Building. khbrown@uga.edu.

UGARDEN SPRING FESTIVAL: SOUTH BY SOUTH MILLEDGE Come share in an evening of food, music and well-being in

By Isabel Walston

isabel.walston25@uga.edu

The Georgia Museum of Art and the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia present the annual exit show for Master of Fine Arts degree candidates. One show will be on view at the museum, and one show will be on view at the Deupree Building, 458 E. Clayton Street, in downtown Athens. Both shows will be on view through May 19.

Together, these exhibitions feature the works of 20 MFA students working in a variety of media across a diverse array of themes and theoretical frameworks including ecology, migration, surveillance, the inhuman, propaganda and the body.

The works are the culmination of three years of intensive study in the fields of art and design and include objects and ephemera; paintings, prints and photographs; lens-based work and installations; jewelry, textiles and ceramics; and sonic art and relational situations.

This year’s candidates are Justin Barker, Amanda Britton, Dimelza Broche, Shawn Campbell, Catherine Chang, Catherine Clements, Sydney Daniel, Lindy Erkes, Yusheng Fang, Matthew Flores, Sanaz Haghani, Yiran Liu, William Major, Kimberly McWhorter, Esther Lee Mech, Guadalupe Navarro, Jennifer Niswonger-Morris, Lauren O’Connor-Korb, Paula Runyon and Taylor Shaw.

Elizabeth Howe served as curator of the show at the museum. In the past, Howe has been the show’s preparator, working closely with its previous curator to put the exhibition together. Howe’s background as a preparator has defined her approach to curation, which heavily considers the relationship between the works and the space they exist in.

Howe worked closely with candidates, visiting their studios to get a sense of their work and creative processes as well as the motivations behind them. One of these artists is Haghani, a printmaking and book arts

ceh822@uga.edu

The final large ensemble concert will take place on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Hall. The showcase will include the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Hodgson Singers, Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs and University Chorus.

The program will open with Chopin’s “Concerto for Piano No 1 in E minor, opus 11” and will feature Liza Stepanova, piano faculty member. Stepanova has been hailed by the New York Times for her “thoughtful musicality,” which will be heard in Chopin’s work, the theme of which reflects Stepanova’s own ambition and diligence in academia and music.

Under the baton of Mark Cedel, UGA Symphony Orchestra members will perform Chopin’s work, which was scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, trombone, timpani and strings. In the second part of the performance, the ensembles will perform a piece for symphony and chorus by Rachmaninov.

“A highlight of the concert will be a performance of Rachmaninov’s symphony with chorus, The Bells,” Cedel said.

Following the traditional movement format for symphonies, the piece is comprised of four movements, with each movement dealing with a different

type of bell. Rachmaninov chose poetry from Edgar Allen Poe to depict the bells in each movement. The work will be sung in English.

“It’s a wonderful and exciting work. And it wouldn’t be Rachmaninov if he didn’t slip in a ‘Dies Irae’ quote,” Cedel said.

Joining the UGASO will be the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs and the University Chorus, under the baton of J.D. Burnett, as well as the Hodgson Singers directed by Daniel Bara, John D. Boyd UGA Foundation Professor of Choral Music. Graduate performance students Jaralane Davis and Isaiah Feken will take on the soprano and baritone solo parts of the piece. Soloing as tenor will be Gregory S. Broughton, associate professor of music and chair of the voice area.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students and children. They can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu or by phone at 706-542-4400. 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. For those unable to attend, the concert will be streamed at music.uga.edu/live-streaming.

This concert marks the end of the 2018-2019 Scholarship Series season. Subscription sales for the 2019-2020 season will begin in June. Updates will be posted at music.uga.edu and on social media.

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/.

student. For Haghani, it will be very rewarding to see her work and that of her hard-working colleagues on display in a museum.

“I’m happy to have the chance to be in this group because I know them––they are talented, they are smart, they are amazing people, and their works are beautiful,” she said.

The exhibition at the Deupree Building is organized

by Isabelle Loring Wallace, an associate professor of contemporary art at the School of Art, and Katie Geha, director of the Dodd Galleries.

“It was an incredibly fun challenge to work within the confines of this super raw and open space,” Geha said.

“While the shows take two very different approaches, we feel they complement one another; showcasing our students’ depth of inquiry, experimentation and rigor

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research and teaching areas include congressional politics, elections and American political development. His current research about Congress touches on the historical development of committees, origins of partisan polarization and Senate elections. 3:30 p.m.

Pinnacle Room (480), Baldwin Hall. kalah.mingo@uga.edu.

PANEL DISCUSSION The present and future of UGA track and field will be discussed.

The talk will feature Coach Petros Kyprianous and Keturah Orji, the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year and a 2016 Olympian. 6 p.m.

Special collections libraries. 706-542-7123. hasty@uga.edu.

CLASS “Medicinal Herbs of the Southeast Workshop” is an introductory class in which students will learn traditional uses and preparations for the most common medicinal plant species, with special attention to Georgia natives. Enjoy an ethnobotanical tour through the garden collections and spend hands-on time crafting herbal remedies to bring home. $50. 9 a.m. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. cscamero@uga.edu.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

By Camille Hayes

Sanaz Haghani's art will be displayed as part of the MFA exit show, on view through May 19.

UGArden’s lower barn. Food donations will be provided by Big City Bread Cafe, Marti’s at Midday, Taziki’s, The National, South Kitchen + Bar, Cinnaholic, The Grit, Independent Baking Co, UGArden Club and more. There will be live music from local musicians and bands and fun activities such as henna tattoos, a vegetable eating contest and raffles. Don’t forget that the event is Bring Your Own Bowl—feel free to bring any reusable utensils. $5. 5 p.m. Lower Barn Area, UGArden.

706-542-0784. john.mcginnis25@uga.edu.

MUSEUM MIX The museum’s thrice-annual, late-night art party features free refreshments and galleries open until 11 p.m. The DJ will be Taylor Chicoine. 8 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.

Season culminates with combined concerts

4&5

Annual MFA exit show on display through May 19

MFA SPEAKS MFA candidates each have 3 minutes to discuss their work.

After their presentations, join the students in the galleries. Cosponsored by the Lamar Dodd School of Art. 6:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.

The final large ensemble concert of the season features the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Hodgson Singers, Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs and University Chorus.

columns.uga.edu April 22, 2019

UGA BOOKSTORE FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION DAY During this event, the bookstore will offer refreshments throughout the day and deals on in-store merchandise. The technology department is offering up to $250 off new Apple® laptops, iPads® and desktops. This event is one day only, so preorder to guarantee the price. 8 a.m. University Bookstore.

404-592-7495. kreid@follett.com.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY CONFERENCE The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education celebrates the office professionals who make offices work. Enjoy a day of professional development activities. $199. 8:30 a.m.

Georgia Center. 678-985-6777. venus.stone@georgiacenter. uga.edu.

SYMBIOFEST Symbiofest is an annual one-day meeting held at the UGA Odum School of Ecology. Anyone can give a 10-minute presentation (10 Powerpoint slides max) on some aspect of their symbiotic (mutualistic, parasitic, commensal) research. Free lunch (for students) and dinner is included. This year’s featured speaker is Andrea G. Grottoli, a professor in the School of Life Sciences at The Ohio State University. 9 a.m. Seminar Room 117, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu.

MRI SAFETY TRAINING Bio-Imaging Research Center provides MRI safety training for individual researchers and their teams who are directly using BIRC resources. Sign up for this course at least 48 hours prior to the preferred time/date. 2:30 p.m. 339 Coverdell Center. kmason@uga.edu.

AWARDS CEREMONY UGA Geology Awards Ceremony. 3:25 p.m. 200A, GeographyGeology Building. 706-542-0430. cfouche@uga.edu.

2019 GEORGE S. PARTHEMOS LECTURE The political science department in the School of Public and International Affairs welcomes Charles Stewart III, the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

CLASS “Get Golf Ready: Any Chance We Could Talk About the Full Swing?” is an adult class for beginner to intermediate golfers who want to learn more about golf in a fun and relaxed setting.

No equipment needed. The 3 p.m. class is for ladies only. A second class at 4:15 p.m. is available for ladies and gentlemen.

The price for attending individual sessions will be $25, a bundle of five is $100, and unlimited access to as many sessions as you would like for $150. UGA Golf Course. 706-363-5128. john.crumbley@uga.edu.

MONDAY, APRIL 29 INFECTIOUS DISEASES SEMINAR “Taking a Less Traveled Pathway to an HIV-1 Cure,” Stephen Spector, UC-San Diego School of Medicine. 11:10 a.m.

175 Coverdell Center.

LECTURE “Performing Colonialism in the Global City: Philip III’s Entry into Lisbon, 1619,” Lisa Voigt, The Ohio State University. This talk is part of the Southern Strategies of Early Modern Empires (circa 1444-1800), an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant-funded research project in the expanded Global Georgia Initiative of the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts. 4 p.m. 118 Gilbert Hall. wrighte@uga.edu.

COMING UP CLASSES END April 30. For spring semester.

READING DAY May 1. For spring semester.

MOLECULAR PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM May 1. The Molecular Parasitology & Vector Biology Symposium includes talks from graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and leading researchers. Four alumni will give spotlight talks throughout the day: James Morris, mentored by Kojo MensaWilmot, is a professor in the genetics and biochemistry department at Clemson University; Matthew Collins, mentored

by Rick Tarleton, is an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine; Tiffany Weinkopff, mentored by Patrick Lammie, is an assistant professor in the microbiology and immunology department at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine; and Marc-Jan Gubbels, mentored by Boris Striepen, is a professor in the

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.

developed throughout the three years of their studies.”

The exhibition at the Georgia Museum of Art will be on view during regular museum hours. The exhibition at the Deupree Building will be on view Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

The art school is producing a catalog, forthcoming this summer, of the exhibition featuring an essay by artist and writer Craig Drennen.

Related upcoming events include a public tour led

by Howe on April 24 at 2 p.m. and MFA Speaks on April 25 at 6:30 p.m., during which each MFA candidate will have 3 minutes to present on their work. Their presentations will be immediately followed by Museum Mix from 8-11 p.m., a free event with DJ duo Taylor Chicoine and Alexis Spina, refreshments and food from local restaurants.

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.

David Zerkel is the featured soloist on Viet Cuong’s new Concerto for Tuba during the Hodgson Wind Ensemble’s next concert.

Hodgson Wind Ensemble closes season with concert

By David Jackson Stanley david.stanley@uga.edu

The Hodgson Wind Ensemble will close its 2018-2019 season with an eclectic concert April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall that features European flair.

Dionysiaques opens the program. Cynthia Johnston Turner, director of bands, said the influences of French impressionism are obvious, but are soon “abandoned in favor of festivity, brimming with rhythmic vitality and a relentless insistence on partying all the way to the very edge of control, and perhaps a bit beyond.”

The evening also includes the SEC premiere of recent UGA graduate Ben Robichaux. His dissertation composition, As the Lights Go Out, explores journeys of the brain in an innovative work for wind ensemble and electronics. David Zerkel is the featured soloist on Viet Cuong’s new Concerto for Tuba.

Tim Reynish, a faculty member at the Royal Northern College of Music, is a leading conductor of wind bands throughout the world. He leads a performance of Adam Gorb’s Bohemian Revelry, a “tribute to the verve and vigor of the music of the people of the Czech Republic,” and a celebration of artistic and social freedom, “allowing for a party atmosphere whenever and wherever possible.”

Tickets are $6-$12 and are available online at pac.uga.edu, in person at the Performing Arts Center box office or by phone at 706-542-4400.

Live streaming is available for those unable to attend at www.music.uga.edu/live-streaming. biology department at Boston College. 8:30 a.m. Masters Hall, Georgia Center. 706-542-9417. donnah@uga.edu.

FACULTY TEACHING CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON May 1. Join the Center for Teaching and Learning staff and colleagues across campus for its annual Reading Day event recognizing faculty and celebrating the end of the year with food, fun and musical entertainment. 11:30 a.m. Grand Hall, Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-1355. jamie.adair@uga.edu.

NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES May 1 (for May 13 issue) May 15 (for May 28 issue) May 29 (for June 10 issue)

6 April 22, 2019 columns.uga.edu

Karen Bryant, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Education’s lifelong education, administration and policy department, has been selected to serve on the Advancing Inclusive Principal Leadership Initiative, a statewide team sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The main goal of the initiative is to integrate inclusive principal leadership in policies and practices across the principal pipeline continuum and to prepare and develop leaders with the knowledge and skills to more effectively serve students with disabilities.

The Georgia team, which is Karen Bryant focused on preparing and developing leaders, consists of representatives from the Georgia Department of Education, K-12 school districts and principal preparation programs.

Bryant will work with colleagues in Georgia and across the nation to develop programs and policies to ensure all principals receive professional development to better support teachers of students with disabilities.

Jolie Daigle and Anneliese Singh, professors in the department of counseling and human development services in the College of Education, recently received 2019 Fellows Awards from the American Counseling Association for their contributions to the counseling profession.

The association’s highest honor, the ACA Fellows Award was presented to Daigle and Singh during the ACA 2019 Conference and Expo in New Jolie Daigle Orleans in March.

Singh’s research, practice and advocacy are focused on the resilience of transgender people, trans people of color, nonbinary youth, survivors of trauma, immigrants, social justice and empowerment training.

Daigle, a professor-inresidence at Rutland Academy, Anneliese Singh researches service-learning in counseling training programs, clinical preparation of school counselors, social and emotional development of children and dropout prevention. In 2016, she was elected as an editorial review board member of ACA’s Journal of Counseling and Development.

This year, eight counselors were granted ACA Fellow status. All honorees are active members of the association and represent a diverse community of leaders that create and expand knowledge and insight into the counseling profession.

Alan Covich, a professor in the Odum School of Ecology, has been named a Fellow of the Society for Freshwater Science in recognition of his contributions to stream ecology.

Covich studies biodiversity and ecosystem processes and the impacts of disturbances, both natural and human-caused, in temperate and tropical stream ecosystems. He is particularly interested in how migratory species navigate stream networks in the wake of these disturbances.

The Society for Freshwater Science is an international scientific organization dedicated to promoting understanding of freshwater ecosystems and ecosystems at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Founded in 1953 as the Midwest Benthological Society, SFS now has nearly 1,800 members from around the world.

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

Chandler Christoffel spearheads the Capturing Science Contest as part of his work with the Science Library.

Dorothy Kozlowski

Librarian pours energy into finding better ways to connect with students

By Jean Cleveland jclevela@uga.edu

Before becoming a librarian, Chandler Christoffel was a math teacher and tutor, taking graduate classes in education at night and spending time in front of the classroom.

“I learned to love research in college,” Christoffel said. “I think it was a way to procrastinate—hunting for just one more source instead of finishing a paper. I just remember being amazed at how much knowledge is out there. It was very therapeutic to go to the library and browse. It also helped clarify what I might do as a career—both what I would enjoy and what I’m good at.”

Since joining the UGA Libraries in 2012 as an instruction and research librarian at the Science Library, Christoffel has poured his prodigious energy into finding better ways to connect with students, faculty and his colleagues.

“Working with classes, providing research consultations, staffing the information desk and conducting outreach efforts like workshops and contests: these are all ways that we interact with library users,” he said. “For me, the most rewarding work is more in-depth, oneon-one research support with students.

It’s great to engage with students on a human level, which they don’t always get with large bureaucracies.”

One initiative that Christoffel spearheads is the Capturing Science Contest, which uses cash prizes to encourage students to think about science, technology,

engineering and mathematics, or STEM, learning outside of a lab or classroom setting. The Libraries are joined by the Office of Research in sponsoring the annual competition. Participants explain a STEM concept to a broader audience using any media.

“Any and all formats, media and genres are encouraged,” Christoffel said.

“Essays, board games, virtual reality, videos, music, software, apps, curricula, lesson plans, poems, infographics, fiction and exhibits are all accepted.”

Christoffel said he particularly enjoys working with First-Year Odyssey seminar faculty to integrate library research sessions into their courses.

“With these sessions, the focus is not just about learning goals but also about making sure students are comfortable with the library and aware of library services,” he said. “I want them to leave knowing that we are friendly and here for them. And that the class isn’t necessarily the end of the relationship.

“In fact, a fun part of my job is working with students who visit and reconnect throughout their careers at UGA,” he added. “For example, one graduate student reminded me that, years before, I had taught her in a precollege summer bridge program class. I’ve also worked over the years with a faculty member since he was a grad student.”

In addition, those conversations further his objective of getting to know users better.

“Some of my work on the Libraries’ assessment committee has been to help

FACTS Chandler Christoffel

Instruction and Research Librarian Science Library M.S.I.S., School of Information, University of Texas, 2009 B.A. with honors, Brandeis University, 2005 At UGA: Eight years and five months

promote a culture of assessment. With thoughtful assessment, we can improve service points and instruction by better understanding and meeting users where they are,” he said.

Christoffel also is enrolled in graduate courses in clinical counseling that add to his value as a resource, noting public libraries are becoming a model for fusing librarianship and mental health services.

“This relates to my interest in helping users at their point of need. I really enjoy talking with students, whether it is about the research process or, say, coping with stress. I want to become more skilled at facilitating these conversations,” he said.

Christoffel’s dream would be to teach a class, paradoxically, called “How to be an Autodidact.”

“Students teach themselves all the time.As librarians, we sometimes occupy a nonexpert space where we help support student self-agency, which translates across competencies and domains,” he said. “It’s fun to be a partner in that process.”

FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Jutras named director of Hodgson School of Music

By Alan Flurry

aflurry@uga.edu

Peter Jutras, professor of piano and piano pedagogy in the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music, has been named director of the Hodgson School by Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Dean Alan Dorsey.

The appointment is effective July 1.

“The Hodgson School of Music is one of the pillars of our vibrant arts programs, attracting some of the best young musicians in the world to study and train at UGA,” Dorsey said. “I am confident that Dr. Jutras will lead with integrity to promote an atmosphere in which creativity, scholarship, service and outstanding instruction will continue to flourish.”

A 2015 recipient of the university’s Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Jutras holds a B.M. degree in music education from the Peter Jutras Eastman School of Music, a M.M. degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University and a Ph.D. in music education with an emphasis in piano pedagogy from the University of North Texas. He is currently the associate director for research and graduate studies in the Hodgson School.

“I have been fortunate to serve as a

faculty member at the Hodgson School for the past 13 years, and it has been a wonderfully enriching experience,” Jutras said. “The students and faculty are inspiring, dedicated, caring musicians who are passionate about their art and scholarship. It will be an honor and a privilege to lead this world-class group in the years ahead.”

Jutras succeeds Dale Monson, who served as director of the school of music since January 2009.

“I want to thank Dr. Monson for his tireless devotion to the students, faculty and staff of the Hodgson School of Music,” Dorsey said. “His leadership and vision have made lasting contributions to the arts at UGA as they raised the prominence and reputation of the School of Music.”

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

columns.uga.edu April 22, 2019

7

CAES

Photo courtesy of LEAD21

Scott Jackson, Dean Pringle and Manpreet Singh, holding plaques, recently completed the 14th class of the LEAD21 leadershipdevelopment program.

Sharon Dowdy

Anthony Flint, Julie Peters and Gary Ware were honored as the UGA Griffin campus 2019 Classified Employees of the Year during the annual Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony held March 26. Pictured (from left) during the awards ceremony are Lew Hunnicutt, assistant provost and director at UGA-Griffin, Ware, Peters, Flint and Sam Pardue, dean and director of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

UGA-Griffin names 2019 Classified Employees of the Year during yearly recognition ceremony

By Sharon Dowdy sharono@uga.edu

Anthony Flint, Julie Peters and Gary Ware were honored March 26 as the University of Georgia Griffin campus 2019 Classified Employees of the Year during the annual Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony.

“This is one of my favorite events each year. We come together to celebrate some of those who are the most important in making the Griffin campus what it is.

I am proud of all the nominees and honorees this year and can say without hesitation that we have many more across campus who we also consider employees of the year,” said Lew Hunnicutt, assistant provost and director at UGA-Griffin.

Flint has been a part of the campus’ Facilities Management Division for the past six years. Through his dedication, leadership and exemplary work ethic, he quickly rose through the ranks from custodian to custodian supervisor and now serves as facilities coordinator.

In this role, he oversees the campus custodial staff to ensure the campus is a clean and inviting place to work.

He also maintains an up-to-date inventory of supplies and works with cleaning-supply vendors to evaluate alternative products for efficiency and value while striving to provide the safest, most economical products. He also handles all of the records and maintenance of campus vehicles, is responsible for receiving, sorting and delivering campus mail, and handles surplus property, including collection, sale, recycling, disposal and record keeping.

Peters joined the UGA-Griffin Office of Continuing Education in 2014 as an administrative associate. She handles logistics for continuing education, including scheduling space, managing the activities of the student workers and helping to execute event requests, and she’s entrusted

to make many day-to-day office operation decisions.

She is responsible for registration management for some of the largest events held at UGA-Griffin, including organizing all payments and registration and coordinating volunteers, logistics and event details for hundreds of participants. Last year, these events included the 2018 Turfgrass Research Field Day and Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day, two Dow Chemical Field Days, a two-week international workshop, home-school testing groups, children’s programs and numerous community events.

Ware joined the Statewide Variety Testing Program at UGA-Griffin in April 2007 following a 20-year career at Akins Feed and Seed as a fertilizer plant manager. His knowledge of fertilizers and other agricultural products makes him an invaluable part of the Statewide Variety Testing team.

He is the primary equipment operator for the Griffin team and assists with field work to support variety testing and related research programs, which include layouts, planting, plant and soil sampling, and harvesting operations on campus and at UGA research and education centers across the state. Ware receives, inventories, labels and packages the seeds for each test.

When he is not harvesting a crop, Ware spends his work days monitoring research plots for insects, diseases, bloom dates and bird damage. He also collects data—such as leaf-to-stem ratio—counting yields and measuring the height of plants.

Each of the three winners received a $500 award and a recognition plaque. Other nominees for the award were Susie Autry (Center for Food Safety), Tyler Brannon (department of field research services), Brett Byous (department of entomology) and Donna Kent (plant genetic resources conservation unit). Nominees each received a $100 award.

WEEKLY READER

CAES faculty graduate from leadership program

By Sharon Dowdy sharono@uga.edu

Three University of Georgia professors were among the 79 individuals who completed the 14th class of the LEAD21 leadership-development program.

Scott Jackson, Dean Pringle and Manpreet Singh, all faculty in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, represented UGA in the program, which is designed for land-grant institutions and their strategic partners from across the nation.

Jackson is a professor in the crop and soil sciences department and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. Pringle is a professor in the animal and dairy science department, and Singh is a professor in the poultry science department.

Over the past year, LEAD21 participants met regularly with their peers, both in-person and virtually, to enhance their personal leadership skills. The group graduated after the third in-person session, which focused on organizational leadership through collaboration, communication and leading change.

LEAD21’s purpose is to develop land-grant institution leaders who link research, academics and extension to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current positions or future leadership positions.

The goals of LEAD21 are to enhance the application of skills and knowledge across a set of nine leadership competencies; to develop a network of peer leaders to enhance personal leadership practice, collaboration and diversity of perspective; and to develop and implement an individual’s leadership development process.

UGA manages the program and serves as the host institution for LEAD21.

The 15th LEAD21 class will begin in June and will include UGA representatives Faith Peppers, director of public affairs for CAES; Trish Moore, entomology professor in CAES; and Paula Krimer, an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“We are pleased to welcome the participation of CAES and CVM faculty to LEAD21,” said Joe Broder, CAES associate dean for academic affairs and coordinator of LEAD21 faculty activities at UGA. “We believe that faculty who participate in LEAD21 add value to their professional careers, their colleges and the university.”

For more information about LEAD21, visit www.lead-21.org.

CYBERSIGHTS

ABOUT COLUMNS

Book recounts stories of everyday miracles

Life of Miracles Along the Yangtze and Mississippi

By Wang Ping University of Georgia Press Paperback: $26.95 eBook: $26.95

There are only two ways to live our life, according to Albert Einstein: one is as if nothing is a miracle; the other, as if everything is a miracle. Life of Miracles Along the Yangtze and Mississippi is a book about how the impossible became possible— about things that happened in China and America to the people author Wang Ping grew up with, met and befriended along her journeys.

This is also a story about water, alive with spirits and energy, giving birth to all sentient beings. We are water. The river runs through us. Those who live in harmony with water can ride the current of the universe—the secret of Tao, reaching all the way to the sea of miracles.

A miracle is a state of mind, a way of living: how we face hardship, pain and tragedies, how we transform them into fuels for our journey and transcend them into joy and hope. This is a book about how ordinary people perform miracles every day; how people are touched, touching, all the time, across oceans and continents, across time and space, through their stories.

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 Communications Coordinator Krista Richmond

Use SendFiles to share documents, files

eits.uga.edu/access_and_security/infosec/tools/sendfiles/ SendFiles is an encrypted file service that allows the secure sharing of sensitive documents and large files online.

Files up to 2GB in size can be transferred using SendFiles, and the service offers more than one solution for sending and receiving files.

Anyone with a UGA MyID

can use SendFiles. Users will need ArchPass, UGA’s two-step login solution, powered by Duo, to complete the login process.

Visit the EITS SendFiles wiki page at https://bit.ly/2odjB2g or contact the EITS Help Desk (helpdesk@uga.edu) for more information on using SendFiles.

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 22, 2019 columns.uga.edu RELAY

PROFESSOR

from page 1

who were unable to make it.

“It is meaningful for me as a caregiver to be next to my mom during the caregiver lap and know she is still here because of what we are doing,” said Sarah.

Activities ramped up as the sun set, and attendees enjoyed in a variety of games and performances, including the Guide Dog Fashion Show.

“To see a generation of young adults who care about people who have cancer like I do brings me so much hope. One of them might become a doctor, social worker or teacher who supports cancer patients and their families,” said Jill.

When it got dark, participants did the Twelve Months of Remembrance for the Luminaria Ceremony, explained Sarah.

“Twelve people spoke about their parents or siblings that they have lost to cancer and shared what they miss from each month,” she said.

Students’ contributions directly fund life-saving research happening at labs within walking distance right here on campus, Sarah said.

“One out of every four research proposals gets funded, which means three opportunities are being thrown away because there is not enough money to fund them,” Jill said.

Jill explained how the type of cancer she has is not known or understood by the medical field yet. She said she is the remaining

LEARNING

participant in a clinical trial.

“Research dollars are going to accomplish hope by finding cures,” she said. “We are going to get to that place with cancer, and we have to keep going. Somebody else Relayed to make the current treatments happen. Every dollar actively fights cancer.”

“We accomplished the mission we set this year of being a voice on campus advocating for cancer awareness and forming a strong community,” said Sarah.

Throughout the year, Relay hosted largescale fundraising events, such as Nightmare on Clayton Street, Greek Week, a 5K race and their inaugural Swing Fore a Cure golf tournament.

“To say this year has been the most exciting, easy and creative year for our organization would be an understatement,” said Sarah. “Even though it was the first year for our golf tournament, it came together like a breeze.”

During school, UGA Relay members act as a family by supporting each other in their individual fights against cancer.

“When I was driving my mom to treatment frequently during the school year, one of our members meal prepped for me,” said Sarah. “We are personal, we are family, and we care about every single person’s fight against cancer.”

Donate to UGA Relay for Life at https://bit.ly/2GiUiWu.

from page 1

(SAGE) software provides easier access to resources for advisors, and the web-based DegreeWorks tool allows students and advisors to monitor degree requirements and course credits.

“Our ultimate goal is for students to graduate in a timely manner while fitting in their goals and interests across our more than 300 majors, minors and certificates,” said Rahul Shrivastav, vice president for instruction. “A positive advising experience can focus on these opportunities and help students achieve the track they want.”

Experiential learning for all

Experience-based learning opportunities also have been emphasized. Because successful leaders require innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, UGA now ensures that every student is able to participate in learning outside of the classroom through its experiential learning requirement.

To increase experiential opportunities, faculty committees developed rubrics for their own departments, implementing experiential aspects across campus with investments in technology and databases to track best practices. Since the summer of 2016, more than 42,000 students have completed study abroad, research, service, leadership and internship programs, supported by a total of $571,500 in scholarships. The overall experiential learning initiative continues to evolve and improve as UGA officials evaluate the options every six months, looking for new ways to build partnerships both on and off campus to provide real-world experience

for students.

“Our student quality is ever-increasing, and instead of focusing on graduation rates, we wanted to provide enriching experiences that would help students to start higher on the career ladder, move up sooner and take on leadership roles in whatever area they wanted to pursue,” said William Vencill, associate vice president for instruction.

Growth in academic support

Inside and outside of the classroom, new academic support initiatives, such as scholarships and peer coaching, have sought to close equity gaps created by socioeconomic status, ethnicity and first-generation college student status. The Georgia Commitment, ALL Georgia and McNair TRIO scholarships offer students the opportunity to participate in otherwise inaccessible academic programs.

In addition, faculty and staff alike have focused on the overall undergraduate experience and the importance of auxiliary services that enrich learning. Classrooms have been updated, professors are attending new training, and conversations are focused on what the university should do in the next five years to boost student experiences with extracurricular activities, housing, dining, transportation, recreation, health care and mental health services.

“Learning doesn’t happen in the classroom alone,” Vencill added. “We’re committed to the overall experience of making this a cohesive place for student learning.”

Bulletin Board Teaching Academy Fellows

UGA’s Teaching Academy Fellows Program is accepting nominations for the 2019-2020 program year.

This program provides personal and group mentoring to early career faculty members in the area of teaching and other early career issues.

This includes, but is not restricted to, the areas of pedagogical techniques, classroom management and student engagement at a Research I university.

Full-time faculty members of all career tracks who are in their first, second or

third year at UGA (started teaching at UGA in fall 2017 or later) and have responsibility for teaching UGA courses for undergraduates, graduate students or professional students are eligible.

Nominations may made by deans, directors or department heads. The deadline for nominations is May 31.

Nomination materials may be found at teachingacademy.uga.edu.

Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.

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signatures in extreme conditions by visiting the deepest parts of the ocean in manned submersible and remotely operated vehicles.

With 160 peer-reviewed publications and 14 book chapters, Joye’s research has been cited more than 10,000 times, placing her among the top researchers in her field, and she has been awarded nearly 40 public and private research grants since 1997. Her current grants include funding from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

“Joye is a force of nature, driven by insatiable curiosity and apparently endless energy.

She holds herself, her students and colleagues to the highest standards of thoroughness, rigor and integrity. As a person, a professor and a scientist, she is a powerful role model for both men and women,” Bess Ward, William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University, wrote in a nomination letter. “She is a truly distinguished member of the faculty of the University of Georgia.”

After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion created the largest marine oil spill in history, Joye spearheaded the formation of a team of multidisciplinary researchers from across the nation to determine the environmental impacts of the hydrocarbon inputs on the Gulf of Mexico’s biome. The Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) consortium, which brings together researchers from 16 institutions across the United States, continues its work today and has resulted thus far in 34 seagoing expeditions and more than 110 publications and 300 presentations.

“Joye directs not only her own top-flight research program in marine sciences at UGA, but also a top-flight consortium …

ECOGIG is truly transforming the way we

EARLY

think about the Gulf and its relationship to the myriad of hydrocarbon springs on its seafloor,” Jeffrey Chanton, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Research Professor and John Widmer Winchester Professor of Oceanography at Florida State University, wrote in his nomination letter. “In addition to her impressive scientific contributions, she has made heroic efforts to communicate science to the general public while mentoring the next generation of scientists.”

In addition to thousands of interviews with major media outlets, Joye has engaged in various projects with artists to translate science to the public, including a current partnership with painter Rebecca Rutstein that was featured at a recent Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities conference at UGA. Joye recently collaborated with artist Jim Toomey of the popular “Sherman’s Lagoon” comic strip to create an award-winning short film series entitled The Adventures of Zack and Molly, which highlights the importance of healthy oceans.

Joye is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union and the American Academy of Microbiology and a Sustaining Fellow of the Association for Sciences for Limnology and Oceanography.

She has testified before Congress numerous times on the impact of the oil spill and is a recipient of a Distinguished Service Award for Education and Outreach from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service.

The Regents’ Professorship includes a $10,000 salary increase and is granted for an initial period of three years, which may be renewed. No more than one Regents’ Professorship is given in any year at UGA. For more information about the Regents’ Professorship, see http://provost.uga.edu/ resources/professorships/regents-professorships.

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her long career as an outstanding teacher, and this will enable future generations of students to continue her life’s work.”

A native of Atlanta, Early came to UGA in the summer of 1961. Earlier that year, Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes became the first African American students to enroll at UGA. Early had started postgraduate work at the University of Michigan when she transferred to UGA to complete her studies. She became the first African American to earn a degree from the University of Georgia when she graduated on Aug. 16, 1962, with a master’s degree in music education. She returned in 1964 to continue her education, earning a Specialist in Education degree in 1967.

Early, who was class valedictorian at Henry McNeal Turner High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Clark Atlanta University in 1957, became a music teacher in the Atlanta Public

Schools and was eventually promoted to music director of the entire school system.

She worked with teachers in the system’s 100-plus schools and was in charge of the music curriculum, budget, textbooks and more.

Early retired in 1994 after working for 37 years in public schools. She later taught at Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University as head of the music department.

The president led the dedication of her portrait in the university’s Administration Building in the fall, and in January 2018, she was named the recipient of one of UGA’s highest honors, the President’s Medal. She was presented with an honorary doctorate from UGA in 2013, and a documentary, Mary Frances Early: The Quiet Trailblazer, is dedicated to her life. Her life and accomplishments were featured in a Georgia Groundbreakers profile.

FELLOWSHIP

from page 1 amazing.”

The Guggenheim Fellowship program, established in 1925 by U.S. Sen. Simon Guggenheim and his wife Olga in honor of their late son John, bestows funds on scholars, scientists and artists to devote time to a creative or scholarly project. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or creative work. This year, a total of 168 scholars, artists and writers were chosen from among nearly 3,000 applications.

Nelson said the fellowship will allow him to complete work on a manuscript for a book that ties the food revolution in eastern Europe in the 1860s to the American Civil War. Nelson plans to delve deeper into the shift in society from humans working for most of each day to secure their food to having the ability to purchase food at grocery stores, which he relates back to a financial crisis in Europe and North America in 1873.

“I want to get at what caused the Panic of 1873 and its ramifications, all the way up to the Russian Revolution,” he said. “I believe this is a major turning point in history, and I look forward to publishing my findings.”

Nelson has received several honors over the course of his career. His 2007 book about the life and death of John Henry, Steel Drivin’ Man, inspired others to retell the story of the person behind the folk story in a play and a musical. It also won four national awards, including the National Award for Arts Writing and the Merle Curti Prize for best book in U.S. history. Ain’t Nothing But a Man, a young adult book he co-authored to describe how historians conduct research, won the Aesop Prize and the Jane Addams Prize from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Nelson is a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, and he has served as a visiting scholar in France and the Netherlands.

“The Guggenheim Fellowship is one of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors, and I am delighted that one of our faculty members is a 2019 recipient,” said Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Libby V. Morris. “Outstanding faculty members like Dr. Nelson are the reason that the University of Georgia is one of America’s leading public universities.”