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Inaugural Chamber Music Athens festival features variety of performances Vol. 46, No. 34
April 29, 2019
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UGA GUIDE
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Consortium studying human trafficking receives $4M award
By Laurie Anderson laurie @uga.edu
Photo illustration by Jackie Baxter Roberts
The plant varieties created by Glenn Burton have become internationally known for helping to feed the world.
Power of plants
Agricultural scientist was leader of ‘Green Revolution’ By James Hataway jhataway@uga.edu
This story is part of a series, called Georgia Groundbreakers, that celebrates innovative and visionary faculty, students, alumni and leaders throughout the history of the University of Georgia—and their profound, enduring impact on our state, our nation and the world. You may never have heard the name Glenn Burton before, but you’ve almost certainly seen his handiwork. In a career spanning more than six decades, most of which was spent as a professor at the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus, Burton established himself as one of the world’s most prolific agricultural scientists, and you don’t have to search long to find one of his creations.
From championship golf courses and international venues like the Olympics and the World Cup to the turf that adorns the playing surface in the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, Burton created new grass varieties that have become the international standard for excellence in the sporting world. But the scientific genius that allowed Burton to create lush green fairways on golf courses and turf capable of withstanding punishment on the gridiron also enabled him to develop new crop varieties that fed millions of hungry people during a time when the world was struggling to produce enough food for a rapidly growing population. He saved countless lives during the “Green Revolution” of the 1960s, and Burton’s many
contributions continue to inspire scientists working to create a more dependable food supply today. “Helping feed the hungry of the world is my greatest accomplishment,” Burton is quoted as saying. “It was important to me because I saw those hungry people, and I was able to help them.” In 1983, Burton was awarded a National Medal of Science by President Ronald Reagan “for outstanding contributions to the biological sciences that have helped to feed the hungry, protect and beautify the environment and provide recreation for millions.”
Feeding the hungry
Burton’s story began, appropriately enough, on his family’s farm in Clatonia, Nebraska. He was born Glenn Willard Burton See GREEN on page 8
GRADY COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION
The University of Georgia Research Foundation received a $4 million award from the U.S. Department of State to reduce the prevalence of human trafficking in targeted communities of West Africa. Researchers at UGA formed an international consortium, the Africa Programming and Research Initiative to End Slavery (APRIES), which will be responsible for the implementation of the award. The project is overseen by the State Department’s Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons
and is part of its Program to End Modern Slavery. Human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, is a persistent, worldwide problem hampered by lack of data for intervention efforts. Over the next five years, APRIES will collect data on the prevalence of human trafficking in parts of Sierra Leone and Guinea. The baseline research will support programs that seek to achieve a measurable reduction of modern slavery. If successful, the program’s methodology could serve as a model for similar efforts elsewhere. “There has never been a
See TRAFFICKING on page 8
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Horticulturist James Affolter named first Beuchat Professor By Sharon Dowdy sharono@uga.edu
UGA horticulturist James Affolter has been named to the newly endowed Larry R. Beuchat Professorship for Annual and Perennial Ornamental Plant Research. The professorship in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was created through a generous gift from Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Larry Beuchat. The research-focused position will be located in the horticulture department and housed at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a public service and outreach unit. The goal of the position is to promote ornamental plant research and the partnership between the horticulture department and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a 313-acre “living laboratory.”
Some of UGA’s top revenuegenerating new plant varieties, including more than 20 commercial and home garden blueberries and half of the hydrangeas grown in the U.S., are the result of research from UGA’s horticulture department. “I wanted James Affolter to express my gratitude to the university for having been afforded the opportunity to be a faculty member and contribute to the advancement of food and agricultural sciences,” said Beuchat, who joined the food science and technology department on the Griffin campus in 1972. He has See BEUCHAT on page 8
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Peabody 30 winners for 2018 programs announced Grant program to save students By Margaret Blanchard A24 and MVMT; The Americans, PBS NewsHour (PBS); and mblanch@uga.edu Fox 21 Television Studios and “$2 Tests: Bad Arrests,” WAGA- $770K per year in textbook costs FX Productions; The End of the TV FOX 5 Atlanta (WAGA-TV). The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors has announced its annual Peabody 30 for programs released in 2018. • The children’s and youth programming winner is “Steven Universe,” Cartoon Network Studios. • Entertainment winners are Barry, HBO Entertainment in association with Alec Berg and Hanarply; Hannah Gadsby: Nanette, Netflix; Killing Eve, produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd. for BBC America; Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, Netflix; Pose, Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions; Random Acts of Flyness, HBO Entertainment in association with
F***ing World, Clerkenwell Films/ Dominic Buchanan Productions for Channel 4 Television and Netflix; and The Good Place, Universal Television, Fremulon and 3 Arts Entertainment. • News programming winners are “Anatomy of a Killing,” BBC Africa Eye (BBC); “Back of the Class,” KING Television (NBC affiliate/KING); “Cambridge Analytica,” ITN for Channel 4 News (Channel 4 News); “Separated: Children at the Border,” FRONTLINE (PBS); “Spartan Silence: Crisis at Michigan State,” E:60, OTL, ESPNW, Sportscenter (ESPN); “The Plastic Problem,”
• Radio/podcasts programming winners are “Believed,” Michigan Radio (NPR); “Buried Truths,” WABE (WABE); “Caliphate,” The New York Times (The New York Times); “Kept Out,” Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, PRX, PBS NewsHour and the Associated Press (public radio stations nationwide); and “Monumental Lies,” Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX and Type Investigations (public radio stations nationwide). • Documentary winners are A Dangerous Son HBO Documentary Films and Moxie Firecracker See PEABODY on page 8
By Sam Fahmy
sfahmy@uga.edu
The University of Georgia has become a national leader in the use of free online textbooks, and a new grant program funded by the Provost’s Office will help save students even more money while improving the quality of their learning experience. This semester, 14 faculty members in 10 academic units received funding through the Affordable Course Materials Grant program to transition from costly textbooks to open educational resources. The $50,000 that was
distributed through the program is expected to save 7,400 students a total of $770,000 in textbook costs each year. “The enthusiasm with which faculty have embraced open educational resources underscores their outstanding commitment to our students,” said Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Libby V. Morris. “Free and low-cost course materials play an important role in helping make a University of Georgia education more affordable while also improving student success metrics such as retention and completion rates.”
See TEXTBOOK on page 7
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COMMIT TO GEORGIA CAMPAIGN
COLLEGE OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Roberts pledges $100K to university By Clarke Schwabe ccschwabe@uga.edu
Cal Powell
Renovations to the Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center will enhance students’ experiential learning opportunities.
Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center dedicated By Cal Powell
jcpowell@uga.edu
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences celebrated the growth of its financial planning program April 11 at a dedication ceremony for the Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center. On behalf of independent investment advisors, Schwab Advisor Services partnered with Charles Schwab Foundation to provide funding toward a major renovation project within one of the college’s oldest buildings that will enhance students’ experiential learning opportunities. Three independent advisory firms in Atlanta— SignatureFD, TrueWealth Management and Homrich Berg Wealth Management—contributed a total of $100,000 to the project. Combined with support from the University of Georgia, the college and additional private funds, the renovation represents an investment of nearly $1 million and dramatically expands the space available for a program that is steadily growing in enrollment. “We have prospered in a short period of time because of the amazing people we have to work with, especially the students,” faculty member Lance Palmer said. “We are so grateful for the support of Schwab and our partner firms that has allowed us to transform this historic building into a cutting-edge financial planning communication training facility.” The renovated space now includes three client interview rooms, a state-of-the-art observation lab for students to conduct and record financial planning and tax filing sessions as well as additional office space for graduate students and faculty. The three-story house on South Campus was constructed in 1939 and originally served as a residence for students in the college’s home management course and then office space for faculty and graduate students. The college’s financial planning program was first registered with the CFP® Board in 2001 and started with just seven students. There are now more than 200 undergraduates and approximately 80 graduate students in the program. The program is fully accredited by the CFP® Board and has been ranked as one of the top 10 programs in the country by Financial Planning Magazine. “I could not be prouder of our faculty,” FACS Dean Linda Kirk Fox said. “They have remained steadfast in their commitment to creating a better world through financial literacy, service to community and sending out highly-skilled professionals for a growing industry. This collaboration with Schwab and our partner firms only strengthens that commitment.”
Award-winning correspondent and University of Georgia alumna Deborah Roberts has committed $100,000, matched by the UGA Foundation, to establish a need-based scholarship through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program. “We are thrilled that such a distinguished alumna has committed to supporting need-based aid at UGA,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Her generosity is an example of the tremendous alumni support that continues to move our university into the future. Deborah’s gift will open the door to higher education for students today, tomorrow and in perpetuity.” Roberts has risen through the ranks of television news, received numerous awards and been a regular reporter and contributor for programs such as Dateline NBC, 20/20, Nightline and Good Morning America to name a few. “I feel honored, privileged and, indeed, blessed to be able to offer a student who’s dreaming of success the opportunity to make those dreams come true,” said Roberts. “Growing up in small-town Georgia, I know the value of education and embrace this opportunity to change lives and futures.” Roberts’ scholarship will provide aid to graduates of Perry High School,
ABC/Heidi Gutman
Deborah Roberts
which she attended, as well as other high schools in middle Georgia. Through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, the UGA Foundation matches—dollar for dollar—any gift in the amount of $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 to establish an endowed, need-based scholarship for undergraduate students. The scholarship is awarded within a year of the donor making their gift, and from that point forward, the endowment grows—increasing the size of the scholarship award over time and helping student after student earn
a UGA degree. Since the matching program’s creation in 2017, more than $54 million has been dedicated to new need-based scholarships, with more than 265 donors giving to the program. Scholarship recipients also benefit from academic support in the form of tutoring, workshops, academic coaching and more. Born in Perry, Georgia, Roberts began her post-UGA career at WTVMTV in Columbus, Georgia, and her connection to the university has remained through her many positions since then. In 1993, she received the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award, presented annually to highachieving young alumni. In 2006, Roberts delivered UGA’s Holmes-Hunter Lecture, and in 2016 she presented an Alumni Seminar. Earlier this year, she participated in a panel discussion titled “Grady Greats: A Conversation on the Enduring Values and Power of Journalism.” She will deliver UGA’s spring undergraduate Commencement address on May 10. As a major component of the Commit to Georgia Campaign’s effort to remove barriers for students, the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program has been a critical element of UGA’s fundraising success over the past two years. To find out how you can contribute, visit give.uga.edu/georgia-commitment.
DIVSION OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS
More than 900 students take part in university’s eighth annual Thank a Donor Day
In A Flash Photography
Students from across campus showed their appreciation for UGA donors at the eighth annual Thank a Donor Day on April 11. This campus-wide tradition celebrates donor support and reminds students that their experience at UGA would not be the same without it. More than 900 students expressed their gratitude through signing the community thank-you card, writing a note and decorating posters. These activities allow students to practice an attitude of gratitude and reflect upon the unique ways that donors make a difference in their lives. “We gain so much from Thank a Donor Day,” said Tony Stringer, senior director of donor relations and stewardship. “Not only is this stewardship used throughout the year in our office, but the schools and colleges also have really taken it to the next level. They participate in contests and create meaningful messages specific to their donors.” After eight years, students look forward to this celebration. “All of our colleges, campus facilities, certificates and student programs are what they are because of the university’s generous donors,” said student Maggie Cavalenes. “Thank a Donor Day is a celebration of those donors, while being important for educating students about the impact of philanthropy at UGA.”
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ARCHITECTS
UGA building renovations win awards from Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Three University of Georgia building renovation projects have received statewide awards from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The Agricultural Research Building and H.H. Tift Building at the UGA Tifton campus received an Excellence in Rehabilitation award, and the Russell Hall renovation received an award for Excellence in Sustainable Preservation. “Each of these projects was a team effort, and they reflect our shared commitment of preserving our heritage through state stewardship of our cultural resources while
incorporating modern features and systems that support the university’s mission,” said University Architect Gwynne Darden. University Housing’s Russell Hall, which is the residence to about a thousand students, went through a 15-month renovation and reopened in August 2018. The updated student rooms include individual modernized climate control and flexible room furnishings, and there is increased bathroom privacy and lounge spaces to encourage group interaction. At more than 230,000 square feet, Russell Hall is the largest
comprehensive historic building renovation at the University of Georgia and serves as a model of sustainable historic preservation.All of the worn building systems were replaced with modern efficient ones, new high-performance windows were installed, the roof was replaced, and various exterior repairs were performed, including reworking brick sills and lintels. The Agricultural Research Building, which was rededicated in April 2018, is an 81-year-old building that was the second structure built on the UGA Tifton campus. Renovations to the building
included the addition of highefficiency LED lighting, extensive fiber-optic cable and wireless internet capabilities. The building retains many of its original features, including restored steel windows. Renovations to the 12,000-square-foot structure, which was built in 1938, were made possible by $5 million in state support. The building houses the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences department of animal and dairy science and department of entomology. Included as part of the same
award is the H.H. Tift Building, which was rededicated in September 2016 after its renovation. The Tift Building, which was built in 1922 and was the UGA Tifton campus’s first structure, was funded by $5 million in state support. The facility houses the department of agricultural and applied economics as well as administrative offices, including the assistant dean’s office. The renovated building also contains modern classroom space to provide faculty and students with the latest in learning technology. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1973.
OUTREACH NEWS
columns.uga.edu April 29, 2019
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Digest University Housing hopes to break records with year-end recycling event
Shannah Montgomery
The Youth Leadership in Action program has helped Walton County High School’s graduation rate increase to 86.2%.
Learning to lead
UGA partnership with Georgia high schools helps students succeed with leadership development By Charlie Bauder
charlie.bauder@fanning.uga.edu
A Walton County high school is seeing increased student involvement and higher graduation rates since adopting a University of Georgia youth leadership program into its curriculum. Walnut Grove High School in Loganville in 2015 implemented the Youth Leadership in Action program, designed by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at UGA, a public service and outreach unit. So far, 300 students have completed the curriculum, and many have gone on to serve on committees and boards that make decisions for the school. Since the leadership curriculum was adopted by the school, graduation rates have risen from 78.3% (2013-14) to 86.2% (2016-17), which is well above the state average of 81.6%. “The program empowers students to facilitate their own goals and develops them as leaders among their classmates,” said Walnut Grove High School Principal Sean Callahan. “We have seen school climate improve, students stay in school, become more involved and
take ownership of their school, which all lead to achievement.” Callahan said that when he became principal in 2014, he “saw that students didn’t feel as if they had a voice in their school.” At that time, Chambers of Commerce throughout the state, including in Walton County, utilized the Youth Leadership in Action curriculum, created by the Fanning Institute, targeting high school age youth. The Walton County program serves students throughout the county, which meant only a “handful” of Walnut Grove High School students could participate at a time, Callahan said. “I wanted to create something that would impact a larger group of students at the school,” he said. In 2015-16, 64 teacher-nominated students made up the first Student Steering Committee, receiving leadership training and working with the school administration to develop ideas for school improvement. This year, the Student Steering Committee is working on two projects: creating a team that will compete with other schools in eSports—an online
competition that encourages teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and leadership—and developing a school mascot to attend Warriors’ sporting events. The success of the initial Student Steering Committee and the students’ desire to continue serving led the school to adopt a second leadership opportunity—a Student Steering Board. Composed of students that have served on the steering committee, the board works with the school to implement the committee’s ideas and receives additional leadership training to help them further develop in areas like project planning, goal setting and communication. The program at Walnut Grove is a model for other schools and communities, said Matt Bishop, director of the Fanning Institute. So far, 17 schools in Georgia have incorporated the Youth Leadership in Action curriculum into their instructional time. “This shows how we can partner with schools to embed leadership development into the classroom and develop young people who lead in their schools and their communities,” Bishop said.
SCHOOL OF LAW
Lecturer discusses U.S. Supreme Court decisions By Leigh Beeson lbeeson@uga.edu
In his research, David Strauss ponders a seemingly simple question: Are Supreme Court decisions the law of the land? At first glance, the answer seems obvious. Of course, the Supreme Court is the final verdict on legal questions. Why even ask? But then one might remember the U.S. Constitution actually is the legal framework of the country.The Supreme Court’s job is to make sure that law is properly adhered to. Or is it a combination of both? Everyone knows the Constitution is what the Supreme Court says it is. The question, Strauss argues, is much more complex than it appears. A legal scholar and current Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School, Strauss has argued 19 cases before the Supreme Court. He believes the questions above are framed incorrectly, focusing on what
a given law is supposed to mean rather than what that law requires citizens and elected officials alike to do. The waters become muddied, though, when executives, like the president, disagree with the Supreme Court’s rulings. One such example was President Abraham Lincoln’s response to Dred Scott v. Sandford, which held that African Americans were not citizens and therefore did not have the same rights as citizens. In defiance of that finding, Lincoln allowed the State Department to issue passports to black Americans. As passports were only given to citizens, the loophole gave the former slaves a claim to citizenship. Lincoln acted in good faith, as Strauss would describe it. But other presidents have overstepped the constraints of their office to push political agendas, such as Andrew Jackson’s actions after the Supreme Court found Georgia to be violating a treaty that guaranteed Cherokee Indians land when the state tried to seize the land
after finding gold there. Jackson used military force to evict the Cherokees from their lawfully guaranteed land. Such executive overreach is concerning and not limited to past administrations. “I think that’s a real risk,” Strauss said. “I’m not sure elevating judicial supremacy is the answer to that.” Recent administrations, however, have mostly abided by Supreme Court decisions. As justices have begun retiring, sitting presidents started stacking the courts with judges the presidents found sympathetic to their own political stances, something that allows that political party to continue to exert influence over U.S. policy even after the president in question has finished his term. Strauss believes this will eventually lead to more confrontations between legislators and the Supreme Court. Strauss presented the 117th John A. Sibley Lecture on April 12 as part of the 2018-2019 Signature Lecture series.
The University of Georgia aims to break a record with this year’s Dawgs Ditch the Dumpster and Donate by diverting more than 60,000 pounds of material from local landfills during campus move-out. Led by University Housing in partnership with six local nonprofit organizations, the event will be held May 3-11 for housing residents to recycle unwanted clothing, books and other household items instead of throwing them away. Many donations go to housing’s main partners, Goodwill of North Georgia, which provides funds for job training services, and America’s Thrift, which supports Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The list of other organizations that benefit from Dawgs Ditch grows each year. Organizations that will benefit in 2019 include Project Safe, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Bulldog Basics (provides personal hygiene products for students in need), the UGA student food pantry and Free IT Athens.
Georgia Children’s Book Awards names 2019 winners at conference
Readers of all ages can find reassurance and belonging from the winners of the 2019 Georgia Children’s Book Awards, which were named March 29 as part of the College of Education’s Conference on Children’s Literature. Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima is the top picturebook for 2019 while A Dog Like Daisy by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb is the winning book for older readers. The annual awards are the result of thousands of votes cast by children from across Georgia and are sponsored by the education college’s language and literacy education department. Winning picturebooks are selected by children in kindergarten through grade four, while the winning books are selected by children in grades four through eight. Voting takes place in school media centers and libraries across the state. Every year, teachers, school library media specialists, public librarians, parents and UGA faculty members cull lists of books for each award category to 20 nominees and then work with partners across the state to allow children to vote for their favorites. This year more than 28,000 votes were cast across both categories.
Student-athlete Olivia Carter named SEC Freshman Swimmer of Year
Georgia swimmer Olivia Carter has been chosen as the 2019 Southeastern Conference Freshman Swimmer of the Year, according to an announcement by the league office. Carter, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, had an impressive inaugural season as a lady Bulldog. At the SEC championships, she captured the 200 butterfly title and finished sixth in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 200 individual medley, while helping four relays finish in the top nine. During the NCAA championships, Carter earned All-America designations in the 100 and 200 butterfly and on the 200 and 800 freestyle relays. Carter is the 10th SEC Freshman of the Year in Georgia history. She was joined by eight of her teammates earning All-SEC recognitions. Camden Murphy and Courtney Harnish joined Carter on the AllSEC First Team. Murphy won the 200 butterfly at the SECs, while Harnish took the 500 freestyle title. Javier Acevedo, James Guest, Veronica Burchill, Sofia Carnevale and Dakota Luther picked up Second-Team designations. Andrew Abruzzo, Carter and Luther were named to the SEC’s AllFreshman Team.
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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
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. Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates. Through May 19. Georgia Museum of Art and Deupree Building. 706-542-4662. gmoa@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. Storytelling in Renaissance Maiolica. Through Jan. 5. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@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 “The World on Stage: Representing Brazil and Africa in Early Modern Portuguese Festivals,” Lisa Voigt,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.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30 CLASSES END For spring semester.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 READING DAY For spring semester. FACULTY TEACHING CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON 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. TOUR AT TWO Tour of highlights from the permanent collection led by docents. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. HONOR CORD RECEPTION UGA President Jere W. Morehead will present honor cords to graduating student veterans, and scholarship recipients will be recognized. A reception will follow. Sponsored by the Student Veterans Resource Center, Office of the Dean of Students. 2:30 p.m. Grand Hall, Tate Student Center. 706-542-7872. CLASS De-stress during finals with free yoga and meditation sessions. Yoga and meditation focuses on a calming, quite atmosphere to center the body and mind. Emphasis will be placed on lengthened meditation time to improve serenity and focus as well as comfortably lengthening the muscles. 5:30 p.m. Pavilion, Lake Herrick. 706-542-8023. lisawilliamson@uga.edu.
THURSDAY, MAY 2 FINAL EXAMS Through May 8. For spring semester.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The Odum School will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development Graduate Program with a plaque installed to honor CESD founders Ron Carroll and Carol Hoffman. Placement of bee-pollinated native plants around the plaque will be followed by an informal reception. In the event of rain, the reception will be held in the atrium. 4:30 p.m. Courtyard, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu. Jupiter String Quartet is one of the featured performers in the Chamber Music Athens festival.
Inaugural Chamber Music Athens festival to be held May 12-21 By Camille Hayes ceh822@uga.edu
The Hugh Hodgson School of Music presents the inaugural Chamber Music Athens, a festival with a national scope that will bring together internationally-acclaimed guest artists, UGA faculty and students May 12-21 for 10 days of chamber music festivities and performances. Audiences can enjoy concerts in the Performing Arts Center as well as venues on and off the UGA campus, such as the Georgia Museum of Art, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the SeneyStovall Chapel, the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and Athens Institute for Contemporary Art. Community members also are invited behind the scenes to enjoy open rehearsals, masterclasses and panel discussions with guest artists and UGA faculty. “Our festival puts the special art of chamber music front and center and brings world-class artists in even closer contact with HHSOM faculty and students, who will collaborate in performances and coaching, as well as the Athens community with performances in multiple beautiful venues around town,” said Liza Stepanova, assistant professor of piano at UGA. “Chamber music is all about sharing, conversation and collaboration, and this is the spirit of our festival.” Guest artists include the award-winning Jupiter String Quartet, pianist Peter Frankl, violinist Soovin Kim and soprano Sarah Shafer. In collaboration with the UGA Performing Arts Center, a recital by the New York Philharmonic String Quartet also will be part of the festival. In addition to Stepanova, participating UGA faculty include Michael Heald, violin; Maggie Snyder, viola; David Starkweather, cello; D. Ray McClellan, clarinet; Jean Martin-Williams, horn; and pianists David Fung and Martha Thomas. Mark Cedel will be conducting, and Mark Mobley will be narrating. For more information about individual performances, visit www.chambermusicathens.org.
FILM SCREENING Part of the “Love and Shakespeare” film series. Shakespeare’s famous play is updated to the hip, modern suburb of Verona, California, in Romeo + Juliet, still retaining its original dialogue. Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonard DiCaprio and Claire Danes. 1996, PG-13, 120 min. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
FRIDAY, MAY 3 ELC DROP IN During eLC Drop Ins, eLC consultants will be available to assist as participants work on courses independently. There is no formal instruction in this session, but assistance is available with eLC tasks such as setting up a gradebook, customizing a homepage, adding and managing course content and creating assignments and assessments. Registration is not required but is helpful. 9 a.m. Also May 7 at noon and May 9 at 10 a.m. 372 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-2160. alampp@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Ole Miss. First 500 fans receive an Alisa Goler bobblehead. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium. BASEBALL vs Florida. $5-$8. 7 p.m. Foley Field.
SATURDAY, MAY 4 MILES FOR MOMS 5K The East Georgia Cancer Coalition is hosting the Miles for Moms 5K, an event benefiting mothers who are currently battling or have conquered cancer. $20. 8 a.m. Milledge Avenue Baptist Church. 478-747-2309. melanie.durden25@uga.edu.
Candlelight memorial service to be held May 1 By Don Reagin
dreagin@uga.edu
Twenty-four University of Georgia students, faculty and staff members who died since last April will be honored at the university’s annual candlelight memorial service on May 1 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the Chapel. UGA President Jere Morehead will lead the service, called “Georgia Remembers...a Candlelight Memorial.” Names of each of the 14 students and 10 faculty and staff members will be read aloud, followed by a toll of the Chapel bell and the lighting of a candle. Names will be read by Scott Pegan, past chair of the executive committee of University Council; Marie Mize, president of the Staff Council; and Rachel Byers, president of the Student Government Association. Members of the university’s Arch Society will light candles as each name is read aloud. Diane Bales, campus minister of Disciples on Campus, will deliver an opening prayer, and Ammishaddai Grand-Jean, a student leader involved in campus ministry, will deliver a closing prayer. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the flames from the Arch Society members’ candles will be passed to attendees so they can light their own candles of remembrance. The Southern Wind Quintet from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music will provide music, and the university’s Army ROTC will ring the bell. Students whose names will be read, along with their hometowns and the areas of study they were pursuing, are: • Rowson Alvin Ahmed, a fourth-year doctoral student from Loganville studying pharmacy; • Stacey Carol Bowden, a fourth-year student from Bishop majoring in psychology; • Parker Edward Brasfield, a second-year student from
Marietta studying management; • Stefanie Smith Fasselin, a graduate student from Peachtree City studying business administration; • Cameron Richards Fearon, a second-year student from Atlanta majoring in real estate; • Bilal Abdu Ibrahim, a graduate student from Athens studying philosophy; • Amy Katherine Lee, a fourth-year student from Dacula majoring in special education; • Kayon Joy Lindsey-Scott, a doctoral student from Grayson majoring in educational administration and policy; • David Michael Miklesh, a doctoral student from Athens studying marine sciences; • Stephen MacGregor Norris, a fourth-year student from Cumming majoring in accounting; • Jonathan Velazquez Samraj, a third-year student from Columbus studying biology, biochemistry and molecular biology; • Karl Vincent Sperry, a fourth-year student from Warner Robins majoring in natural resource management and sustainability; • Natalie Ann Staffieri, a third-year student from Flowery Branch majoring in early childhood education; and • William Aaron Whitaker, a third-year student from Carrollton studying exercise and sport science and intended athletic training. Faculty and staff whose names will be read, along with the positions they held, are: • Lanikki Addison, building services supervisor, Facilities Management Division; • Jeannine Blackmon, veterinary care supervisor, College of Veterinary Medicine; • James Cartey, agricultural specialist, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; • Christy Desmet, professor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences;
Andrew Davis Tucker
This year's candlelight memorial service for those who died in the past year will be held at 7 p.m. May 1.
• Steeve Giguere, professor, College of Veterinary Medicine; • Edwin Lewis Jennings, materials handler II, Dining Services/Central Food Storage; • Charles S. Junior, parts specialist, Transportation and Parking Services; • Charlotte A. McGinn, county extension program assistant, Southeast District–Cooperative Extension; • Geraldine McGuire, facilities manager II, Office of Research; and • Jeffrey R. Wagner, laboratory manager II, Office of Research. The candlelight memorial service is coordinated by the department of Student Care and Outreach within UGA Student Affairs.
SOFTBALL vs. Ole Miss. Senior Day and Star Wars Day. Get autographs after the game. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
SUNDAY, MAY 5 BASEBALL vs. Florida. $5-$8.12:30 p.m. Foley Field. SOFTBALL vs. Ole Miss. Dad & Daughter Day. 1 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
MONDAY, MAY 6 RAMADAN Through May 16. Islamic religious observance. PAWS & RELAX Beat the stress of finals by taking time to play with a pup. Keep an eye on the Libraries social media for more details. 11 a.m.
TUESDAY, MAY 7 SWING NIGHT IN THE GARDEN Learn new dance steps, dance under the palms or watch dancers from seating beside the dance floor. Choose between an East Coast Swing or Lindy Hop lesson from 7-8 p.m., followed by an open dance from 8-10 p.m. No previous dance experience or partner necessary. $6 for general admission or $4 for students. 7 p.m. Visitor Center, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-1244.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 GALLERY TALK Steven Grossvogel, associate professor of Italian, University of Georgia, will give a special gallery talk on the exhibition Life, Love and Marriage Chests in Renaissance Italy. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. GARDENING CLASS SERIES: COMPOSTING This class is a part of Athens-Clarke County Extension’s 2019 Free Monthly Gardening Class Series. It will include an informative presentation on the basic concepts of composting, importance of efficient composting as well as recommended structures and methods. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome. 6 p.m. Athens-Clarke County Library. 706-613-3640.
THURSDAY, MAY 9
BASEBALL vs. Florida. $5-$8. 2 p.m. Foley Field. WUGA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE WUGA’s Artist in Residence series celebrates the work of painter and muralist Jamie Calkin, whose work brightens many parts of Athens. Light hors d’oeuvres will be catered by Marti’s at Midday, and Uncommon Gourmet (a shop on Baxter) will provide drinks. Admission is $15 for Friends of WUGA and $20 for nonmembers. Friends memberships are $30 or more annually. 3 p.m. At the home of the artist. Call 706-542-9842 or bradberry@uga.edu to RSVP. CLASS “Get Golf Ready: How To Avoid a 2nd Chip” 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 5 is $100, and unlimited access to as many sessions as you would like for $150.
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
UGA Golf Course. 706-363-5128. john.crumbley@uga.edu.
FITNESS & WELLNESS FINALS FREE WEEK Through May 8. Join Fitness & Wellness during finals week and attend any Group Fitness class for free. Ramsey Student Center. 706-542-8023. lisawilliamson@uga.edu.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Gardner
columns.uga.edu April 29, 2019
FILM SCREENING Part of the “Love and Shakespeare” film series. Shakespeare in Love tells the tale of a fictional relationship between William Shakespeare and a young woman who poses as a man in order to star in one of the writer’s plays. Suffering from writer’s block, Shakespeare is in need of a new muse. He soon finds inspiration in the form of a beautiful female aristocrat, but her daring determination to act in his play puts their already forbidden relationship on even more dangerous ground. 1998, R, 137 min. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
FRIDAY, MAY 10 GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT 9:30 a.m. Stegeman Coliseum. UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT 7 p.m. Sanford Stadium.
The Steep Canyon Rangers will take the Hodgson Hall stage at 7:30 p.m. on May 3.
Steep Canyon Rangers set May 3 concert By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu
The sounds of bluegrass are coming to the Performing Arts Center when Steep Canyon Rangers take the Hodgson Hall stage May 3 for a 7:30 p.m. show. The Grammy-winning sextet blends a bluegrass aesthetic with elements of pop, country and folk rock to create their unique sound. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Steep Canyon Rangers was formed in 2000. Since that time, they have developed a catalog of original music that links them to the past while also demonstrating their intent to bring string-based music into contemporary relevance.
SATURDAY, MAY 11 CLASS “Insect Pollinators in Our Garden” is designed to allow participants to evaluate plant-insect interactions in gardens and from an ecological perspective. For instance, attendees will be focusing on the importance of maintaining plant and insect pollinator diversity and on the ecological factors that may influence this outcome. Among the factors that will be discussed in this course are the role of disease and pesticides on pollinator’s survival. This course is part of the Plants and Pollinators Specialization. $50. 9 a.m. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden of Georgia. 706-542-6156. cscamero@uga.edu. CLASS “Get Golf Ready: How To Avoid A 3rd Putt” 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 5 is $100, and unlimited access is $150. UGA Golf Course. 706-363-5128. john.crumbley@uga.edu.
SUNDAY, MAY 12 SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT TOUR Tour of highlights from the permanent collection led by docents. 3 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.
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.
The band’s 2013 album, Nobody Knows You, won the Grammy Award for best bluegrass album. In 2017, they released Out in the Open. The band has become well known for collaborating with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin; their 2012 album with Martin, Rare Bird Alert, received a Grammy nomination as best bluegrass album. Tickets for the concert start at $30 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400. A limited number of discounted tickets are available to current UGA students for $10 with a valid UGA ID (limit one ticket per student). Hodgson Hall is located in the UGA Performing Arts Center at 230 River Road in Athens.
MONDAY, MAY 13 GRADES DUE For spring semester. Due by noon.
COMING UP REGISTRATION May 14. Registration for May Session and Extended Summer Session. CLASSES BEGIN May 15. For May Session and Extended Summer Session. DROP/ADD May 15. For May Session and Extended Summer Session undergraduate and graduate level courses. STAFF APPRECIATION DAY May 15. All University of Georgia staff are invited to attend UGA’s fifth annual Staff Appreciation Celebration. 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 to the staff. 10 a.m. Intramural Fields. TOUR AT TWO May 15. Tour of highlights from the permanent collection led by docents. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@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 29, 2019 columns.uga.edu
James Reap, a professor in the College of Environment and Design, has been awarded the Ann Webster Smith Award for extraordinary and sustained achievement in support of conserving the world’s cultural heritage by the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The Ann Webster Smith Award is US/ ICOMOS’ highest honor for service. A network of experts, ICOMOS is a professional association that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the world. ICOMOS promotes the application of theory, methodology and scientific techniques to the conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage. Reap, who directs the Master of Historic Preservation program, is a former member of the board of trustees and a Fellow of US/ICOMOS. Mary Atwater, a professor in the mathematics and science education department in the College of Education, recently received the 2019 Distinguished Contributions to Science Education Through Research Award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. The award recognizes an individual who, through research over an extended period of time, has made outstanding and continuing contributions, provided notable leadership and made a substantial impact in the area of Mary Atwater science education. She received the award March 31 during NARST’s annual international conference in Baltimore. Since joining NARST in the early 1980s, Atwater has made it her mission to help diversify the research organization. An example of this shift toward diversity is the association’s first research interest group, the Continental and Diasporic Africa in Science Education, which provides a space to support researchers inquiring about the science education lives of people of African ancestry. In 2017, Atwater was elected to a second three-year term as chair of CADASE. Tim Brenneman and Bhabesh Dutta, plant pathologists in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, received the Friends of Southern Integrated Pest Management awards at the Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists annual meeting in Savannah on March 13. Brenneman, professor of plant pathology, received the Friends of Southern IPM Lifetime Achievement Award. Dutta, assistant professor and UGA Cooperative Extension vegetable pathologist, was honored with the Friends of Southern IPM Bright Idea Award. Brenneman, a scientist on the Tifton campus, has studied soilborne and seedling diseases and their impact on Georgia’s peanut crop. He has helped develop most of the fungicides used on peanuts as well as innovative application methods, such as night spraying, which help them perform better. Brenneman is also a leading researcher of pecan diseases, including the AU-Pecan Spray Advisory for scab. He also helped develop a new industry for Georgia farmers through his research on native pecan truffles. Along with his collaborators, Dutta, who also is based at UGA-Tifton, developed a risk-assessment model for bacterial leaf spot disease of peppers based on concentrations of macronutrients, micronutrients and micronutrient ratios in soil and plant tissue. The Southern IPM Center has teamed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, land-grant universities and other partners since 2003 to promote and facilitate the development and implementation of IPM in multiple settings across the region. 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.
CAMPUS CLOSEUP
Heather Tally’s love of animals dates back to her childhood, when she participated in a 4-H contest and won a horse.
Dorothy Kozlowski
Assistant pharmacy manager focuses on regulations to keep patients safe By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu
“I’m a medication safety officer.” That’s how Heather Tally sees herself and her role as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s assistant pharmacy manager. “Not only do we care about the animals, but we also care deeply about the humans who work here,” she said. “We want to keep everyone safe.” Her niche is veterinary pharmacology, but Tally said her specialty is regulatory compliance. She takes pride in making sure controlled substances are handled correctly and according to regulations. “I like looking information up, I like reading about it, and I like connecting the dots from all the different agencies,” she said. That information becomes even more important when animals are the patients, Tally said. Humans have some genetic and size differences that can affect dosing. But with animals, there’s a huge variety in size and many different species, all requiring unique medications and doses. Tally said that working with animals provides many learning opportunities. Researchers at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital are doing work in oncology and pain management. In fact, Tally is participating in several research studies and been part of
approximately 50 since she started at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. One study looked at environmental contamination within the work environment of veterinary clinics handling hazardous drugs. Another explored pain management options for male cats. “My favorite part of working here is learning something and being able to let others know and share that information,” said Tally, who is the president of the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists. “Being at the university allows me to learn these things and educate others.” Her love of animals goes back to childhood. She participated in 4-H and won a horse in an essay-writing contest. The leopard Appaloosa was donated by the late Doc Hodgson, pharmacist at Hodgson’s Pharmacy. Tally saw Hodgson’s efforts to give back to Athens through pharmaceutical care and knew she wanted to do the same. Later, at her career day in 10th grade, she had an opportunity to shadow a veterinarian and visit a pharmacist, psychologist and other various jobs. She heard about veterinary pharmacy in college, and that’s when she knew what career path to take. “This is why it’s very, very important for career days to happen in school,” she said. “Exposing kids, even tiny ones, to different careers really can make a big difference.” Her last rotation in her Doctor of
FACTS Heather Tally
Assistant Pharmacy Manager College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital Diplomate of International College of Veterinary Pharmacy (DICVP), 2002 PharmD, University of Georgia, 1994 BSPh, University of Georgia, 1993 At UGA: 25 years
Pharmacy program was at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. And she’s been there since then. “The opportunities at the university are only limited by your imagination,” she said. “If you can think of it, the university has a way of helping you achieve it.” For example, she teaches veterinary pharmacology to veterinary students, but she and her husband, Spencer, a practicing veterinarian, also developed a course in veterinary pharmacology for College of Pharmacy students. Tally also founded UGA’s Equestrian Booster Club and served as its first president, helping turn it into a varsity sport. She still rides in her spare time and enjoys playing golf. She also is involved in charity work and her church. “Riding on a good trail in the woods does your soul wonders,” she said.
FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Trevor Paglen will be in residence at School of Art By Kendal Jacques kking22@uga.edu
Internationally renowned artist Trevor Paglen will be in residence at the University of Georgia as the 20192020 Dodd Chair in the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Paglen will work closely with faculty and students to teach graduate seminars in the fall and spring.While in residence, Paglen also will develop a new body of work that will be exhibited in Athens in fall 2020 and will give a public lecture on the subject of his work in March 2020. Paglen is a conceptual artist, writer and geographer who uses lens-based technologies and public records to explore places, objects and structures that are typically hidden from view. Concerned with military and corporate power and the phenomena of mass surveillance and data collection,
Paglen is best known for the process of “limit telephotography,” in which highpower telescopes in conjunction with cameras are used to photograph deliberately remote Trevor Paglen places such as military bases, satellites and prisons. More recently, Paglen has been focused on inhuman modes of seeing, collaborating with researchers in a variety of fields to understand what machines see and how their way of seeing changes the very nature of perception in the 21st century. Paglen holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of California-Berkeley, a Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago and a Ph.D. in geography from UC-Berkeley. Paglen
has had one-person exhibitions at Vienna Secession, Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, Van Abbe Museum, Frankfurter Kunstverein and Protocinema Istanbul and has participated in group exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Tate Modern and numerous other venues. He has launched an artwork into distant orbit around Earth in collaboration with Creative Time and MIT, contributed research and cinematography to the Academy Award-winning film Citizenfour and created a radioactive public sculpture for the exclusion zone in Fukushima, Japan. He is the author of five books and numerous articles on subjects including experimental geography, state secrecy, military symbology, photography and visuality. In 2017, he was a recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant.
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DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS, DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
columns.uga.edu April 29, 2019
UGA Career Center honors 2019 Student Employee of Year at luncheon By Laura Bayne lbayne@uga.edu
Since Elaine Cassandra was in middle school, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, but her love for animals started long before that. Cassandra is now a senior studying animal health and working at the University of Georgia’s Small Animal Rehabilitation Service as a student worker. Her nominator and supervisor, Jodi Seidel, celebrated with Cassandra as the Career Center recognized her April 10 as the university’s 2019 Student Employee of the Year. Seidel, the Small Animal Rehabilitation supervisor, said Cassandra was “confident and proved early on that she was a fast learner. … Being able to trust in Elaine’s abilities has taken some stress off my dayto-day routine and allowed us to treat even more patients.” Cassandra has done more than increase the number of patients to 12 in one day. In fact, her most notable work has been the transformational physical therapy that has allowed animals to reclaim their strength, agility and improve their overall quality of life. Faculty and clients shared stories in the
TEXTBOOK
nominating letter, noting Cassandra’s ability to demonstrate compassion and patience even with the highest-needs patients (like a vizsla, named Gunner, who suffered from osteoarthritis in multiple joints and a neuropathy). Gunner’s owner, Cheryl, shared an example of Cassandra’s patience. “On her first night of dog sitting, I came home to find Elaine on the kitchen floor next to Gunner’s dog bed (studying for a class, no less!),” she said. “That’s what it took to keep him calm and settled, and she didn’t think twice about having to do such.” Cassandra said she was just doing what came naturally at work. She said working with the animals is “the best feeling in the world.” Cassandra will continue to pursue her calling this fall as a student in UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The University of Georgia employs more than 5,000 student employees. Each spring, UGA’s Career Center celebrates the contributions students make to labs, offices and programs across campus. The Student Employee of the Year Awards Luncheon, co-sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, brought together 100 of the top student employees, based on nominations by supervisors.
Photo courtesy of UGA Career Center
Elaine Cassandra, UGA’s 2019 Student Employee of the Year, will continue her studies at the College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.
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In the department of chemistry, Geoffrey Smith will use funding from the grants program to replace the $150 textbook and $40 workbook for his thermodynamics course with free online content. He plans to bundle relevant materials from the nonprofit website LibreTexts and also to develop his own online workbook that will be made freely available for faculty members and students at other University System of Georgia institutions and around the world. Many of the grant recipients will be creating open educational resources for courses that are required for multiple majors. Bjørn Stillion Southard, for example, will work with a team of colleagues in the department of communication studies to create an online textbook for “Introduction to Public Speaking,” which enrolls more than 2,700 students each year. Free course materials created through the program also extend beyond textbooks. Melissa Hallow, an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the colleges of engineering and public health, will be replacing subscription-based analytics and data visualization software with RStudio, a free, open-source programming language
Affordable Course Materials Grant recipients This semester, 14 faculty members in 10 academic units received funding through the Affordable Course Materials Grant program to transition from costly textbooks to open educational resources. The recipients are: • Brad Barnes, lecturer, and Michael Cotterell, lecturer, department of computer science, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences • Suzanne Ellenberger, director of general chemistry, Franklin College • K. Melissa Hallow, assistant professor,
and software. The transition will save each student a $99 subscription fee while increasing the number of online resources, tutorials and help forums available for students. The Affordable Course Materials Grants program was administered by the UGA Libraries and the Center for Teaching and Learning, which both offer consulting and information for faculty interested in open
WEEKLY READER
College of Engineering and College of Public Health • John Knox, professor, department of geography, Franklin College • Ann Massey, senior lecturer, and Adam Safer, lecturer, department of cellular biology, Franklin College • Wan-I Oliver Li, associate professor, department of physiology and pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine • Bodie Pennisi, professor, department of horticulture, College of Agricultural
educational resources. “A growing body of literature is linking the use of open educational resources with greater student satisfaction and better student outcomes,” said Michelle Cook, vice provost for diversity and inclusion and strategic university initiatives. “The benefits tend to be particularly pronounced for students with limited financial means, which is why boosting the use of open
and Environmental Sciences • Geoffrey Smith, professor, department of chemistry, Franklin College • Inseok Song, associate professor, department of physics and astronomy, Franklin College • Bjørn Stillion Southard, assistant professor, department of communication studies, Franklin College • Amy Taylor, clinical services and research librarian; Stephen Wolfson, research and copyright services librarian, School of Law
educational resources also helps improve access.” The University of Georgia was recently named the No. 2 school in the nation for saving students money through the use of open educational resources. The latest data from the Center for Teaching and Learning shows that the use of open educational resources have saved nearly 60,000 UGA students a total of $5.8 million since 2013.
CYBERSIGHTS
ABOUT COLUMNS
Book offers ways to explore Oconee River
Oconee River User’s Guide By Joe Cook University of Georgia Press Paperback: $24.95
In the Oconee River User’s Guide, both novice and experienced water sports enthusiasts will find all the information required to enjoy the river, including detailed maps, put-in and take-out suggestions, fishing and camping locations, mile-by-mile points of interest and an illustrated guide to the animals and plants commonly seen in and around the river. The river is home to 74 species of fish, including the Altamaha shiner, found only in the Altamaha River basin, as well as 37 species of salamanders and frogs and 43 species of reptiles, including the American alligator, found in the lower Oconee downstream of Milledgeville. Daytrippers will enjoy author Joe Cook’s description of the cultural and natural heritage of this richly diverse waterway. In conjunction with the release of the book, Cook will read from and sign copies of Oconee River User’s Guide on May 3 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Avid Bookshop, 498 Prince Ave. Open free to the public, the reading is sponsored by Avid Bookshop and the University of Georgia Press.
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
Portal launches for policies and procedures policies.uga.edu
A centralized policy portal that enables users to search for and access university-level policies and procedures from a range of campus units and websites has launched. The UGA Policy Portal, which was created in response to a recommendation of the UGA Staff Council, features a specialized
search engine that searches only sites and pages identified as having policies that apply to all University of Georgia students, faculty and staff. Users can search by policy name or keyword, and the portal also includes direct links to UGA policy and procedure libraries, manuals and websites.
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 29, 2019 columns.uga.edu PEABODY from page 1
Films (HBO); Independent Lens: Dolores, a Carlos Santana Production, in association with 5 Stick Films, and THE DOLORES HUERTA FILM PROJECT LLC (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); Lorraine 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/PBS); POV: The Apology, National Film Board of Canada, American Documentary | POV (PBS); The Facebook Dilemma, FRONTLINE (PBS); and The Jazz Ambassadors, Thirteen Productions LLC, Antelope South Ltd., Normal Life Pictures, in association with the BBC and ZDF in collaboration with Arte (PBS).
GREEN
TRAFFICKING
The jurors unanimously chose to present ProPublica with the first-ever Peabody Catalyst Award for a story that brought immediate change to a controversial government practice of family separation at the border. “No fake news here,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of the Peabody Awards. “Rather, ProPublica worked with local sources to find and publicize incontrovertible evidence of government policies—and their horrific application—that the government was also overtly downplaying. That is what courageous and effective journalism looks like.” The board named Sesame Street winner of an Institutional Award for 50 years of educating and entertaining children around the world. Additionally, Kartemquin Films was named winner of an Institutional Award for its commitment to documentary filmmaking. Peabody Award honorees, including Rita Moreno, recipient of the Peabody Career Achievement Award presented by MercedesBenz, will be recognized at the May 18 awards ceremony in New York. Ronan Farrow will serve as the evening’s host.
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systematic, research-based multinational effort as extensive as this to tackle the problem of modern slavery in Africa,” said David Okech, an associate professor in the UGA School of Social Work and the project’s director and principal investigator. “This is a challenge and also a great opportunity to execute truly transformational programs.” According to the International Labour Organization, an estimated 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking. That figure is likely an underestimate, said APRIES researchers. Statistics are acutely needed in Africa. “There are limited data in Guinea and Sierra Leone on the prevalence of modern slavery,” said Jody Clay-Warner, Josiah Meigs Professor of Sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and an associate director of the project. “The award provides us the opportunity, at a minimum, to fill this gaping hole to inform policy and programming.” The APRIES team will work with ResilientAfrica Network, a USAID-funded partnership of 20 African universities based at Makerere University in Uganda, to collect, analyze and establish robust baseline data on the prevalence, impact and service gaps of
human trafficking in certain sectors in Sierra Leone and Guinea. Using a collective impact approach, local implementing partners will amplify the effort by using the findings of the research in anti-slavery operations and programs that help trafficking survivors. Implementing partners will be openly and competitively selected on their ability to execute well-designed, measurable programs. The project will not replicate or create overlaps with existing anti-trafficking efforts. “With a clearer picture of the types, prevalence and sectors of modern slavery, we expect to achieve a marked reduction of human trafficking in the areas we document and a significant increase in the number of victims served,” said Alex Balch, professor of political science at the University of Liverpool and an associate director of the project. APRIES members have a proven record of anti-trafficking research in sub-Saharan Africa. These projects were made possible by the UGA President’s Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program, the UGA Office of International Education, the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the United Kingdom’s Economic and Social Research Council.
productive laboratory at UGA’s Tifton campus, which celebrates its centennial this year, and his discoveries proved invaluable for the region’s agricultural industry. When he arrived in Tifton, he quickly realized that the cattle industry in the Southeast suffered from a lack of quality forage grass, and he began experimenting with bermudagrass around 1936 to help solve the problem. Bermudagrass was a controversial choice, because at the time it was considered an invasive weed that plagued crop farmers. Seeds from bermudagrass would blow into fields and, if not dealt with quickly, could overtake farmland and destroy crops. But in just a few years, Burton managed to create a hybrid grass that was a mixture of local grasses and grasses taken from South Africa. It had to be propagated by planting sprigs, not seed, so it was unlikely to invade neighboring fields. The grass more than doubled forage production in the American South, and farmers planted millions of acres with Burton’s creation. “He completely revolutionized the cattle industry in the Southeast,” said Hanna. In effect, Burton had taken one of the region’s worst weeds and turned it into one of the world’s best forage grasses. Burton would continue his research on grasses, releasing newer and better varieties, including Tifton 85, which remains one of the top forage grasses in the world. News spread quickly about Burton’s expertise, and he was approached by the United States Golf Association, which offered him $500 a year to research new grasses for golf greens, tees and fairways. Never one to shy away from an opportunity to conduct more research, Burton agreed. Things weren’t so great for southern
golfers at the time. Many putting greens were nothing more than compacted sand that were painted green to give the illusion of a traditional putting surface. But Burton’s ingenuity quickly remedied that situation. He produced a number of hybrid bermudagrasses that still adorn courses throughout the South. “He was looking for specific characteristics [in grass] that would enable the golfer to play a better game of golf,” said Earl Elsner, an agronomist who worked for more than 30 years at UGA. “I don’t think Dr. Burton ever played a game of golf, but he studied it, he talked to people, he discussed it with superintendents to the point that he understood what the golf game required.”
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in 1910, the only child of Joseph and Nellie Burton, and he worked the land alongside his parents using horse-drawn equipment. He attended a one-room country school through the eighth grade before graduating from high school in 1927. Burton received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1932 and moved to Rutgers University, where he received his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1933 and 1936, respectively. Burton and his wife Helen moved to Tifton, Georgia, following his graduation, where he would spend the remainder of his career developing new and innovative plant varieties for agriculture and recreation. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a person or known a person that was more dedicated to research than he was,” said Wayne Hanna, a professor of crop and soil sciences who worked closely with Burton for a number of years. “He didn’t watch television, he only read scientific literature, and his only real hobby was gardening.” Burton spent almost every waking hour thinking about ways to improve plants, and he would happily share his love of science with anyone willing to listen. “He was sitting at a table next to me at a wedding, and I overheard him telling guests the details of reciprocal recurrent phenotypic selection,” Hanna said. “I don’t think they had a clue what he was talking about, but that’s just how passionate he was about his work. He would talk about it nonstop if you let him.” And his was a passion that changed the world. By 1960, Burton became one of the most sought-after experts on plant genetics, breeding and development. He traveled to more than 50 countries, where he would
consult with researchers and students about crop improvement. It was also a time of great concern. The world’s population was growing at an unprecedented rate, and scientists issued dire warnings about the possibility of mass starvation unless farmers could find a way to produce more food. Burton had been working on different varieties of pearl millet, a grain crop grown in many parts of Asia and Africa, and he developed a partnership with scientists from the Rockefeller Foundation who were working to increase crop yields in developing countries. Burton gave Rockefeller scientists a packet of pearl millet seeds that he had developed in Tifton, a cross between U.S. versions of the crop and Indian cultivars, which could grow in climates once considered too arid for grain production. Indian farmers began experimenting with his seeds, and the results were nothing short of astonishing. Pearl millet production increased from 3.5 million metric tons in 1965 to 8 million metric tons by 1970. From the seeds Burton provided, Indian scientists were able to produce new hybrid plants that yielded 88% more grain than other varieties. Burton’s work on pearl millet and Nobelist Norman Borlaug’s work on wheat are credited with helping to prevent famine in India, according to Arnel Hallauer, Burton’s biographer and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University.
From farmland to fairways
While helping to feed the hungry of the world may be Burton’s greatest legacy, it is not his only one. He led an extraordinarily
Bulletin Board Teaching Academy Fellows
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. Preregister at 2019Employeefunrun. eventbrite.com. For a paper registration form or to sign up to volunteer, email wellbeing@uga.edu or call 706-542-7319.
Well-being 5K run/walk
Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
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. Nominations may be made by deans, directors or department heads. The deadline for nominations is May 31. Nomination materials may be found at teachingacademy.uga.edu. The UGA Well-being “Get Your
A life of service
His tireless work ethic combined with his insatiable scientific curiosity made Burton a giant in his field, but you’d never know it. “I remember him talking with local farmers on the phone at night…trying to help them figure out a problem or giving them advice,” said Glenn Burton’s son Robert Burton. “Dad always had time for anyone.” It was the work that ultimately gave Burton the greatest satisfaction—the never-ending quest for something better, something stronger, something that would help more people. Before his death in 2005, he and his wife established the Glenn and Helen Burton Feeding the Hungry Scholarship, which is awarded to doctoral students at UGA whose research involves the development of food crops. “He loved what he was doing, and he wanted to share that with students,” Robert Burton said. “He was happy doing research, and he wanted to live a hands-on way of life.”
BEUCHAT from page 1 since published some 530 refereed scientific journal articles and five books, with most of his research at the UGA Center for Food Safety focusing on how food safety issues relate to foods of plant origin. “I wanted to support and fund programs that would advance ornamental plant science while simultaneously assisting students in the program.” Beuchat developed an interest in plants at an early age when he helped his parents tend their gardens on the family’s dairy farm and sell the flowers, fruits and vegetables at a local farmers market. He earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Pennsylvania State University. Affolter joined the CAES faculty in 1993 and was promoted to full professor in 2005. As director of research at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, he manages three full-time employees who have a combined total of more than 50 years of experience in the garden’s research and conservation program. The garden’s plant conservation
program is recognized as one of the best in the country and has received awards from the American Public Gardens Association and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, among others. “One of the goals of this endowment is to strengthen ties between the State Botanical Garden and the UGA department of horticulture. This mission is near to my heart since I have served as the director of science and conservation at the botanical garden for more than 25 years, and the most satisfying part of my job has been fostering an interest in plants in undergraduate and graduate students,” he said. Affolter leads the applied research program at the garden, which focuses on native plant production, habitat restoration and protecting endangered species. The Beuchat endowment will fund UGA student participation in the research and outreach programs at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies.