UGA Columns June 24, 2019

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Marketing & Communications University of Georgia 286 Oconee Street Suite 200 North Athens, GA 30602-1999

PSO Faculty Fellow creates leaders, learners at State Botanical Garden CAMPUS NEWS

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Georgia Museum of Art exhibition through July 28 shows jewelry as sculpture

June 24, 2019

Vol. 46, No. 38

www.columns.uga.edu

UGA GUIDE

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UGA collaborating on child welfare workforce education

By Laurie Anderson laurie @uga.edu

GREAT COMMITMENTS Andrew Davis Tucker

Regents Professor of Entomology Michael Strand is committed to finding new approaches to mosquito control.

Biting back

Entomology professor’s lab studying new approaches to mosquito control

By Leigh Beeson lbeeson@uga.edu

The unassuming mosquito may be smaller than a dime, but it packs a serious punch, killing more people each year than any other animal. And with average temperatures climbing around the globe, different mosquito species are making their way farther north than ever before and bringing their diseases—malaria, West Nile, dengue and more—along for the ride.

But thanks to recent discoveries

at the University of Georgia, it may soon become easier to fend off the swarm.

Regents Professor of Entomology Michael Strand’s lab found that microorganisms, or microbes, in a mosquito’s gut are essential for growth and development. Mosquito larvae spend anywhere from a few days to two weeks developing in pools of water that can be as small as an upside-down bottle cap. Microbes colonize the larvae’s digestive tracts, forming a community of microorganisms that enables

the larvae to mature into adult mosquitos.

The implications of the findings could lead to new approaches for mosquito control.

“If you can disrupt their growth cycle, you could control mosquito populations,” Strand said. “Certain combinations of these organisms that exist in the digestive system of the mosquito also affect how well they are able to acquire and transmit disease-causing microorganisms to people. Understanding how these organisms alter the See MOSQUITO on page 4

COMMIT TO GEORGIA CAMPAIGN

Strickland Foundation scholarships aid rural areas

By Michelle Versfeld mversfeld@uga.edu

The George W. Strickland Jr. Foundation recently gifted $400,000 to the University of Georgia to establish four Georgia Commitment Scholarships.

The scholarships will be awarded in fall 2019, prioritizing students from 16 rural Georgia counties: Evans, Tattnall, Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Liberty, Toombs, Emanuel, Jenkins, Screven, Burke, Appling, Wayne, Glynn, Long and Effingham.

The Strickland Scholarships will impact students in rural Georgia, an area that had deep meaning to the foundation’s namesake, Evans County native George W. “Jack” Strickland Jr., a U.S. Army veteran and business owner in Claxton.

In 1948, Strickland founded the Evans Concrete Products Company, which would grow to serve each of the scholarships’ 16 identified counties. Strickland

strove to improve the quality of life in southeast Georgia.

Strickland, who died in 2010, “always credited his tremendous success to his dedicated employees and his loyal customers, but his personal leadership, vision and commitment to the needs of individuals and families have significantly strengthened their opportunities and well-being,” according to a 2002 resolution adopted by the Georgia General Assembly.

Upon the passing of Strickland’s wife in 2016, the foundation was established to carry on Strickland’s altruistic legacy. The foundation’s board members—Wendell Godbee, Tommy Strickland and Sharon DeLoach—continue Strickland’s quest to support education and his community, guided by a Henry Drummond quote Strickland was known to carry on a handwritten card in his wallet.

“I shall pass through this world but once,” read the card. “Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human

being, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

The GCS program aligns with the foundation’s passion to strengthen communities, provide opportunities for education and inspire the next generation. Students receiving the Strickland Scholarships not only will receive a scholarship and tailored programming provided by the Division of Academic Enhancement, but also the opportunity to participate in the newly established ALL Georgia Program.

The ALL Georgia Program supports all rural students at UGA with a network of resources and common experiences, in addition to providing unique programs and opportunities to the scholars. The ALL Georgia Program promotes the mission of UGA as the flagship institution of higher education in Georgia by improving access for rural populations and creating a broad-based collaboration across See STRICKLAND on page 4

Two universities and a state agency are combining forces to increase Georgia’s capacity to deliver high-quality child welfare services.

Over the next four years, the University of Georgia School of Social Work, in collaboration with Georgia State University School of Social Work and the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, will evaluate the health of the child welfare agency and implement a leadership training program for DFCS employees. UGA and GSU will provide tuition stipends for DFCS staff who wish to earn a

master’s degree in social work.

“UGA has partnered with DFCS for many years—in the Title IV-E program, in our work with DFCS boards, in developing the DFCS employee selection protocol and in our many internships with DFCS,” said Anna Scheyett, dean and professor at the UGA School of Social Work.“This new initiative is exciting because it builds on our existing work and expands it into the area of leadership workforce development and data driven change.”

The UGA portion of the four-year project is funded with a $650,000 award from the National Child Welfare Workforce

See CHILD on page 4

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Students, alumni receive 13 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

By Sam Fahmy

sfahmy@uga.edu

Doctoral student Jordan Chapman said he was attracted to the University of Georgia by the opportunity to conduct research at the intersection of geoscience and archeology, while Morgan Ashcraft chose to pursue her Ph.D. at UGA so that she could apply nanotechnology to drug delivery systems. Isabella Ragonese is studying the interactions between global climate change and animal behavior through the Interdisciplinary Disease Ecology Across Scales Program.

These doctoral students are among seven UGA graduate students to earn highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships this year, and six UGA alumni also

have earned the fellowship, which includes three years of financial support that includes an annual stipend of $34,000 plus a $12,000 cost of education allowance and networking and professional development opportunities.

“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowships recognize the best and the brightest,” said Graduate School Dean Suzanne Barbour.

“That so many UGA graduate students have been and continue to be recipients of the NSF GRF is a testament to the outstanding training environment that our institution provides at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

Chapman is pursuing doctorates in geology as well as in anthropology under the mentorship of Jeff Speakman, director of See NSF on page 4

FRANKLIN COLLEGE

Faculty member to lead national CAREER research program

By Alan Flurry

aflurry@uga.edu

One key to improving undergraduate education and student achievement across the STEM disciplines, as well as more broadly across the campus, is the integration of evidence-based teaching strategies—using what works most effectively for student learning.

Now, a University of Georgia faculty member will lead a five-year, national scale research and education project to better understand and support the use of evidencebased teaching in biology.

The project, led by assistant

professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of genetics Tessa Andrews, is funded by a recently awarded grant from the Tessa Andrews National Science Foundation CAREER program, which supports research and teaching by outstanding junior faculty.

The research aims to elucidate the teaching knowledge that is See CAREER on page 4

2 June 24, 2019 columns.uga.edu

Digest President Morehead will co-chair new University Leadership Forum

The Council on Competitiveness, an organization of corporate and academic leaders representing major sectors of the U.S. economy, has appointed University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead to co-chair its new University Leadership Forum to optimize the role of higher education in the emerging innovation landscape.

The forum, which was officially launched in Washington, D.C., on June 18, will enable leaders from the nation’s top academic institutions to join forces with private sector leaders to understand the evolving innovation landscape, while also helping to shape federal and state policy recommendations to encourage greater competitiveness and build the workforce of the future.

As part of its initial work plan, the forum will address challenges and opportunities in three broad areas: innovation to help solve the world’s grand challenges; university-industry-government partnerships; and the fusion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and liberal arts disciplines.

Michael R. Lovell, president of Marquette University, is co-chairing the forum with President Morehead.

NMI hosts biannual I/UCRC CB2 meeting

The UGA New Materials Institute recently hosted the biannual Industry Advisory Board meeting for the National Science Foundation Industry & University Cooperative Research Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, known as CB2.

UGA joined the I/UCRC in 2018 and is one of four universities that serve as research sites.

At the meeting, researchers presented updates on CB2 research projects slated for completion in late 2019, and industry representatives presented seed concepts for the group to consider undertaking in 2020. Decisions on the new projects will be made at the fall board meeting.

The meeting included representatives from CB2’s industry partners, as well as principal investigators from the other CB2 research sites: Iowa State University, Washington State University and North Dakota State University. The industry members guide selection of the research projects and mentor the research teams. As projects are completed, the industry members share in the intellectual property that is generated by the collective.

CB2’s current industry members come from more than 40 companies, including Archer Daniels Midland, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ford, Hundai, John Deere, Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Sherwin Williams. All members are companies that seek ways to make their products more sustainable.

The meeting was coordinated with help from the Office of Research and held at the UGA Veterinary Education Center. Support was provided by the College of Engineering.

PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH

PSO Faculty Fellow creates leaders, learners at State Botanical Garden

By Leah Moss

leahmoss@uga.edu

Students volunteering at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia are doing far more than just checking off their UGA-mandated experiential learning opportunity. They are using what they learn to teach other students who follow in their footsteps.

As a Public Service and Outreach Faculty Fellow, James C.Anderson II created the leadership program, called Learning

by Leading, to empower students and help them become career-ready. The program starts with freshmen, bringing them into the garden to complete a series of leadership development activities and completing service projects over two semesters.

The next year, they coordinate the activities for the new incoming students.

During the third semester, they develop a signature project at the garden and connect with a mentor. Finally, they spend their last year as an apprentice or intern at the garden.

The PSO Faculty Fellowship has been a welcome change for Anderson, a faculty member in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“A lot of what I do is very theoreticalbased and academic,” he said.“Being able to tap into the experiential learning and service mission of the university is so important.”

Upon completion of Learning by Leading, students will have a vast experiential learning transcript—and feel more prepared to pursue science careers.

Shannah Montgomery

Students tour the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to learn about the projects they will be working on through the Learning by Leading Program. James Anderson is the PSO Faculty Fellow who is working with the students in his class.

Projects vary. Students in the education department designed activities for different stations in the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. Volunteers lead children through the activities at each station as they tour the garden. At one station, they dress up like birds and create bird nests.

The ultimate goal of Learning by Leading is to retain students in the areas in which they work in the garden so that they will consider pursuing careers in that field.

“By getting these experiences while they’re still learning, they will connect to mentors and want to pursue these careers,” Anderson said.

In his position at CAES, Anderson

OFFICE OF RESEARCH

Tincher named executive director of Sponsored Projects Administration

By Michael Terrazas

michael.terrazas@uga.edu

UGA’s Sponsored Projects Administration has a new permanent executive director in Jill Tincher, who was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool following a national search and started in her current role June 17.

Since 2014, Tincher has served as the executive director of a large pre-award staff in the research administration office at the University of Miami. At UGA, Jill Tincher she will be tasked with continuing the integration of SPA’s pre- and post-award functions, along with streamlining the delivery of existing services and rolling FACS dietetics students attain near out new offerings to faculty and staff. perfect match rate for internships Tincher comes to UGA with 25 years of experience in For the second year in a row, dietetics students “cradle to grave” research program management, as well as at UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences significant volunteer and leadership work with the field’s achieved a near perfect match rate for ­post-graduate major professional organization, the National Council of dietetic internships.

University Research Administrators.

Dietetics students who graduated in 2017-2018 “We are thrilled to have recruited an individual of Jill’s set a record high for the department at a match rate caliber and experience to lead Sponsored Projects Adminof 97%. This year’s 2018-2019 match rate has not istration as it continues to evolve to meet the needs of a yet been finalized as the matching process is still growing research enterprise,” said David Lee, vice president underway; however, the current rate is similarly for research. “Thanks in part to transitional leadership proimpressive at 95%. The national average is about vided by Carl Bergmann, Nancy Manley and Cathy Cuppett, 50-60%. This year’s matched students will attend sponsored research administration at UGA has taken major other highly competitive programs throughout the strides over the last few years. I am confident Jill will help to U.S., including UGA’s own combined master’s consolidate and build upon these improvements, as we strive and dietetic internship; Boston University in to provide world-class service to our research community.”

Massachusetts; University of Houston and the U.S. “When I came for my interview, I met so many people Army/Baylor University program in Texas; Rush from different aspects of the institution, from senior leaderUniversity Medical Center in Chicago; and Kent ship to administrative staff, and everyone was invested in State University in Ohio, among others. helping UGA grow and making certain the university was doing things the right way,” Tincher said. “I was bowled over by all of that, and I thought to myself, this is going to be the perfect fit for me.”

Columns (USPS 020-024) is published weekly during the academic year and Tincher said her first priorities include supporting a biweekly during the summer for the faculty and staff of the University of 40-person SPA team that has dealt with significant changes Georgia by the Division of Marketing & Communications. Periodicals postage in the past few years, including both physical and adminisis paid in Athens, Georgia. Postmaster: Send off-campus address changes to trative relocations as well as the process changes involved Columns, UGA Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 with OneSource implementation.

North, Athens, GA 30602-1999.

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researches effective mentorship. At the State Botanical Garden, he led staff through six leadership modules, to help them become capable and confident mentors. He plans to adapt these modules and present them as a faculty learning series across campus.

“It’s so critical we have studentfaculty mentorships that are strong and effective,” said Leslie Edgar, head of the agricultural leadership, education and communication department in CAES, where Anderson works.“Everything he’s doing at the garden fits beautifully into his research agenda. I think he’s able to use his focus and leadership abilities in ways he hadn’t thought of before—it leverages him to be an even better faculty member.”

GRADY COLLEGE

‘Peabody Presents: Stories of the Year’ to air July 7

By Margaret Blanchard mblanch@uga.edu

Peabody and FX have partnered on a documentary-style television special, Peabody Presents: Stories of the Year, featuring conversations with recent Peabody Award winners about pressing social issues and the positive impact of Stories That Matter. The special airs at 10:30 p.m. on July 7.

“Peabody Awards curate the best in storytelling to promote greater empathy and shift thinking about the world around us,” said Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody and professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. “As such, we are uniquely positioned to demonstrate how diverse narratives reflect who we are as people. This television special, in partnership with FX, will showcase award-winning content at a critical time in public discourse and further social conversation in meaningful ways. ” Peabody Presents: Stories of the Year showcases award-winning programming that features diverse narratives tackling important issues. The documentary-style production intertwines conversations about race, the LGBTQ experience, the impact of the #MeToo movement and journalistic integrity with footage from the 78th annual Peabody Awards ceremony held in May. Hasan Minhaj will moderate an intimate discussion Hasan Minhaj among fellow storytellers representing five of the 30 programs released in 2018 to receive a prestigious Peabody Award.

In addition to two-time Peabody Award-winner Minhaj (for “Homecoming King” and “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj”), participants selected for their groundbreaking and visionary work include: • Steven Canals, co-creator, executive producer and writer of the FX series Pose; • Paula Lavigne, ESPN investigative reporter for “Spartan Silence: Crisis at Michigan State”; • Terence Nance, filmmaker and creator of Random Acts of Flyness on HBO; and • Tracy Heather Strain, director/writer of the PBS/WNET documentary Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart.

For more information about this year’s Peabody Awardwinning programs, visit peabodyawards.com.

UGAGUIDE

columns.uga.edu June 24, 2019

For a complete listing of events, check the Master Calendar on the Web (calendar.uga.edu/­).

The following events are open to the public, unless otherwise specified. Dates, times and locations may change without advance notice.

EXHIBITIONS

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.

Sculptured Adornment: The Jewelry of David Hayes. Through July 28. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu. (See story, right.)

Language without Words: The Power of Color as Form. Through July 28.

Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.

Our Town and Beyond: Works by Early Members of the Athens Art Association.

Through Aug. 11. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.

Larger Than Life: New Deal Mural Studies. Through Sept. 8. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.

Women of the WPA. Through Sept. 8.

Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.

Color, Form and Light. Through Oct. 13.

Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@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.

Now and Then: 1979. Through Dec. 24. Russell Gallery, special collections libraries. 706-542-5788. washnock@uga.edu.

Storytelling in Renaissance Maiolica.

Through Jan. 5. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu.

MONDAY, JUNE 24 MIDTERM, WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE For Extended Summer Session.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 FACULTY/STAFF GOLF LEAGUE Also July 2, 9, 16. All UGA faculty and staff of every skill level are welcome to join 9-hole events in individual or team formats. Weekly and season-long winners will receive golf shop credits.

Entries into weekly events are on a first-come, first-served basis. Weekly event entry fee is $5 per player. League 9-hole green fee is $11.85 including tax. 9-hole cart fee is $10.17 including tax. 5 p.m. UGA Golf Course. john.crumbley@uga.edu.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 TOUR AT TWO Join Callan Steinmann, curator of education, and Sage Kincaid, associate curator of education, for a tour of the exhibition Color, Form and Light. 2 p.m.

Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

FRIDAY, JULY 5

JLA INFORMATION SESSION Women interested in learning more about becoming a member of Junior League of Athens are invited to this information session. Meet current JLA members, learn more about the mission of JLA and ask questions.

Those who attend are welcome to stay for Museum Mix, the Georgia Museum of Art’s thrice-annual late-night dance party, from 8-11 p.m. Light snacks will be provided. 7 p.m. Education Center, Georgia Museum of Art. 706-549-8688. athensjl@gmail.com.

FINAL EXAMS For Short Session I.

MUSEUM MIX The museum’s thrice-annual latenight art party features a live DJ, free refreshments and galleries open until 11 p.m. John and Kiran Fernandez will be the DJs. 8 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art.

GRADES DUE For Short Session I. Due by noon.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 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.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 PATRIOTIC CONCERT Enjoy the air-conditioned conservatory and this annual concert by Classic City Band filled with popular and patriotic tunes. This concert is usually standing room only, so arrive early. 2 p.m. Visitor Center & Conservatory, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu.

TUESDAY, JULY 2 TUESDAY TUNES This student music series features new groups each month. 5:30 p.m.

Atrium/lobby areas, Georgia Center. sarah.sorvas@georgiacenter.uga.edu.

706-542-6749.

SWING NIGHT IN THE GARDEN Learn new dance steps, dance under the palms or watch talented and enthusiastic dancers from seating beside the dance floor. Choose between an East Coast Swing or Lindy Hop lesson from 7-8 p.m., then everyone is welcome for an open dance from 8-10 p.m. No previous dance experience or a partner necessary. $6, general admission; $4, students. Visitor Center & Conservatory, State Botanical Garden.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 CLASSES END For Short Session I. MIDTERM, WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE For Thru Term.

THURSDAY, JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY No classes; offices closed.

Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Marketing & Communications. Notices are published as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available at calendar.uga.edu/.

ORIENTATION, ADVISEMENT, REGISTRATION For Short Session II.

MONDAY, JULY 8 DROP/ADD For Short Session II. CLASSES BEGIN For Short Session II.

sponsored project. To reserve a spot, RSVP to cathya15@uga.edu. This session is not in a computer lab, so bring a laptop. 2 p.m. 116 Dawson Hall.

706-542-9441.

COMING UP TODDLER TUESDAY July 16. Enjoy a tour, story time in the galleries and an art activity just for the little ones. Inspired by the exhibition Color, Form and Light, the program will explore how forms and color make up the world. This free, 40-minute program

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is designed for families with children ages 18 months to 3 years. Space is limited; email sagekincaid@uga.edu or call 706-542-0448 to reserve a spot.

10 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. FULL MOON HIKE: BUCK MOON July 16. Be prepared to hike up to 2 miles on wooded trails and in the garden. Backpack carriers are suggested for young children or infants. $5 per person or $15 per family. 8 p.m. Visitor Center & Conservatory, Front Fountain, State Botanical Garden. 706-583-0894. bwboone@uga.edu.

TUESDAY, JULY 9 DROP/ADD For Short Session II. TOUR AT TWO William U. Eiland, director and curator of the exhibition, will give a special tour of Sculptured Adornment: The Jewelry of David Hayes. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. (See story, right.)

THURSDAY, JULY 11 PROJECT STATUS REPORT TRAINING This in-person training on the new Project Status Report is targeted toward faculty and staff, particularly those who need help determining the balance on a sponsored project. RSVP to cathya15@uga.edu to reserve a spot.

This session is not in a computer lab, so bring a laptop. 9 a.m. 236 College of Veterinary Medicine. 706-542-9441.

FRIDAY, JULY 12 FRIENDS FIRST FRIDAY Laci Pattavina, wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Conservation section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will present a program on native bats in Georgia. The focus of the presentation will be on bats as a factor in reducing insect pests in the home garden and ways to attract bats.

Pattavina also will talk about recent challenges to native bat populations such as white nose syndrome. Make reservations by noon on Friday, July 5. $12, general admission; $10, members.

9 a.m. Visitor Center & Conservatory, Gardenside Room, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6138. lpbryant@uga.edu.

SATURDAY, JULY 13 ART HEIST Someone has stolen the rarest object in the museum’s collection—working in teams of five, help figure out who the thief is before they get away for good. $15, members; $20, nonmembers.

5 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art.

MONDAY, JULY 15 PROJECT STATUS REPORT TRAINING This in-person training on the new Project Status Report is targeted at faculty and staff, particularly those who need help determining the balance on a

Jewelry created by David Hayes will be on display at the Georgia Museum of Art through July 28.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITION SHOWS JEWELRY AS SCULPTURE

By McKenzie Peterson

mckenzie.peterson25@uga.edu

Humans have been crafting and wearing jewelry for the past 5,000 years. These objects of adornment serve as symbols of class, family, gender and originality. More than mere accessories, the miniature sculptures worn on one’s person celebrate the union of craft and materials.

Artists have built upon both old and new techniques to create jewelry that enriches the experience for the wearer and viewer. The exhibition Sculptured Adornment: The Jewelry of David Hayes focuses on the work of a sculptor who branched into jewelry-making during the 1950s. The exhibition is on display at the Georgia Museum of Art through July 28.

The jewelry included in the exhibition primarily served as gifts for Hayes’ family members and friends. These unique objects represent the love and care cultivated between individuals over time. Hayes was born in 1931 and grew up in Connecticut during the Depression and World War II. He left New England for college in the Midwest, earning a bachelor’s degree in art from Notre Dame in 1953 and a master’s in 1955 from Indiana University. Hayes was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and spent eight years in France. Along the way, he met several artists who influenced his skills and aesthetics, including sculptors David Smith and Alexander Calder, both of whom created abstract works.

The exhibition includes approximately 40 brooches and pendants. Most of the brooches do not have clasps, leaving flexibility for the wearer in determining how to attach them to clothing. Hayes created amorphic and distorted shapes that evocatively reach into three-dimensional space. His sculptures combined seemingly organic shapes with industrial materials.

These works are large and monumental, while his jewelry is small and delicate. Hayes’ jewelry is meant to resemble talismans of ancient traditions. The hammered surfaces bring the strength and mystery of ironshaping into the 20th century. Both naturalistic and abstracted elements communicate an otherworldly aesthetic.

Related events include a public tour on July 9 at 2 p.m.; a Teen Studio program on July 11 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. led by local artist and educator Kristen Bach (free and includes a pizza dinner but register at sagekincaid@uga.edu or 706-542-8863); and 90 Carlton: Summer, the museum’s quarterly reception, on July 19 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ($15, $10 for Friends of the Museum and supporters, free for current members; galleries open until 8:30 p.m.). All programs are open free to the public unless otherwise indicated.

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.

NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES July 3 (for July 15 issue) July 17 (for July 29 issue) July 31 (for Aug. 12 issue)

4 June 24, 2019 columns.uga.edu NSF from page 1 the university’s Center for Applied Isotope Studies, and professor Victor Thompson in the department of anthropology, part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. His research combines archaeology and cutting-edge technologies to explore historical power dynamics on plantations along the Georgia coast.

“As I began to take courses, I realized that archaeology was a broad and interdisciplinary field,” he said. “This eventually led to my interest in geology—and, hoping to pursue both—my focus settled on the subfield of geoarchaeology.”

After graduation, he plans to continue to conduct research and to inspire members of underrepresented groups to pursue careers in science through the Black Science Coalition and Institute, a nonprofit he founded.

Ashcraft, who earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cleveland State University, is pursuing a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences in the College of Pharmacy.

“I chose UGA for graduate school because there were a number of research projects here that I was interested in, primarily Dr. May Xiong’s work in nanomedicine,” she said, adding that she is currently working to create new antibiotic therapies for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Ragonese is pursuing her doctorate in ecology through the IDEAS program, which trains scientists to view infectious diseases through scales that range from the cellular to the global.

“The Odum School of Ecology is a great place to study infectious disease ecology,” Ragonese said, “and there is a wonderful

MOSQUITO

sense of community here.”

After graduation, she plans to conduct applied research at a government agency or nongovernmental organization.

Like Chapman, Ashcraft and Ragonese, the additional NSF Gradu- Morgan Ashcraft ate Research Fellows pursuing degrees at UGA come from highly regarded universities that range from nearby Emory to Whittier College in California and the University of Michigan, among other institutions.

UGA’s recipients of NSF Graduate Research Fellowships also include alumni who used their UGA educations as foundations for graduate studies at some of America’s most highly regarded universities.

Patrick Griffin, who earned his B.S. in genetics, was an Honors student during his time at UGA and is currently studying aging in the department of genetics at Harvard Medical School.

“My mentor at UGA was (associate professor) Bob Schmitz,” he said, “and I was also greatly helped by (professor) Janet Westpheling. UGA was a wonderful environment to learn about basic science and gain experience presenting my research to others through events like the CURO Symposium.”

Like Griffin, Aleia Bellcross credits faculty mentors and opportunities such as CURO with preparing her for success in graduate school. Bellcross is pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Northwestern University

Bulletin Board

Non-UGA emails

Beginning July 5, emails sent to @uga.edu addresses from nonUGA addresses will be flagged with an external mail notice.

The notice will be at the top of the email and will read: “UGA Security Warning: This is an external email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender.”

This change is being implemented to help students, faculty and staff recognize when an email might be a scam.

For more information, contact Ashley Henry at ashenry@uga.edu.

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

the CURO graduation distinction and coordinated Project Monarch Health, a citizen science project based at UGA through which volunteers across North America sample wild monarch butterflies to help track the spread of a parasite that can harm monarchs.

“At UGA, I was pushed not only to ask my own research questions and develop my own ideas, but also to communicate them as well through outreach events, conferences and citizen science,” she said. “Incorporating the general public can strengthen the data you collect and increase the impact of your results. This is a lesson I will carry with me throughout my career as a scientist.”

UGA’s 2019 recipients of NSF Graduate Research Fellowships and their fields of study UGA Graduate Students

• Morgan Ashcraft, bioengineering, Cleveland State University • Philip Michael Newberry, ecology, Emory University • Jordan Chapman, archaeology, Penn State University • Isabella Ragonese, ecology, Skidmore College • Cydney Seigerman, cultural anthropology, University of Michigan • Trevor Tuma, science education, Whittier College

UGA Alumni

• Gwendolyn Watson, industrial/ organizational psychology, Clemson University • Patrick Griffin, genetics, Harvard University • Aleia Bellcross, environmental chemical systems, Northwestern University • Hayley Schroeder, ecology, Cornell • Emma Brannon, chemical engineering, University of Michigan • Sarah Robinson, biostatistics, Rice University • Dionnet Bhatti, neurosciences, The Rockefeller University

CHILD from page 1

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mosquito’s ability to transmit diseases offers the potential for increasing resistance to certain organisms they can pass on to people.”

From a more basic science perspective, insects provide a more simplified version of a microbiome, the ecological community of microorganisms that call a space home.

Researchers often discuss the roles microbiomes, such as that of the human gut, play in an individual’s health, but it’s difficult to sort through the billions of different organisms that can be present. Mosquitoes, and other insects in general, are much less complex, sometimes hosting only several hundreds of microorganisms in their digestive tracts.

The smaller number of microbes makes it easier for researchers to study.

“In effect, this simplicity reduces the many variables involved,” Strand said. “Some of the rules determining the importance of gut microbes in mosquito development may also have generalizable applications in how similar processes are regulated in larger animals.”

Mosquitoes aren’t the only insects Strand studies.

His interests lie in parasitology, or how

with a focus on atmospheric chemistry.

“UGA prepared me in a lot of ways for graduate school,” she said. “I was very fortunate to gain early research experience with professor Geoffrey Smith and his group, where I benefited from strong mentorship and a supportive environment.

UGA provided all the resources of a large R1 institution, but still felt like a small and close-knit community.”

Hayley Schroeder, who earned bachelor’s degrees in ecology and entomology at UGA, is pursuing a doctorate in entomology at Cornell and ultimately plans to focus her career on the conservation of insects that are important to agriculture. She earned

parasites interact with the animals they feed from. Parasitic wasps, comprising over a million species, are the perfect medium to study parasite-host interactions.

Around 100 million years ago, some parasitic wasps were infected by a virus that became part of their genome. Wasps co-opted that virus to deliver different types of genes into hosts.

One way wasps accomplish that is by injecting the co-opted virus into other insects along with their eggs. The virus then infects the insects’ cells in much the same way as modern medicine’s gene therapies that use viruses to introduce genes into human patients for disease prevention or treatment.

The virus’s genes suppress the host insect’s immune defenses, which would otherwise destroy the foreign eggs. The wasps can then hatch and develop into adults while slowly consuming the host from the inside out.

Editor’s note: This story is part of the Great Commitments series, which focuses on cuttingedge research happening on UGA campuses. Read more about UGA’s commitment to research that changes lives at greatcommitments.uga.edu.

Institute.The Georgia group was among eight selected by the NCWWI as a Workforce Excellence site.

“Our approach is unique in that we are providing current DFCS supervisors, managers and administrators with an opportunity to return to school and obtain their MSW while remaining employed,” said Allison Dunnigan, an assistant professor in the school and principal investigator for the program at UGA. Starting this fall, the UGA School of Social Work will admit two cohorts of six to seven students who are current DFCS staff in administrative positions or have been

STRICKLAND

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multiple offices at the university.

“We are appreciative of the George W. Strickland Jr. Foundation’s commitment to our rural Georgian students and know that the lives of these students and their families will be positively impacted for generations to come,” said Kelly Kerner, UGA vice president for development and alumni relations.

Through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, the UGA Foundation

will match—dollar for dollar—each of the four $100,000 scholarships to establish an endowed, need-based scholarship for undergraduate students. The endowed scholarship will last in perpetuity, helping student after student earn a UGA degree.

Since the matching program’s creation in 2017, over $56 million has been dedicated to new need-based scholarships, with over 285 donors giving to the program.

ABOUT COLUMNS

CAREER from page 1 particularly important for using evidencebased instructional practices in large undergraduate courses. The educational initiatives will design and test a new model of teaching training for graduate students and will expand a video resource library for faculty who want to learn more about evidence-based teaching in science.

Active-learning instruction engages students directly in the learning process and has proven effective, but that effectiveness can vary considerably based on the instructor.

“The need is particularly acute for large biology courses,” said Andrews, whose team will collect data from biology instructors around the country. “The work will focus on the knowledge that college faculty need about teaching and learning to effectively plan and implement active-learning strategies in large classes.”

This knowledge goes beyond the specific knowledge of a discipline. It may include broadly applicable knowledge about adult

identified by the agency as having management potential. The staff will receive child welfare-specific training in topics identified as priority areas by the school’s faculty and the professional community. The school also will offer new and revised child welfare-related curriculum to all students in the graduate social work program.

In addition to tuition stipends, the funding will support a comprehensive assessment of Georgia’s child welfare agencies. The assessment, which began this month, will identify strengths and challenges such as burnout, case manager training and supervision quality.

learning and motivation, as well as knowledge about what undergraduates find particularly difficult in core topics of a discipline.

Supported by an earlier grant, Andrews’ team has already created a video library meant to be used by instructors anywhere. “It’s used by many teaching professional development programs and it shows real active-learning classrooms and what’s happening in them,” she said.

The library is called REALISE, Repository for Envisioning Active-Learning Instruction in Science Education, available online.

The research team plans to add 10 new videos to this publicly available resource.

“We’ve developed some strong hypotheses about what kind of knowledge is important based on preliminary work, but this grant will allow us to take a close look at the knowledge used by an instructor and the kind of learning that it leads to for the student. And that’s the best kind of evidence of what knowledge is important,” Andrews said.

Columns is available to the campus 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 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.