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Budget director ensures UGA’s finances align with university’s mission CAMPUS NEWS
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Georgia Museum of Art exhibition focuses on artist George Segal
November 16, 2015
Vol. 43, No. 17
www.columns.uga.edu
UGA researchers to participate in NSF’s South Big Data Hub By James E. Hataway jhataway@uga.edu
Tyler Daniels
A recently created exhibit featuring Delta Hall is now on display in the Tate Student Center. The exhibit opened Nov. 11 as the university hosted a campus tour for members of the Delta Air Lines senior leadership team.
‘Fitting tribute’ New Athens campus exhibit showcases UGA in Washington’s Delta Hall
By Chip Stewart chips@uga.edu
The UGA in Washington program and its new residential facility, Delta Hall, now have a more visual presence in Athens. A recently created exhibit featuring Delta Hall is now on display in the Tate Student Center. The permanent display showcases the residential learning community that serves as home base for the academic and internship programs available to UGA students in Washington, D.C. The university hosted a lunch and campus tour for members of the Delta Air Lines senior leadership team. The tour included a visit to the exhibit, where they were joined by UGA President Jere W. Morehead. UGA Foundation Chairman
UGA GUIDE
enneth G. Jackson also participated K in the day’s activities, along with other senior administrators from the university and members of the foundation. The group also included several UGA students who recently resided in Delta Hall while completing a semesterlong internship in Washington, D.C. “We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Delta Air Lines Foundation and pleased to have an outstanding facility in Washington that offers UGA students a world-class learning experience,” Morehead said. “The Tate Center display is both a fitting tribute to Delta and an excellent visual representation of UGA in Washington for students who may be interested in participating.”
The Delta Hall exhibit includes photographs, artistic works and other elements that offer a window into UGA’s program and facilities in America’s seat of government. The opening of Delta Hall in January of this year represents an important milestone in the university’s history. The facility sits in the heart of Capitol Hill and can house more than 30 UGA students each semester. These young scholars have the opportunity to intern for lawmakers and organizations, representing their interests before the White House, Congress and federal agencies. The three-story, 20,000-squarefoot building has classrooms and study space, common living areas, conference rooms, kitchens and suite-style rooms. Students living See EXHIBIT on page 8
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Alumni couple launches scholarship program to alleviate student hunger By Erica Hensley
erica.hensley25@uga.edu
It’s a surprising but sad reality that some UGA students have to choose between buying their books and healthy food. To alleviate student hunger, UGA and friends of the university are offering scholarships for meal plans. Now in its second year, Let All the Big Dawgs Eat is a food scholarship managed by UGA Student Affairs that aims to minimize food insecurity for students by providing meal plans for those who struggle to afford daily nutrition. With seven-day meal plan options
averaging over $4,000 per year, extenuating circumstances and financial limitations bar some students from on-campus dining. Student Affairs estimates 7,000 UGA students are food insecure or lack enough funding for basic life needs. It was a problem that UGA alumna Robin Hoover discovered when she visited campus in 2013 for the Tate Student Center’s 30th anniversary celebration. She saw UGA’s student-run food pantry in the basement of the Tate Student Center. Founded by the Greek Life Panhellenic Council in 2011, the pantry serves as many as 100 students a day. And in
See SCHOLARSHIP on page 8
UGA researchers will participate in a new initiative developed by the National Science Foundation. The South Big Data Regional Innovation Hub aims to solve some of the nation’s most pressing research and development challenges related to extracting knowledge and insights from large, complex collections of digital data. Led by the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina’s Renaissance Computing Institute, members of the South Big Data Hub will engage businesses and research organizations in their region to develop common big data goals that would be impossible for individual members to achieve alone. Other hubs will operate in the Northeast, Midwest and western U.S.
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“The U.S. has the opportunity to lead the world in the application of big data to a variety of problems of critical importance,” said Jim Kurose, NSF’s assistant head of computer and information science and engineering. “The (Big Data) Hubs program represents a unique approach to improving the impact of data science by breaking through silos and establishing partnerships among like-minded stakeholders. In doing so, it enables leading scholars and institutions to develop collaborations that will accelerate progress in a range of scientific, educational and social, and economic domains with the potential for great societal benefit.” The South Big Data Hub will apply big data analysis to scientific and social issues in five areas: • Health care, including disparities in health, access to health care and
See HUB on page 8
WARNELL SCHOOL
$2.1M grant will fund study of effects of humans feeding birds By Sandi Martin
smartin@warnell.uga.edu
People feeding white ibises at public parks are turning the normally independent birds into beggars, and now UGA researchers say it might be helping spread disease. The researchers recently launched a study to find out how feeding these birds is changing the health, ecology and behavior of white ibises in South Florida, where construction and land development is drying up their wetland habitats. The birds feed on aquatic animals like fish, snails and crayfish, but they now are becoming accustomed to being fed items such as bread, fast food and popcorn by people at parks, said Sonia Hernandez, an
associate professor with joint appointments in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Ve t e r i n a r y Sonia Hernandez Medicine. This shift in feeding behavior could have serious consequences not just for the white ibises, she said, but also to people. “In a previous study, and using molecular typing methods, we found that the strains of salmonella bacteria that white ibises are infected with are the same that some people get
See GRANT on page 8
SCHOOL OF LAW
Law school alumnus funds nation’s first child sexual abuse victim clinic The UGA School of Law will be the first in the nation to have an experiential learning opportunity dedicated solely to the assistance of victims of child sexual abuse. The Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic will open in January. Initial funding for the clinic has been donated by Georgia Law alumnus Marlan B. Wilbanks, who received his Juris Doctor in 1986. It is expected that many of the clinic’s first clients will be those now eligible to bring civil charges against their abusers as a result of the passage of House Bill 17, the “Hidden Predator Act,” by the Georgia legislature. “The act of sexually abusing a child is
the attempted murder of a soul. I can see no more important task than protecting those in our society who too often have no voice,” said Wilbanks, a longtime advocate for child protection issues. “The underlying goal of this clinic will be to educate, prepare and sensitize the next generation of lawyers as to the ways victims can be protected. On behalf of the children and families who would otherwise not be able to avail themselves of legal assistance, I applaud the University of Georgia School of Law for its willingness to be the first law school in the nation to draw a line in the sand against child sexual abuse.” See CLINIC on page 8
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OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LIFE
Around academe
Study finds that many students still ineligible for tuition tax breaks
A large number of undergraduate students remain ineligible to receive higher education tax benefits, according to a new study completed by New America think tank, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on public policy issues. The study used U.S. Department of Education data to analyze how student eligibility for tax breaks or benefits varied between institutions of higher education. Researchers found that 40 percent of undergrad students aren’t eligible or didn’t file taxes. They explained this ineligibility is because many students’ tuition and fees are covered by financial aid, so they don’t have any out-ofpocket expenses to claim.
NYC to offer free SAT exams
New York City announced it will begin offering the SAT free to all public school students in their junior year as a way to encourage more students to apply to college, according to The New York Times. By removing the barriers to entry—like the pricey fee to take the SAT exam—education officials hope students who might not otherwise take the test will choose to do so. The test will be administered during the school day, rather than on a Saturday. This change will take effect in spring 2016.
Protect your password with updates, URL checks to ensure security
News to Use
All UGA faculty, staff and students have an account for UGAMail, the university-provided email service. Using a MyID, you can access UGAMail and other online services. Because of this, it’s essential that you keep your MyID password safe and confidential. Your MyID password is your access to many UGA online services, so keep your password secure and update it often. When creating your password, keep in mind the following: • UGA will never send you an email asking for your password. When in doubt about an email you’ve received, contact the EITS Help Desk. • Never share your MyID password with anyone, including friends, family and colleagues. • Never reuse your MyID password on other personal and professional websites. This will protect your MyID and your UGA access in the event that any of the other websites are compromised. • Before typing your password on a website, check the URL. If it is the UGA Central Authentication Service page, do you see a green bar with a lock icon in the Web browser? If not, don’t type your MyID password. • When you’re finished visiting a website that requires your MyID password, be sure to log out, especially on a public computer. All MyID passwords expire every six months. You will receive an email reminder prior to your password’s expiration advising you to change your MyID password. For more information about password security, visit www.eits.uga.edu .
Source: UGA Enterprise Information Technology Services
Wise decision
Georgia Law makes pre-Law magazine’s ‘best value’ law school list. Other selected universities making the list include:
1. Nebraska 2. Brigham Young 3. Georgia State 4. Kentucky 5. Alabama 9. Wisconsin, Madison
11. UGA 12. Florida 13. FSU
Source: pre-Law magazine
Janet Beckley
Journalist to give keynote address for International Education Week By Sue Myers Smith suesmith@uga.edu
UGA will celebrate International Education Week Nov. 16-20. The Office of International Education, the Office of International Student Life, academic departments and student organizations have put together a weeklong schedule of free events, most of which are open to the public. “International Education Week gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the role of international education in providing a well-rounded education and equipping students for living and working in an intercultural environment,” said Kavita Pandit, associate provost for international education. “I invite members of the UGA and local communities to participate in one or more International Education Week events to broaden their understanding of our world.” Author and journalist Rose George will deliver the keynote address, which is open free to the public, on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel. She also will host a session with students from 5:307 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall; students must RSVP to attend this evening session. Her address, “How Looking Sideways Can Expand Your View of the World,” is sponsored by International Student Life, University Housing, University Union, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Office of International Education, the Center for Leadership and Service and the Office of Institutional Diversity. Other speakers include Dennis Roberts, an independent consultant with extensive experience working in both foreign and domestic universities; and Dan Beaudry, author of Power Ties: The International Student’s Guide to Finding
International Education Week events at UGA will be held Nov. 16-20. Author and journalist Rose George will deliver the keynote address Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel.
a Job in the United States. Roberts’ talk, “Authentic CrossCultural Engagement that Enhances Learning,” will be held Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel. He also will host an evening student leader workshop from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Intersection in the Tate Center. While his talk at the Chapel is open free to the public, students must reserve a spot to attend the evening workshop. Beaudry’s talk, “What Every International Student Should Know About U.S. Employment: A Recruiter’s Perspective,” also is open free to the public. It will be held Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Room 101 of the Miller Learning Center. “Through the inclusion of worldrenowned speakers and internationalization experts, we are confident that this year’s International Education Week will allow both domestic and international students to expand their worldview and build a greater
appreciation of international education and their role in building a global campus,” said Justin Jeffery, director of international student life. “We hope that students, staff, and faculty take advantage of engaging with these opportunities.” For faculty, staff and administrators interested in pursuing Fulbright Scholar award funding, two identical workshops will be held Nov. 18 to answer questions about the program and provide guidance for applying for these awards. The first workshop will be held in the School of Law at 12:30 p.m. in Room 246 of Hirsch Hall. The second workshop will be held in Room Q of the Georgia Center at 3 p.m. The workshops are free, but registration is required to attend. A full schedule of International Education Week events at UGA, including links to RSVP to events requiring a reservation, is at oie.uga.edu/iew .
Carnegie Library Learning Center opens on Health Sciences Campus
PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH MAREX, Georgia Sea Grant staff use app to monitor king tide
UGA LIBRARIES
By Jean Cleveland jclevela@uga.edu
By Christopher James
The Carnegie Library Learning Center, an electronic library and learning commons to serve the UGA Health Sciences Campus, opened Nov. 2. The library is open Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. and on Sundays 4-10 p.m. “The 1910 Carnegie Library is a significant historic structure,” said Toby Graham, UGA university librarian and associate provost, “and in its renovated form makes an excellent setting in which to support student learning on the Health Sciences Campus.” Six public-access computers for student and faculty use are available, and there is wireless network access throughout the building. The Carnegie Library includes two common reading/ study rooms, two group studies, and it offers wireless printing. The facility also serves as a delivery and drop-off point for circulating print library materials from the UGA Libraries’ other locations, including the main library and science library. Users may request delivery of library items to the Carnegie Library through GIL-Find, UGA’s library catalog. The 1910 Beaux Arts structure was built using funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to serve as the library for the Normal School, a college for training teachers. By 1953, the Normal School had
It was exactly the kind of event the Sea Level Rise app was built for, and UGA was on site to take advantage of the new technology. When the king tide struck Tybee Island on the morning of Oct. 28, some of the most dramatic scenes weren’t on the well-known beach outside Savannah but inland, in neighborhoods a few blocks away. “We saw today where the stormwater infrastructure is and what a key role that plays in these events,” said Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension/ Georgia Sea Grant, a unit of the UGA Office of Public Service and Outreach. Risse led a group of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant staff members on Tybee who were using the smartphone app to document nuisance flooding related to unusually high tides. Over time, “citizen scientists” could be trained to use the app to record where and when flooding is happening via GPS coordinates and pinpoint trouble spots, Risse said. Not much data has been collected on these localized floods, which is where the app could fill a significant gap. “That kind of information hasn’t been collected by scientists,” said Shana Jones, planning and environmental services manager at PSO’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
chtjames@uga.edu
The Carnegie Library Learning Center includes two common reading/study rooms, two group studies, and it offers wireless printing.
been incorporated into the UGA College of Education and the property sold to the U.S. government for use as a Navy Supply Corps School. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and, for a time, served as a museum for the Navy School. UGA began renovation of the building in 2012 in part through the support of the Callaway Foundation and the Tull Charitable Foundation. “Careful attention has been paid to preserving as many of the original features as possible while creating a place to meet the needs of 21st century students,” said Scott Blackwell, CLLC coordinator. Chief among those needs are electronic resources. The Carnegie Library will function in much the same way as the Miller Learning Center, an electronic library in the center of campus that provides computers, study space and library resource assistance.
RESEARCH NEWS
columns.uga.edu Nov. 16, 2015
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Digest College of Pharmacy symposium to honor retiring associate dean
Andrew Davis Tucker
Scott Ardoin, a professor of school psychology in the College of Education’s educational psychology department, co-authored a paper that described a new method he helped develop to reclaim instructional time lost during school days.
‘Beat the buzzer’
New system helps teachers gain back valuable instructional time, UGA study finds By Molly Berg
mberg14@uga.edu
Elementary schoolchildren often dawdle between activities during the school day, losing valuable instructional time in the process. New UGA research has found a way to reclaim these lost minutes and make the transition to a new subject fun while increasing student focus. Co-authored by Scott Ardoin, a professor of school psychology in the College of Education’s educational psychology department, this new method resulted in an average of 39 extra minutes a week of instruction, or the equivalent of 2.6 extra hours of instruction time per month. “With the system, the kids were given cues before it was time to transition,” said Ardoin, director of UGA’s School Psychology Clinic. “The warnings were projected onto a computer screen and then a timer would appear.The amount of time that they had to transition decreased as the study progressed. The students
were always excited to beat the buzzer and therefore quickly prepared themselves for the next instructional session.” The findings were published in the September issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Ardoin and Jeffrey Hine, a former school psychology doctoral student in the educational psychology department, developed software called Keep Busy and Carry On that would give students a notice before it was time to transition to a new task. Hine, who created the software and is now a licensed psychologist in pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, found a lot of instruction time was lost due to transitions. “Our idea was to come up with a prepackaged system with automated components,” he said. Hine developed Keep Busy and Carry On for two classrooms, one first and one second grade, in a local elementary school. UGA undergraduate students who took
part in the research recorded how long it took students to transition between activities. Students had to be seated, quiet and academically engaged in order to be done with the transitions. By identifying specific students who had the most difficulty transitioning between activities, Ardoin and Hine found the Keep Busy and Carry On system helped reduce the time the children spent between activities by 67 percent. Each classroom also increased instructional time by more than 20 percent. The result, Ardoin said, is a way to keep students engaged while also taking some of the burden off the teacher. “Teachers are busy instructing students, so we wanted to create something simple for them,” Ardoin said. “The system takes the responsibilities from the teacher and automates the intervention.” Additional study co-author Tori E. Foster is a doctoral candidate in educational psychology at UGA with a specialization in school psychology.
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
UGA researchers discover mechanism that impacts the effectiveness of ovarian cancer chemotherapy By Molly Berg
mberg14@uga.edu
Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem for those suffering from ovarian cancer. UGA researchers are giving patients new hope with recent findings that help pinpoint the mechanisms causing chemoresistance. Over the last five years, UGA College of Pharmacy associate professors Mandi Murph and Shelley Hooks have discovered that a type of protein known as RGS10 impacts the effectiveness of ovarian cancer chemotherapy. Murph also discovered that mTOR signaling, a protein encoded by the mTOR gene, drives the effects of RGS10. Resistance to previously effective chemotherapy is a major roadblock that prevents better outcomes in this disease. Finding mTOR as the mechanism of RGS10’s effects could help explain the unique features of chemoresistant cancer cells. “Chemoresistance to ovarian cancer is what kills women,” Hooks said. “It’s the deadliest gynecologic cancer. Most
women with ovarian cancer will have their tumors come back.” “Within two years, 85 percent of women will have their cancer come back in a more aggressive form,” Murph said. “It is during that time that they won’t respond to the chemotherapy.” Their article reviews over five years worth of research on RGS10 and was published in Future Medicinal Chemistry. Their findings on RGS10 have jumpstarted an interest in the protein as well as created several major research articles. “RGS10 is basically an off switch. It does very little,” Murph said. “However, it’s important because when it gets turned off, a person will become resistant to chemotherapy. (The) mTOR (protein) essentially determines the survival of (cells), which in turn indicates whether chemotherapy will be successful. It’s exciting to have found this piece of the puzzle.” In their past articles, Hooks and Murph tested cells to see how they would react to common chemotherapy medicines.They were able to manipulate the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to common chemotherapy treatments like
paclitaxel, cisplatin and vincristine by changing RGS10 expression. “Depending on the expression levels of RGS10, the chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is more or less effective,” Hooks said. They also found that RGS10 is epigenetically silenced, meaning that the protein is turned off due to external or environmental factors and not genetics. “If there were a way to reverse silencing of the RGS10 protein, then we could potentially restore sensitivity to drugs,” she said.“It would mean a better chance of survival for women with ovarian cancer.” While RGS10 is responsible for chemoresistance, it also could be the key to improving treatment of chemotherapy. “Chemoresistance prevents us from curing the disease,” Murph said. “If we can cure chemoresistance, we can cure ovarian cancer.” Currently, platinum chemotherapy drugs, like paclitaxel and carboplatin are used as a one-size-fits-all treatment for ovarian cancer patients. However, chemoresistance to platinum drugs remains a serious challenge to curing ovarian cancer.
The College of Pharmacy will host a symposium Nov. 19 to mark the retirement of Vasu Nair, associate dean for research. The symposium will immediately follow the 2015 UGA Conference on Drug Discovery, which will take place in Mahler Auditorium at the UGA Center for Continuing Education. The symposium will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. with a reception from 5:306:30 p.m. in the Hill Atrium outside Mahler Auditorium. Nair holds the pharmacy college’s William Henry Terry Sr. Chair and also is the GRA Eminent Scholar in Drug Discovery and director of the UGA Center for Drug Discovery.
Michael Thurmond to speak at School of Social Work’s Parham Policy Day
Michael Thurmond, an attorney at Butler Wooten Cheeley and Peak LLP, will be the keynote speaker for Parham Policy Day to be held Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 165 at the UGA Gwinnett campus. The event is organized and hosted by graduate students in the School of Social Work to raise awareness of the ways that public policy impacts poor or marginalized segments of society. Thurmond, the son of a sharecropper, has played an influential role in shaping public policy in Georgia. In 1986 he became the first African-American to be elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Clarke County since Reconstruction. While in office, he authored legislation focusing on tax relief for senior citizens and working families. Following legislative service he was appointed director of the state’s Division of Family and Children Services, where he created the innovative Work First program, which helped welfare-dependent Georgia families move into the workforce. In 1998 he was elected Georgia labor commissioner, a position he held for three terms. From 2013 to 2015 he served as superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, the third largest district in the state. The theme of this year’s Parham Policy Day is “New Refugees and Immigrants: Social Work’s Responsibility and Response.” The event also will feature a panel discussion and a student poster competition. School of Social Work faculty members Harold Briggs, Jennifer Elkins and Larry Nackerud and graduate students from the school will participate on the panel. This is the first time Parham Policy Day will be held at the Gwinnett campus, thanks to Tony Lowe, an associate professor of social work and coordinator of the school’s programs at that location. The event is free and open to the public. For directions or more information, visit http://ssw.uga. edu/events/ParhamPolicyDay2015.html.
Former UGA football player, his wife to endow 2 scholarships at university
Former football player A.J. Green and his wife, Miranda, will endow two scholarships at UGA. The A.J. Green Family Football Scholarship will provide support for a student-athlete on the football team, and the A.J. Green Family Scholarship will support two need-based UGA students, with first preference going to students from Green’s home state of South Carolina. Second preference will be given to similar students from the metro Atlanta area. The Greens have stipulated that the recipient of their football scholarship represent UGA “in an outstanding manner in the classroom as an honor student, on the playing field, in the community, and who also demonstrates a commitment to the university and its football program.” All recipients will be chosen by UGA’s Office of Student Financial Aid. Green earned All-SEC honors in each year he played at UGA (2008-2010). He ranks second in career touchdown catches (23), third in career receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,619), all despite playing just three seasons.
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4 Nov. 16, 2015 columns.uga.edu
RESEARCH NEWS
SKIDAWAY INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY Scientists study deep-sea hydrothermal vents, find carbon-removing properties By Mike Sullivan
mike.sullivan@skio.uga.edu
UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography scientist Aron Stubbins joined a team of researchers to determine how hydrothermal vents influence ocean carbon storage. The results of their study recently were published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Hydrothermal vents are hotspots of activity on the otherwise dark, cold ocean floor. Since their discovery, scientists have been intrigued by these deep ocean ecosystems, studying their potential role in the evolution of life and their influence upon today’s oceans. Stubbins and his colleagues were most interested in the way the vents’ Aron Stubbins extremely high temperatures and pressure affect dissolved organic carbon. Oceanic dissolved organic carbon is a massive carbon store that helps regulate the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere—and the global climate. Originally, the researchers thought the vents might be a source of the dissolved organic carbon. Their research showed just the opposite. Lead scientist Jeffrey Hawkes, currently a postdoctoral fellow at Uppsala University in Sweden, directed an experiment in which the researchers heated water in a laboratory to 380 degrees Celsius (716 degrees Fahrenheit) in a scientific pressure cooker to mimic the effect of ocean water passing through hydrothermal vents. The results revealed that dissolved organic carbon is efficiently removed from ocean water when heated. The organic molecules are broken down and the carbon converted to carbon dioxide. The entire ocean volume circulates through hydrothermal vents about every 40 million years. This is a very long time, much longer than the timeframes over which current climate change is occurring, Stubbins said. It is also much longer than the average lifetime of dissolved organic molecules in the ocean, which generally circulate for thousands of years, not millions. “However, there may be extreme survivor molecules that persist and store carbon in the oceans for millions of years,” Stubbins said. “Eventually, even these hardiest of survivor molecules will meet a fiery end as they circulate through vent systems.” Hawkes conducted the work while at the Research Group for Marine Geochemistry, University of Oldenburg, Germany. The study’s co-authors also included Pamela Rossel and Thorsten Dittmar, University of Oldenburg; David Butterfield, University of Washington; Douglas Connelly and Eric Achterberg, University of Southampton, United Kingdom; Andrea Koschinsky, Jacobs University, Germany; Valerie Chavagnac, Universite de Toulouse, France; and Christian Hansen and Wolfgang Bach, University of Bremen, Germany.
Peter Frey
A study led by Jessica Muilenburg, an associate professor at UGA’s College of Public Health and health promotion and behavior graduate coordinator, found that adolescent tobacco addiction is often overlooked.
Breaking bad habits
Teen tobacco dependence should be treated with ‘same urgency as other drugs,’ study says By Sydney Devine srdevine@uga.edu
Substance abuse treatments that target main issues such as serious drug and alcohol addiction are not frequently being used to also wean adolescents from tobacco, a UGA study finds. Tobacco addiction in adolescents is oftentimes an overlooked issue because it doesn’t carry with it the stigma that alcohol abuse and other serious drugs do, according to the study’s lead author, Jessica Muilenburg, an associate professor at UGA’s College of Public Health and health promotion and behavior graduate coordinator. What most don’t realize is that tobacco, she said,“changes the chemistry of your brain and makes you crave whatever your drug of choice is, which is why kicking the tobacco habit with the rest of your addictions is important. “It’s a drug, but it’s not treated in the same capacity and with the same urgency as other drugs,” she also said. “We are saying to treat it with the same urgency, because relapse is less likely if you treat the nicotine as well.” Muilenburg has focused much of her research on tobacco use in adolescents
and young adults, considering treatment factors that might help them beat these behaviors permanently. For this study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, she and her co-authors looked at addiction treatments for adolescents and young adults ages 12-28. Tobacco use is a public health concern that frequently starts during early adolescence and continues across a person’s life span. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 2.6 million adolescents smoke cigarettes, and 3.3 million use some sort of tobacco product. The researchers identified substance abuse centers throughout the U.S. and analyzed treatment practices in those considered adolescent-only clinics. To gather the necessary information, they completed surveys with each of the counselors in those 22 centers. After analyzing several factors, researchers found that a small number of counselors in these adolescent-only substance abuse treatment centers actually implemented some sort of tobacco cessation treatment when seeing patients. Additionally, they found that a majority of these counselors do have the knowledge to implement tobacco cessation
treatments and the ability to prescribe medications, such as the patch or nicotine chewing gum, to help adolescents quit. However, counselors don’t typically do so for the adolescents they are seeing. “Their primary goal is getting them off of alcohol and other drugs, but if we can get them off of all drugs, including tobacco, it will be more beneficial for them in the future,” Muilenburg said. Study results show the implementation of these programs needs to be more widely used for adolescents with substance abuse issues, she said. The researchers also recommend that more counselor training be implemented. Right now, understanding how to treat tobacco-dependent individuals is not a requirement when counselors obtain their licensure. Considering tobacco’s ability to alter the brain and cause relapse, Muilenburg and study co-authors believe it needs to be taken more seriously. Additional study co-authors are Tanja Laschober, a research scientist at the University of Florida, who worked at UGA when helping complete this study, and Lillian Eby, a professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research.
FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Research reveals new clues about how humans developed ability to use tools By Jessica Luton jluton@uga.edu
New research from the UGA psychology department gives researchers a unique glimpse at how humans develop an ability to use tools in childhood while nonhuman primates, such as capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees, remain only occasional tool users. Dorothy Fragaszy, a psychology professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Primate Behavior Laboratory at UGA, created two studies to look at how nonhuman primates and human children differ in completing simple spatial reasoning tasks. Much like a game of Operation, human children ages 2, 3 and 4 and adult nonhuman primates were asked to fit a stick, a cross and a tomahawk into a matching cutout space on a tray. Children also were given an opportunity to complete this task by placing the sticks on a mat with a drawing of the matching shape, as well as into a space on a tray. “We did the study with nonhuman
primates specifically to look at the management of objects in space,” Fragaszy said. “I wanted to give them a spatial reasoning task that was not a tool-using task. We wanted to look at how they worked with these objects and arranged them in relation to features of another surface and from that gain some insight as to how they use objects as tools. “In the case of the children, we wanted to see how they completed the same spatial reasoning task, but with a developmental dimension to it that is not present with our study of nonhuman primates because they were all adults,” she also said. What they found, she said, was a clear age effect in the children.Two-year-olds were able to fit the straight stick and the cross-shaped stick properly into the cutout most of the time.Three- and 4-year-olds were even better at it. However, when it came time to fit the tomahawk stick into the cutout, 2-year-olds were unable to complete the task most of the time, while 3- and 4-year-olds also were challenged.
Children were adept at using sight to help figure out how an object should be aligned to fit it into the space. Sometimes some of the 3- and 4-year-olds would hold the object, especially the cross or tomahawk stick, a little bit above the tray and move it in the air as if they were aligning it visually before they put it down. Instead of depending on sight, nonhuman primates often used their sense of touch, known as their haptic senses, to feel how the object fit into the space. Between 16-18 months and 2 years, humans develop a new relationship between vision and action. Prior to this development, they have trouble orienting another object that’s not their own body in space. When asked to complete the task in a two-dimensional version that involved visually aligning an object in the correct place, children were less successful and made fewer attempts than with the three-dimensional tasks. “This makes sense if you think about the contribution of haptic perception to what’s
going on,” Fragaszy said. “You can feel when a three-dimensional object hits the edge of a cutout. You don’t feel anything with a flat two-dimensional object such as a disk. It indicates again that vision is not enough for young children. The haptic component is also helpful for them. For nonhuman primates, the haptic component is essential.” Humans use what’s known as a vision for action system.Visual information is integrated into planning action and guiding movements of the body in space, especially to use the hands to reach for and grasp objects and manipulate them in space. Researchers have studied what happens if part of that system doesn’t work very well, but researchers haven’t known much about how that system develops until now. “People have thought for a long time about what makes tool use difficult for nonhuman primates and easy for humans, but they haven’t thought about it in this way,” she said. “I’m hopeful that this will generate further research on this, both with humans and nonhuman primates, to clarify the answer to this question.”
UGAGUIDE
columns.uga.edu Nov. 16, 2015
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.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16
TECH. 706-542-7065, sschulze@uga.edu
INTERNATIONAL PARADE OF FLAGS This event is the official kickoff for UGA’s International Education Week. 10:45 a.m. The Arch.
GUEST LECTURE “Report from Infinity: Rural Highway, Southern Georgia, After Rainstorm,” photographer Raymond Smith. 5:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu
WORLD FEST Participants will enjoy many different cultural displays, performances and arts and crafts from around the world. 11 a.m. Tate Student Center plaza; rain location is the Tate Center’s Grand Hall. ugaisl@uga.edu INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK KEYNOTE SPEAKER “How Looking Sideways Can Expand Your View of the World,” Rose George, an award-winning author. 1 p.m. Chapel. 706-542-5867, jsj@uga.edu (See story, page 2). SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES LECTURE Dr. Susan Sanchez, chair of One Health and a professor of infectious diseases, will give a talk. 3:30 p.m. 103 Conner Hall. GUEST LECTURE “As the Cradle Crumbles: Islamic State, the Destruction of Archaeological Sites and Saving Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria,” Tina Greenfield, University of Winnipeg. OXFAM HUNGER BANQUET Part of UGA’s International Education Week. 6 p.m. Reception Hall, Tate Student Center. (See story, page 2). CONCERT Bulldog Brass Society. 6:30 p.m. Edge Recital Hall, Hugh Hodgson School of Music. 706-542 4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu GUEST LECTURE Rich Roll will talk about how to optimize health and wellness through a plantpowered, whole foods diet. 7 p.m. 101 Miller Learning Center. 706-224-3796, sos@uga.edu CONCERT The Hodgson Symphonic Band. 8 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 WORKSHOP “Next-Generation Sequencing and Data Analysis Workshop” sponsored by the Georgia Genomics Facility and Illumina. Registration is limited. $20; free for UGA students, faculty and staff. 8 a.m. H203 College of Veterinary Medicine. 706-542-6409, belanger@uga.edu GUEST SPEAKER Professor Johan Galtung will give a presentation related to peace and conflict studies. 9:30 a.m. 214 Candler Hall. 706-542-6511, lledbetter@uga.edu CULTURAL AWARENESS CELEBRATION African languages and literature faculty and students will cook food and wear their native attire to showcase their identity and unite in a communal dance.
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SAMURAI FILM SERIES SCREENING Kagemusha. In Japanese with English subtitles. Introduction by Hyangsoon Yi, professor of comparative literature and director of UGA’s Center for Asian Studies. 7:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu
Georgia Museum of Art exhibition focuses on George Segal By Hillary Brown
hazbrown@uga.edu
The Georgia Museum of Art has repurposed its new media gallery to present the exhibition George Segal: Everyday Apparitions, which is on view through March 6. Consisting of only three works, all of which are recent gifts to the museum from the George and Helen Segal Foundation, the exhibition will give visitors a chance to focus on Segal’s work at length. Along with Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns, Segal was affiliated with the pop art movement of the 1960s. Like these artists, Segal’s work addresses the conditions of modern daily life; unlike them, he focused almost exclusively
on the human form. He is best known for his lifesize plaster sculptures of human figures arrayed in tableaus. These figures—sometimes ghostly white, sometimes brightly painted—exude a melancholy and isolation Segal believed was inherent to the human condition in the 20th century, much like Edward Hopper’s paintings. The small gallery, which has no windows, removes distractions from the experience of viewing the work. Two works in the exhibition (“Young Woman in Doorway” and “Post No Bills”) are plaster sculptures, and the third is a large pastel and charcoal drawing. Segal made his sculptures through a process similar to papier-mache, layering wet medical bandages to create a cast from a live model.
To include food, music and skits. 11 a.m. Grand Hall, Tate Student Center. 706-542-9587, magandad@uga.edu
Recital Hall, Hugh Hodgson School of Music. 706-542-4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu
GUEST SPEAKER “Authentic Cross-Cultural Engagement that Enhances Learning,” Dennis Roberts. Part of International Education Week. 1 p.m. Chapel. 706-542-5867, jsj@uga.edu (See story, page 2).
CONCERT The UGA African American Choral Ensemble. 8 p.m. Ramsey Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu
DISCUSSION Journalist and author Steve Oney will discuss two murders that occurred in the Atlanta area a century ago. 4 p.m. Special collections libraries. 706-201-5373, freemans@uga.edu ECOLOGY SEMINAR “Variance is Not Just Noise: Contrasting Effects of Spatial and Temporal Variation on Population Dynamics of Bees, Butterflies and Wildflowers,” Elizabeth Crone, Tufts University. 4 p.m. Ecology building auditorium. 706-542-7247, bethgav@uga.edu THE REST OF THE STORY BOOK CLUB MEETING November’s selection: Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation by Ray Suarez. 5:30 p.m. 258 special collections libraries. 706-542-5788, jhebbard@uga.edu GUEST LECTURE “What Every International Student Should Know about U.S. Employment: A Recruiter’s Perspective,” Dan Beaudry. Part of International Education Week. 6 p.m. 101 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-2900, oie@uga.edu (See story, page 2). CONCERT Hodgson String Trio. 6:30 p.m. Edge
Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Public Affairs. Notices are published here as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available on the Web at calendar.uga.edu/.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 NOONTIME CONCERT Students from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music will perform. Noon. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu INTEGRATIVE CONSERVATION BROWN BAG “The Luxury of Outdoor Education in our Community,” Chris Taylor, Athens resident and land artist. 12:20 p.m. 200D geography and geology building. katieb42@uga.edu FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR AWARD FUNDING WORKSHOP For faculty and administrators interested in Fulbright Scholar award funding in 2016. Registration required. Part of International Education Week. 2:30 p.m. 246 Hirsch Hall. The workshop will be repeated at 3 p.m. in Room Q of the Georgia Center. kprobst@uga.edu (See story, page 2). ONE HEALTH SEMINAR “Bariatric Surgeries Induce Brain Plasticity,” Dr. Krzysztof Czaja, an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. 1 p.m. 175 Coverdell Center. 706-542-5922, lbalkcom@uga.edu UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEETING 3:30 p.m. Tate Student Center Theatre.
706-542-6020, hathcote@uga.edu CONCERT The UGA Repertory Singers. 3:35 p.m. Ramsey Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu CHAI AND CHAT: HUMAN TRAFFICKING Chai and Chat is a monthly event put on by the Indian Cultural Exchange that features discussions of issues in social justice specifically connected to the Indian community. 5 p.m. The Intersection, Tate Student Center. mspinfo@uga.edu TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK KEYNOTE ADDRESS The keynote address will be given by transgender advocate Tracee McDaniel. 6 p.m. 142 Tate Student Center. 706-542-4077, joshuafl@uga.edu CONCERT Hodgson Wind Symphony. 8 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752, ccschwabe@uga.edu
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 OPERATION SAFE DRIVE UGA Parking Services will provide free vehicle inspections for UGA students, faculty and staff. 10 a.m. Tate Student Center parking deck. 706-542-7275, lepratt@uga.edu (See Bulletin Board, page 8). INNOVATION GATEWAY STARTUP STORIES: VIACYTE ViaCyte is a leader in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. RSVP to tina@uga.edu 4 p.m. 128/130 CAG-
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, News Service, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.
CLASSICAL CELEBRATION CONCERT Orion String Quartet. $40. 8 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Murray State. $15. 7 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum. 706-542-1231. VOLLEYBALL vs. Alabama. 7 p.m. Ramsey Student Center. 706-542-1621.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 FOOTBALL vs. Georgia Southern. 7 p.m. To be televised by ESPNU. Sanford Stadium. 706-542-1231.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 VOLLEYBALL vs. Mississippi State. 4 p.m. Ramsey Student Center. 706-542-1621. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Georgia Tech. $5. 4 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 STUDENTS’ THANKSGIVING BREAK Through Nov. 27. Classes resume Nov. 30.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Georgia Southern. $5. 7 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. High Point. $15. 5 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum. 706-542-1231.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY No classes; offices closed through Nov. 27.
COMING UP GROUNDBREAKING Dec. 1. A ceremony for the Center for Molecular Medicine, which will be adjacent to the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. 2 p.m. NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES Nov. 18 (for Dec. 7 issue) Dec. 9 (for Jan. 11 issue) Jan. 6 (for Jan. 19 issue)
6 Nov. 16, 2015 columns.uga.edu
Newsmakers
FACULTY PROFILE
Cat communication
Dr. Sharon Crowell-Davis, a professor of behavior and anatomy in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was quoted by CNN in an article explaining the elusive nature of cats. Crowell-Davis studied feral cat colonies and interpreted their behavior to be as expressive as dogs, just often misunderstood. “When cats (come) back from hunting, what we commonly see in the feral situation is they may spend several minutes rubbing up and down, up and down, against each other,” she said. “They’ll also wrap their tails over each other’s backs—it’s like a human hug.”
Artificial anxiety
An article in Tech Times weighed the perceived threat to humankind from artificial intelligence as technology continues to progress toward becoming smarter. Examining movie plots like Terminator, in which a weaponized super computer tries to wipe out the human race, the article asked whether humans should be worried about AI—particular a variety created for warfare. Frederick Maier, associate director of UGA’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence, said these kind of movies may be focused on the wrong threat. “An uncontrollable super AI wiping out humanity just doesn’t sound that plausible to me,” Maier wrote in an email to Tech Times. “The real threat posed by AI is that it will be used by human beings in harmful or unjust ways (in war, or to oppress or to marginalize).”
Kale craze
The New York Daily News quoted Timothy Coolong, an associate professor of horticulture at UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Tifton, in an article detailing the growth of superfoods. The article said kale production, especially in the South, has almost tripled in the past decade, due mainly to the demand for healthy foods that pack vitamins and fiber. “Food culture changes,” Coolong said. “Our palate is getting more sophisticated.”
CEO conversations
As David Letterman’s successor, new The Late Show host Stephen Colbert is bringing style and content from his previous late-night gig, minus the right-wing alter-ego. According to a recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek, part of CBS’ strategy to attract and keep younger viewers is to invite CEOs and business moguls and to engage the guests in conversation rather than rely on the sketches and celebrity banter so common to late night shows. The article’s author asked Jeffrey P. Jones, director of UGA’s Peabody Awards, about the art of the modern late night model. “They’ve learned how to create entertaining little bits, and they’ve learned how to play with the guest, but I don’t think they’ve learned how to have great conversations with guests,” said Jones, the Lambdin Kay Professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. According to the article, CBS and Colbert plan to stick to the basics and hope it leads to serious conversation and top ratings.
Eye exams
Recent research found that the dietary supplement lutein, when combined with other nutrients, can slow the progress of chronic eye disease. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal chronicled several studies that looked at the effects of the supplement on aging eyes. “If you have higher lutein levels in your eye, you just see better,” said Billy R. Hammond, a professor of behavioral and brain sciences in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of a study that researched lutein’s influence on vision.
‘First’ defining moment
Inside Higher Ed quoted Institute of Higher Education faculty member Rob Toutkoushian for its article on defining “first-generation” students and discussing how they fare in college. “Regardless of how we define it, first-generation students are at a disadvantage when compared to nonfirst-generation students,” he said. “Probably the biggest thing we can do is work within schools to provide kids with information about college options early. And interventions should happen early, so we’re not waiting until high school, and we’re getting them in middle school.”
Dorothy Kozlowski
The research Richard Welsh, an assistant professor in the College of Education, has done on school reforms in post-Katrina New Orleans looks at a variety of issues that may redefine the future structure of Georgia’s educational model.
Assistant professor of education links research with policy, practice By Kathryn Kao kathk1@uga.edu
Research, teaching, and service— these are the three defining pillars that encapsulate the work of Richard O. Welsh. His passion for analyzing the most efficient ways to enhance today’s educational system is driven by an unwavering desire to improve student achievement in the U.S. and beyond. “The way that I look at my research is that there’s an inherent service component built into the work I do,” said the Jamaican native. “One of my main research goals is to help improve the educational system for future students so they can learn and achieve more in school.” After graduating from high school in Jamaica, Welsh left home to pursue a degree in economics at Stanford University. While he originally intended on working in business, the death of a close friend prompted Welsh into a period of deep introspection. “After that experience, I kept saying I wanted to do something meaningful,” he said. “I want to have a meaningful impact on the lives of people, and education is the perfect field.” Welsh joined the College of Education’s department of lifelong education, administration and policy as an assistant professor this year, and brought with him a deep knowledge of K-12 education policy. His extensive research on school reforms in post-Katrina New Orleans looks at a variety of issues that may redefine the future structure of Georgia’s educational model. Welsh is eager to enhance his work by combining the knowledge he gained in New Orleans with his empirical background in
quantitative research methods. “I use a lot of student-level data provided by the district,” said Welsh. “So what the field is trying to do and what my research hopefully takes one more step towards accomplishing is trying to figure out whether or not there’s an independent effect associated with changing schools and how that varies over time.” While studying at the University of Southern California, Welsh used student-level data from Clark County, Nevada, for a three-part empirical dissertation analyzing the impact of changing schools, or student mobility, on student achievement. From this investigation, Welsh discovered a host of reasons for student mobility he intends to study in the future, including school accountability, school discipline and the zero-tolerance policies. In fact, his work on mobility patterns examines an area that has never been fully studied in the past. Until recently, most student mobility studies have been focused on school choice policies and school changes that occur in the summer or between school years. In contrast,Welsh is taking a closer look at the relationship between the timing of school changes—especially those that occur during the school year—and other underlying causes and consequences of mobility, such as segregation, school discipline and achievement gaps within “traditional” school districts or those with attendance zones and districtrun schools. Since frequent school changes can have a detrimental effect on student achievement, Welsh will assess the effectiveness of certain forms of school discipline. He believes that variations across student characteristics should compel policymakers and other researchers not to adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach to
FACTS
Richard O. Welsh
Assistant Professor Lifelong Education, Administration and Policy College of Education Ph.D., Urban Education Policy, University of Southern California, 2015 M.A., Economics, University of Southern California, 2013 M.A., Latin American Studies, Stanford University, 2008 B.A., Economics with Interdisciplinary Honors in Latin American Studies, Stanford University, 2007 At UGA: Four months
student mobility. “It’s a surprising finding to me that a lot of discipline-related mobility occurs during the school year and that most of the prior research has not focused on during-the-school-year changes,” he said. “By not looking at what happens during the school year, we’re really overlooking a gross majority of those changes.” For Welsh, teaching is an integral part of his research process. He wants his students to understand what’s being discovered and how that might shape the work they’re doing. As a result, he can focus on providing them with better ideas and resources for the future. “To me, it’s a win-win situation,” Welsh said about joining the College of Education. “I can learn from students, and hopefully, I get to pass on insight to help them improve their everyday interactions with students. The ultimate goal that we all share is to improve equity and student achievement.”
RETIREES
November Eight UGA employees retired Nov. 1. Retirees, their job classification, department and length of employment are: James M. Billups, building services worker II, Facilities Management Division-Building Services, 11 years, 4 months; David D. Dunn, senior public service associate, Small Business Development Center, 28 years, 2 months; Deborah J.
Jackson, building services worker II, Facilities Management Divi sion-Building Services, 21 years, 2 months; Henry B. Martin, maintenance worker, Georgia Cen ter: Auxiliary Operations-Hotel, 13 years, 7 months; Roger D. Pelhank, program specialist, Facilities Management Division-Operations and Maintenance, Biocontainment
Shop, 16 years, 11 months; Karen K. Pou, business manager II, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 34 years, 3 months; Steven W. Smith, structural maintenance foreman, Myers Hall, 26 years, 3 months; and Joanne E. Waldron, student affairs professional I, finance, 9 years, 11 months. Source: Human Resources
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FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
columns.uga.edu Nov. 16, 2015
GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART
‘Investment in people’
Georgia Museum of Art wins awards for exhibition, book design
Budget director ensures UGA’s finances align with its mission
By Hillary Brown
hazbrown@uga.edu
By Aaron Hale
aahale@uga.edu Dorothy Kozlowski
Delivering on UGA’s motto, “to teach, to serve and to inquire into the nature of things,” requires the dedicated work of faculty, staff and administrators. But it also must be supported by a carefully crafted budget. James Shore became budget director and senior associate vice president for finance and administration in February. In that role, he helps plan and manage the university’s budget, which for fiscal year 2015 was nearly $1.5 billion. What that really means, Shore said, is that his job is to ensure everything in UGA’s budget aligns with the university’s priorities and “to make sure the people in Georgia are getting the full return on their investment.” Shore said, “I’m working with senior leadership at UGA and the University System of Georgia to ensure that our budget is within the priorities that are approved, and making sure that we are making sound financial decisions to protect the current generation of students, but also the future generation of students.” A native of North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Shore began his career in the private sector. He held jobs in textiles, aviation services and the service industry. But with these positions, he said he felt like he was pursuing the “wrong priorities” in his work. “If you’re always chasing the bottom line, I think you can miss some things,” he said. He found a home in higher education in his next job working in financial administration at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Not only did he enjoy academia, he was able to earn his MBA. “Education is one of the few things that someone can’t take away from you,” he said, “and it’s one of the most valuable things you can get.” After 11 years at Wake Forest, Shore was drawn to UGA by its land-grant mission of education, research and outreach.
“If you’re always chasing the bottom line, I think you can miss some things…”
James Shore, budget director and senior associate vice president for finance and administration, said that his job is to ensure everything in UGA’s budget aligns with the university’s priorities and “to make sure the people in Georgia are getting the full return on their investment.”
Shore moved to Athens in February. His wife, Leigh Anne, and two children, Macon and Marleigh, joined him this summer. “I have an appreciation for what a land-grant and flagship university of a state can be,” Shore said. “It really represents what I believe higher education can and should be.” Having a well-crafted, thoroughly vetted budget can help institutions stay true to their missions. Shore describes a budget as “a quantitative tool that reflects your priorities.” In his first months in Athens, Shore said it’s apparent that UGA’s budget reflects an “investment in people”—including faculty, staff and students—and a commitment to ensure the research and instructional investment gives back to the state, nation and world. “We’re investing in future leaders and all of the tools and knowledge they need to be successful,” he said. While his chief responsibilities are with the annual budget, Shore has three other priorities in moving the mission of the division and the university forward. Collaborating with EITS and budget managers from across UGA departments, Shore will help lead the planning toward future technology solutions. They will be investing in HR, finance and budget planning systems. “We have to help the institution with our future technology solutions,” he said. Shore also wants to emphasize customer service to UGA departments and units across campus. “We’re really making sure all of the business and mechanics of the university continue to run smoothly and are committed to working with our partners across the university to improve how we serve and support them,” he said. Finally, Shore wants to increase transparency into the annual budget process. “If everyone is given an appreciation for how this large $1.5 billion budget comes together, then they can connect the dots and understand,” he said. “If you show transparency and communicate effectively, you build trust. Once you build trust with individuals, they begin to understand where you’re coming from.”
WEEKLY READER
Memoir details life of political strategist
A Boy From Georgia: Coming of Age in the Segregated South By Hamilton Jordan Edited by Kathleen Jordan University of Georgia Press Hardcover: $32.95
When Hamilton Jordan, chief of staff under President Jimmy Carter and strategist for Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, died of peritoneal mesothelioma in 2008, he left behind a mostly finished memoir. Jordan’s daughter, Kathleen— with the help of her brothers and mother—took up the task of editing and completing the book. A Boy from Georgia chronicles Hamilton Jordan’s childhood in Albany, charting his moral and intellectual development as he gradually discovered the complicated legacies of racism, religious intolerance and Southern politics. After graduating from UGA, Jordan went into politics to put his ideals to work eventually becoming a key aide to Carter. Clear eyed about the triumphs and tragedies of Jordan’s home state and region, A Boy from Georgia tells the story of a remarkable life.
At the Southeastern Museums Conference annual meeting, the Georgia Museum of Art at UGA received two awards from its peers in the field. Tristan Perich: “Machine Wall Drawings” received the award for exhibitions with a budget of less than $25,000. The exhibition was on view March 20 through Nov. 18, 2014, on the museum’s Patsy Dudley Pate Balcony. Perich, a contemporary artist based in New York City, wrote code that instructed the direction of a pen suspended from two wires, resulting in three large-scale abstract drawings on the surface of the wall. The results were not preprogrammed; instead, Perich’s code set up restrictions but made room for randomness within them. Over the six months of the drawings’ creation, museum visitors watched the pen move across the wall, sometimes rapidly, and tried to predict where it would go next. After exhibiting the final works for two more months, the museum painted the wall back to its original white, as the artist intended, but worked with Athens filmmaker Russell Oliver to create a short film recording the drawings’ process. The museum also received a silver award in the exhibition catalog category of the Publications Design Competition, for El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. Designed by Roy Brooks of Fold Four, the book both documented and expanded on the works in the exhibition of the same name, on view at the museum June 13 through Sept. 13. Brooks chose an uncoated paper to mimic that of the ephemeral fliers and posters in the exhibition and created a debossed rectangular title treatment to evoke the impression created by a linocut. The Southeastern Museums Conference is a networking organization that serves to foster professionalism, mutual support and communication in the field and region. A nonprofit membership association, SEMC strives to increase educational and professional development opportunities and improve the interchange of ideas, information and cooperation. SEMC focuses on Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ABOUT COLUMNS
CYBERSIGHTS
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 Art Director Janet Beckley
ACC community guide updated http://www.libs.uga.edu/athens The UGA Libraries has updated and expanded its online guide to the Athens-Clarke County community. The site collects and organizes over 1,500 links and serves as a resource where visitors, newcomers and longtime residents can find extensive information about the community. The guide provides information about nonprofit organizations, local
employment opportunities, maps, population and demographic data, community events, transportation, sports and recreation, business and economy, historical resources, arts and entertainment, animal welfare and much more. The site includes a form where users can recommend new resources for inclusion in the guide.
Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski Senior Reporter Aaron Hale Reporter Matt Chambers Copy Editor David Bill 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 Nov. 16, 2015 columns.uga.edu
DATA HUB from page 1
Dorothy Kozlowski
Serge Onyegbule, a 3rd year microbiology major from Lawrenceville, takes a turn to conduct the Hodgson Wind Ensemble during the “Conduct Us” event, part of the Spotlight on the Arts student spotlight main event at the Tate Center. Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski
SCHOLARSHIP from page 1 the pantry serves as many as 100 students a day. And in that, Hoover recognized the immediate need to address student hunger and food insecurity “We realized we needed to raise funds now and get hungry students on meal plans now,” Hoover said. Hoover and her husband and fellow alumnus, Wayne, worked with Jan Barham, associate dean of students and director of the Tate Student Center, to set up the Let All the Big Dawgs Eat scholarship. The Hoovers provided the initial donation to create the scholarship and have since led efforts to increase private donations so the program can continue and expand. Allison Sawyer (this name has been changed to ensure student confidentiality) was working three jobs to send money home to her single mother who had recently fallen ill. The third-year student in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences was awarded the food scholarship earlier this year. It allowed her to go down to just one job, and she noticed a physical and emotional difference. “I feel so much happier and healthier,” Sawyer said. “I am not half as tired as I used to be, and things in my life are starting to look up.” Hunger not only negatively affects students’ health, but it also is a detriment to
their academic livelihood. “Studies show that students who eat better meals are more engaged; they perform better academically and are more successful,” Barham said. “For us, this is an issue of student success. It’s an issue of helping our students navigate the complications of a college and setting them up for success both here and long-term. We know that it’s making a difference, and that’s the part that’s so rewarding.” The UGA Office of Financial Aid estimates the cost of attending UGA for an in-state student—including tuition, books, meals and living expenses—for the 20152016 academic year is $25,134. While most students have secured tuition funds by the beginning of each semester, finding money for fees and books leaves some wondering where their next meal will come from. “What we’re hearing from our students is because they don’t have enough money to even finish paying their fees and everything else, the first thing they give up is their meal plan,” Barham said. “They tell you, ‘I have
ON THE WEB
The scholarship program is currently raising funds to provide more student meal plan scholarships for next year. To donate, visit http://t.uga.edu/1Vd.
Bulletin Board Columns deadline reminders
The final fall issue of Columns will be published Dec. 7. The deadline to submit news items is 5 p.m. on Nov. 18. Regular weekly publication of the newspaper will resume Jan. 11. The deadline for that issue is 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. Email news to columns@uga.edu .
OLLI@UGA membership
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UGA is accepting memberships for the 2016 calendar year. Headquartered in the River’s Crossing building at 850 College Station Road, OLLI@UGA is open to adults ages 50 and older who want to broaden their horizons as part of lifelong learning. The OLLI@UGA community represents the greater Athens area and Oconee, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Madison, Jackson, Barrow and Walton counties. Throughout the year, OLLI@UGA offers an extensive selection of mini courses and special interest groups enjoy a variety of leisure pursuits, travel/study adventures and social events. New members who join by Dec. 7 will be eligible to attend this year’s gala Winter Holiday Party and Dinner on Dec. 16. To become a member, visit
www.olli.uga.edu and click the “Join” button. For more information, call 706-542-7715 or send an email to olli@ uga.edu .
Operation Safe Drive
As part of Operation Safe Drive, Parking Services will perform free safety inspections for all UGA students and employees Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Tate Student Center parking deck. The Office of Sustainability will coordinate free on-site bicycle maintenance and safety inspections. The first 300 visitors will receive a free Chick-fil-A coupon courtesy of Food Services. The vehicle inspections include fluid level checks, belt and hose assessments, wiper blade inspections and tire pressure checks. For more information, contact Laura Pratt at 706-542-7275 or lepratt@uga.edu .
Research participants sought
The kinesiology department in the College of Education is conducting a study to learn more about metformin’s effects on the body. Researchers are seeking men and women ages 18-75 who currently are taking metformin, a prescription drug treatment for adult type 2 diabetes. Participants will wear a glucose monitor for two different three-day
health outcomes, precision medicine and health analytics. • Coastal hazards, including understanding and mitigating the consequences of natural and man-made disasters. • Industrial big data, including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, data-driven management of physical infrastructure and power generation, transmission and distribution from a variety of sources. • Materials and manufacturing, including data-driven contributions to the materials genome initiative and bridging the gap between materials science and manufacturing practice. • Habitat planning, including urban infrastructure, “smart cities” efforts, transportation, rural-urban infrastructure and wildlife habitat and conservation. “Researchers in many diverse disciplines are accumulating unprecedented volumes of data, but trying to derive knowledge that is buried in all this data is a bit like searching
for needles in a haystack,” said Lakshmish Ramaswamy, an associate professor of computer science in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and a South Big Data Hub co-investigator. “This initiative will foster collaborations that will help us extract information from these mountains of data so that we can develop solutions to complex problems in multiple domains.” The South Big Data Hub will serve the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. It will be developed in three phases: an initial bootstrap phase that will establish the basic governance structure; a transitional phase that will move toward an operational structure; and a final operational phase. It will have dual locations in Atlanta and the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, with co-executive directors who
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Wilbanks, who was recognized by the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund as the 2014 Lawyer of the Year, is the second Georgia Law alumnus involved in the DaVita Healthcare Partners false claims settlement agreement earlier this year who has chosen to make a significant investment in training for future attorneys. Professor Marci A. Hamilton of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, a nationally recognized expert on the subject of child protections and author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children on the need for child sexual abuse statute of limitations reform, confirmed both the uniqueness and need for such a program. “This will be the first law school clinic that responds to statute of limitations reform for child sex abuse and offers assistance to victims,” Hamilton said. “When reforms such as those recently enacted in Georgia are advanced, victims typically come forward who need advice and injunctive relief but whose case would not otherwise be picked up by an attorney in private practice. The University of Georgia School of Law is doing a great public service by assisting these victims and making it more likely that the public will learn the identities of even more hidden predators.” Georgia’s Hidden Predator Act created a two-year window of relief from the statute
sessions and will be provided meals during this time. They also will walk on a treadmill for one short session and two longer sessions. Information from this study may be used to improve future medical treatment. Participants will be given information about their body composition and health and also receive a financial incentive. For more information, contact Melissa Erickson at melissa9@uga.edu or 706-829-2560.
New EITS guide
The Technology Resources Guide for Faculty and Staff is now available for UGA employees. The 40-page guide gives an overview of the IT services, tools and resources available to faculty and staff at the university. It also includes contact information to the IT help desks for colleges and schools. The guide was produced and distributed by mail to employees by Enterprise Information Technology Services. Departments may request bulk copies of the guide by contacting Kerri Testement at kerriuga@uga.edu . The guide is available at newtocampus.uga.edu . Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
are infected with are the same that some people get sick from, particularly in Florida,” Hernandez said. “Because white ibises move from urban to natural environments readily, they might be responsible for moving these strains around over large distances.” Hernandez is working with other UGA researchers on the five-year, $2.1 million project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Program. Their findings could apply to other wildlife species that have grown cozy with humans at public parks and other human-altered landscapes, she said. Other researchers on the project are Jeff Hepinstall-Cymerman, an associate professor in the Warnell School; Sonia Altizer, a professor, and Richard Hall, an assistant research scientist, both in the Odum School of Ecology; and Kristen Navara, an associate professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The white ibis is most commonly found in Florida, although it can be spotted along the Atlantic coast as far north as North Carolina and on the Gulf Coast as far as Louisiana. They are normally nomadic, can travel for miles every day and typically spend much of their day searching for food. But why expend energy searching for food when humans at public parks will give it to them? “If white ibises have a reliable food source,” Altizer said, “they might form larger flocks that stay put year-round near the parks.” This shift toward more sedentary behavior could allow pathogens transmitted through feces, like salmonella, to build up and pose risks for both birds and humans. Greater numbers of ibises in urban parks also puts them in contact with animals they wouldn’t normally meet in natural environments, like muscovy and mallard ducks, gulls and other common city birds, all reservoirs of diseases for birds. As part of the project, the researchers will focus on white ibises in Palm Beach County, Florida, where Hernandez has been conducting field monitoring of the birds since 2010. The research site will span six urban and six natural areas in the county, and researchers
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conference rooms, kitchens and suitestyle rooms. Students living in Delta Hall are a short walk from the U.S. Capitol and Union Station. The residential learning facility was funded by private gifts to the UGA Foundation’s unrestricted endowment and involved no state dollars. To honor a $5 million grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation for the project, the university named the building Delta Hall. Total fundraising for the facility is nearing a final goal of $12.5 million. UGA in Washington and Delta Hall currently serve as home base for the Congressional Agricultural Fellowship Program, offered through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; the Washington Semester Program; Honors in Washington and other opportunities available to UGA students.