UGA Columns Oct. 30, 2017

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Terry College study looks at why educated communities, cities are good for business RESEARCH NEWS

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Spotlight on the Arts festival set for Nov. 1-12— see special section for events Vol. 45, No. 14

October 30, 2017

www.columns.uga.edu

SPECIAL SECTION

INSIDE

Clark Howell Hall dedicated during Oct. 23 ceremony

By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu

Andrew Davis Tucker

Tommy Naranjo, left, and Preston Tucker, right, pose with Gizmo the Dog. Naranjo and Tucker’s company PuppyFax will match reputable dog breeders with prospective buyers.

Vision into reality

Entrepreneurship Program trains more than 300 students to launch startup businesses By Leigh Beeson lbeeson@uga.edu

More than 300 University of Georgia students have been inspired and trained to launch their own startup businesses, benefiting from UGA’s comprehensive Entrepreneurship Program. One of those students is Tommy Naranjo, a third-year management and information systems major from Marietta, who partnered with third-year real estate major Preston Tucker to create PuppyFax LLC. Their web-based service, PuppyFax. com, will help match responsible, reputable dog breeders with prospective buyers. Naranjo and Tucker’s company won UGA’s Spring 2017 Idea Accelerator, an intensive eight-week “business boot camp” held twice a year to help students turn their

visions and ideas into actual companies with business plans. They also were part of the inaugural Summer Launch program. The eight student businesses participating in the launch received $5,000 to help develop their companies, with the possibility of earning another $5,000 if their group won the competition. “It’s a very intense, very good program, with no sugar coating,” Naranjo said. “If you’re not doing the work, you’re not going to be cut out for starting your own business.” In 2016, the university implemented an experiential learning requirement for students to obtain hands-on opportunities to take their disciplines outside the classroom through undergraduate research, internships, study abroad and service learning. The Entrepreneurship Program is a highly

visible example of how that requirement both enhances student learning and gives them real-world work experience before graduation by helping them create full-fledged products and companies. The program is also a key part of the university’s push to promote entrepreneurship throughout the institution. “The Entrepreneurship Program is an integral part of the university experience for someone who wants to go out and someday start their own business, whether that’s now or 15 years from now,” said Bob Pinckney, director of entrepreneurial programs. Although Pinckney’s program is based in the Terry College of Business, it attracts budding entrepreneurs from across UGA. “The Entrepreneurship See ENTREPRENEURSHIP on page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH

University grows economy, promotes economic prosperity in rural Georgia through partnership By Kelly Simmons

simmonsk@uga.edu

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories about UGA and economic development throughout Georgia. In 2005, Colquitt County was experiencing growing pains. Sanderson Farms had announced plans to build a chicken processing plant in the south Georgia community, bringing 1,400 jobs to the area. While the new plant was welcome, it presented challenges. The county had limited sewer capacity, few housing options and no round-the-clock child care, a necessity for parents working

overnight shifts. At the same time, faculty in the University of Georgia’s Public Service and Outreach office and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences were discussing a new program designed to link the resources of the university to the economic development needs of the state. The program would be based on the Cooperative Extension model, with UGA employees stationed in Georgia communities to help address economic development issues. The new program was named the Archway Partnership, and Colquitt County proved to be the

ideal place for a pilot. An Archway Partnership professional was hired to live in Colquitt County and began meeting with local residents to help them reach consensus on their priorities and address the most critical issues. Over the next few years, a steady stream of UGA faculty and students flowed through Colquitt County: • The Carl Vinson Institute of Government worked with county government to find the most costefficient way to increase its wastewater treatment plant. • The College of Environment and Design created landscaping and See RURAL on page 8

UGA President Jere W. Morehead, joined by fellow university leaders, dedicated the newly renovated Clark Howell Hall—which offers greater accessibility for the more than 27,500 people who benefit from the Career Center, the Disability Resource Center and University Testing Services each year. “The renovation of this facility will greatly enhance the worldclass learning environment that we are establishing at the University of Georgia. I encourage our students to continue to utilize the

outstanding services that will be located at Clark Howell Hall,” Morehead said during the Oct. 23 dedication ceremony. The 33,000-square-foot building, originally a residence hall, was constructed in 1937 and is named for Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Georgia political leader Clark Howell. Supported by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and funded by Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia General Assembly, the renovations totaled $6 million—$5 million in state funds appropriated for the project as well as $1 million in

See DEDICATION on page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH

UGA academy helps committees prepare for legislative session By Christopher James chtjames@uga.edu

The University of Georgia is helping state legislators learn more about complex environmental issues facing their communities. For the past six years, members of the state House of Representatives’ Natural Resources and Environment Committee have met annually as part of the Environmental Policy Academy, led by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA. “In natural resources, everything ends in an -ist or -ology,” said Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan, who chairs the committee. “It’s all academic, technical. I thought we just

need a little bit more of an academic setting to feel more comfortable when we debate. At least we’ll know the right questions to ask.” The academy is supported by grant funds from the R. Howard Dobbs Jr. Foundation and facilitated by Shana Jones, program manager for the institute’s Planning and Environmental Services Unit. Legislators meet in locations around the state to hear from experts on environmental and natural resource issues facing the state. Legislators from a corresponding committee in the state Senate also were invited to this year’s academy, which met in October. Sen. Frank Ginn, R-Danielsville, See ACADEMY on page 8

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

UGA administrator named next athletics director at U. of Virginia Carla Williams, deputy director of athletics at the University of Georgia, has been named director of athletics for the University of Virginia. The appointment makes Williams the first female AfricanAmerican athletics director at a Power Five conference institution and the fifth active female athletics director at that level. “I have had the pleasure of working for many years with Carla Williams as president, provost and faculty athletics representative,” said University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead. “She is an outstanding athletic administrator and importantly a wonderful role model for our student-athletes. I know she will be a superb athletic director for the University of

Virginia. I am proud of her accomplishments as one of our exceptional graduates.” Williams has the unique background Carla Williams of competing, coaching and administering at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics. She was an All-SEC guard on the basketball court, then helped recruit and coach some of the greatest teams in UGA’s history before moving on to become one of the highest-ranking female administrators in Division I athletics. During Williams’ tenure as an

See ATHLETICS on page 2


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