UGA Columns Sept. 25, 2017

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UGA researchers develop hydrogel that repairs traumatic brain injuries RESEARCH NEWS

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Louise Blair Daura gets her due in new Georgia Museum of Art exhibition Vol. 45, No. 9

September 25, 2017

www.columns.uga.edu

UGA GUIDE

4&5

University becomes major partner in research consortium

By Charlene Betourney cbetourney@uga.edu

Chad Osburn

UGA President Jere W. Morehead shakes hands with Gov. Nathan Deal as Georgia first lady Sandra Deal looks on during the Sept. 15 dedication and groundbreaking at the Terry Business Learning Community.

Building the future

Phase II of Business Learning Community dedicated, ground broken for Phase III

By Matt Weeks

mweeks@uga.edu

The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business celebrated the expansion of its new home, the state-of-the-art Business Learning Community, Sept. 15 with a dedication and groundbreaking ceremony.

“These new facilities for the Terry College of Business are a tremendous investment in our state’s future,” said Gov. Nathan Deal.

“Our higher education institutions play an important role in the economic development of our state and local communities. The thousands of students who are educated here will become the business leaders of tomorrow, ensuring prosperous days ahead for all Georgians.”

Construction of the complex’s second phase, composed of Amos

Hall, Benson Hall and MooreRooker Hall, was completed in the summer. Students have been attending classes in the buildings since August. Following the dedication, the college ceremonially broke ground on the third and final phase of the Business Learning Community.

“Our institutions play a vital role in preparing the workforce, and the University of Georgia is developing the talent needed for the bright future of this state,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “We are grateful for the support of Governor Deal, the State Legislature and alumni and donors who together make it possible for the Terry College of Business to prepare students to compete, innovate and lead in the global economy.”

In all, Phase II spans approximately 140,000 gross square feet

and includes two large auditoriums, eight classrooms, a capital markets lab, a music business lab, an undergraduate commons, team rooms, and offices for faculty and staff members. Its construction was supported by $49 million in state funds and $14 million in private donations.

“Today we are celebrating more than bricks and mortar—we are celebrating the great partnership between the university, our alumni and friends and the state of Georgia,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “The University of Georgia is grateful for the deep support that exists for our institution and its outstanding Terry College of Business.”

At the center of Phase II is Amos Hall, named in honor of Daniel P. Amos of Columbus. On See BLC on page 8

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Steven Stice is leading researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center in a newly funded research consortium designed to hasten the development of advanced cell therapies for a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

With $20 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, the Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies, dubbed CMaT, will bring together RBC researchers, industry partners, clinicians,

engineers, cell biologists and immunologists.

“Partnerships of this nature—that span different universities and sectors— Steven Stice are critical to advancing human health around the world,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead, “and I want to congratulate Dr. Stice and his team at the University of Georgia for helping to drive this important research center.”

See RESEARCH on page 8

HONORS PROGRAM

Ten students, alumni receive Fulbright offers for 2017–2018

By Melissa Campbell

melissa.campbell25@uga.edu

This year, 10 University of Georgia students and alumni were offered grants to take their research and teaching to a global level through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. This marks the fourth straight year—and eighth time in the past nine years—that UGA has achieved a double-digit number of Fulbright offers.

Of the 10, six were able to take advantage of the opportunity. Four received academic grants, and two will be teaching English.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent college graduates and graduate students.

As the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored

by the U.S. Department of State, it is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and countries worldwide.

Four students and alumni received Fulbright academic grants.

Their study concentrations and host countries are: • James Thompson of Augusta will be participating in the Young Professional Journalist Program in Freiburg, Germany, interning with various media companies and researching how religious groups interact with secular communities.

He received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history this past May. • Samuel Schaffer of Atlanta will be working as a binational business intern in Mexico City, Mexico. He graduated from UGA this past May with a bachelor’s degree in See FULBRIGHT on page 8

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

UGA president, ag college dean, state leaders Grants awarded for six Global tour Northeast Georgia farms, nurseries Research Collaboration projects

By Merritt Melancon jmerritt@uga.edu

From the trees that beautify Georgia’s landscapes to the cows that produce milk to feed Georgia families, agriculture in this state is diverse and faces a range of challenges. University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead and state leaders learned more about these challenges and Northeast Georgia’s farms, nurseries and the agritourism industry Sept. 19 during the annual farm tour.

“As a land-grant institution, the University of Georgia is committed to helping our state’s agriculture

industry thrive,” said Morehead.

“Today we were reminded not only of the far-reaching scope of agriculture in Georgia but also of the vital partnership between the university and farmers across the state.”

This is the fifth consecutive year Morehead has joined Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and members of the Georgia General Assembly to visit Georgia farms and food-based businesses around the state since becoming president of UGA. In 2013, the delegation visited farms in northwest Georgia; in 2014, they visited southwest Georgia; in 2015, they toured the northeast region of the

state; and in 2016, they visited farms in middle Georgia.

“Our state’s agriculture is exceptionally diverse, and I believe our tours over the past five years have mirrored that diversity,” Black said.

“This year’s focus really highlights the value of continued collaboration between the department and the university, especially in the green industry. It is always gratifying to witness firsthand the results of ongoing cooperation between our farming community and those who support it.”

Sen. John Wilkinson, chairman of the Georgia State Senate See TOUR on page 8

By Sue Myers Smith suesmith@uga.edu

Six collaborative, international research projects housed at the University of Georgia have received seed funding under UGA’s Global Research Collaboration Grant program.

The program funds a range of early-stage projects with significant global impact. Each initiative received between $4,000 and $8,000 to cover initial project costs.

“Some of the most important challenges facing researchers today are global in nature,” said

Brian Watkins, director of international partnerships at the Office of International Education. “Solving them requires international engagement. By providing initial support to promising projects, UGA can enhance its global reach and reputation.”

Funding is provided twice a year by the Office of International Education and the Office of Research, matched by academic departments.

“These types of seed grants showcase the depth and breadth of the international research collaborations being carried out

See GRANTS on page 8

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Commit to Georgia 2018

Why I Give

Name: John F. “Jack” Crowley Position: Professor and former dean of the College of Environment + Design At UGA: 21 years

Beneficiary of his gift to the university: The College of Environment + Design, in particular the master’s program in environmental planning and design Jack Crowley

Why he contributes: “I was born into a large and good family that was poor. College, where I struggled financially, was interrupted by a 1965 draft notice for the Vietnam War. From that low point on, I have been blessed and privileged with successes in the military, and later in government and the private sectors. At 52, I was once again fortunate to come to UGA and enter an academic chapter in a wonderful career. It’s been a joy to be able to share good fortunes with new generations of graduate students, many of whom are on similar journeys.

Selfishly? It just makes one feel good.”

To make your contribution to the Commit to Georgia Campaign, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 706-542-8119 or visit give.uga.edu.

Around academe

Harvard president to step down

Catherine G. (Drew) Faust, a Civil War historian and Harvard University’s first female president, plans to step down next June, according to a report in the The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Faust took the helm of Harvard in 2007, assured of her place in the history of the university and of higher education while dismissive of the pioneering label that would forever be affixed to her.

Faust stated in a letter that she intends to stay on as president through the completion of a capital campaign, which already has surpassed a public goal of $6.5 billion.

The membership of the faculty and staff advisory committees for the search to fill Faust’s position have been named. The composition of a third advisory committee, consisting of students from across the university, will be announced later.

News to Use

UHC’s 2017 flu campaign underway

The University Health Center’s flu campaign and mobile clinic tour for 2017 are now underway. For more information, visit www.uhs.uga.edu.

Faculty and staff members who would rather make an appointment for a flu shot at the UHC Allergy and Travel Clinic can call 706-542-5575. An appointment can be scheduled for Tuesday-Friday.

In October, the Allergy and Travel Clinic will offer Walk-in Wednesdays. Come in from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive a flu shot and also visit the UGA Taqueria 1785 food truck.

Additionally, UGA students can schedule appointments for a flu shots in their Primary Care Medical Clinic, or they can receive a shot during a routine visit.

Bring a valid UGA ID and a current insurance card. Flu shots are $45 for the uninsured.

For all others, paperwork (except for the Kaiser plan) will be filed with insurance.

The University Health Center accepts cash, credit card, Payflex and Bulldog Bucks. A valid UGA ID card is required. Dependents must be accompanied by a parent or spouse/partner.

Source: University Health Center

PERIODICALS POSTAGE STATEMENT Columns (USPS 020-024) is published weekly during the academic year and

biweekly during the summer for the faculty and staff of the University of Georgia by the Division of Marketing & Communications. Periodicals postage is paid in Athens, Georgia. Postmaster: Send off-campus address changes to Columns, UGA Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Athens, GA 30602-1999.

TROPICAL STORM IRMA

Unit-based teams keep university operational during weather closing

By Krista Richmond, Saleen Martin and Jim Lichtenwalter krichmond@uga.edu, saleen.martin25@uga.edu, ­­james.lichtenwal25@uga.edu

During times of inclement weather and other campus closures, many university employees step up to keep essential services running.

That held true earlier this month when UGA closed for two days after Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for all of Georgia’s 159 counties due to Tropical Storm Irma, which damaged trees and caused power outages across the state—­ including on the UGA campus and throughout Athens-Clarke County.

Several UGA units went above and beyond their normal duties to keep the university operational during the closing.

“I am grateful to the many ­employees of the University of Georgia who worked tirelessly, in challenging conditions, to protect our campuses and restore normal operations soon after the storm passed,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “On behalf of our faculty, staff and students, I want to thank these individuals for their hard work and dedication.”

UGA employees began preparing for the storm even before the Sept. 9 announcement that the university would be closed due to the pending impact of Irma, which was wreaking havoc in Florida as a category 4 hurricane at the time.

Finance & Administration

The UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness activated the campus Emergency Operations Center early Sept. 11 in coordination with various campus departments to monitor the weather, provide and receive ­information updates, coordinate with

Workers clear debris around campus after Tropical Storm Irma.

local and state officials and organize and manage storm-related issues.

“We have really good relationships within the university and AthensClarke County, which helped in coordinating a more efficient response to Tropical Storm Irma. Not only were we working on the Athens campus stormrelated issues, we were in contact with other UGA properties around the state that were impacted by the storm to assist where needed,” said Steve Harris, director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness. “As with any event, we plan to collaborate with our campus and local partners to see where we can improve our response efforts to be better prepared for the next emergency.”

All hands were on deck at the UGA Police Department, which canceled all police personnel off-days, leaves and training sessions in preparation for the storm. Officers patrolled the campus, assisted with the removal of debris and downed trees and checked building alarms resulting from structural damage. Many officers worked their normal schedules and were required to work extra hours to ensure campus was safe.

GRADY COLLEGE

Andrew Davis Tucker

The majority of full-time dining team members were on campus to staff the dining halls. All five of the dining commons stayed open each day. Since all retail locations are closed when the university is closed, the retail team provided extra assistance to the dining halls during the inclement weather.

In addition to serving students, the commissary and Campus Catering teams provided complimentary meals to staff working in the Emergency Operations Center. Central Food Storage kept the dining halls stocked with groceries and came to the aid of the Niche during the power outage by picking up perishable items and transporting them to the warehouse for freezer and cooler storage until power was restored. Campus Eateries and Campus Catering sent the Niche canned soft drinks, hot coffee, bottled water and prepackaged snack items to serve while the power was out. Snelling sent prepared sandwiches, pastries and cookies. Bolton welcomed and fed numerous staff members from the Facilities Management Division.

See CLOSING on page 7

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Harvard Law professor Georgia Drone Summit to explore multiple applications discusses US Constitution

By James Lichtenwalter of growing technology james.lichtenwal25@uga.edu Registration is now open for the inaugural Georgia Drone Summit, Oct. 20-21, at the Classic Center in Athens.

Sponsored in part by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the summit will explore the diversity of drone use by connecting professionals across an array of industries including agriculture, surveying, engineering, journalism, marketing, tourism and more.

“Drones are an increasingly important part of the media landscape, be it journalism, film, public relations or advertising,” said Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College. “We want to bring the industry together, get to know as many of the players as possible and build ties between them and our students.”

The summit will feature a showcase of innovative drone projects along with keynote presentations and panel discussions covering technology, business practices, legal issues and ethics.

In addition to Grady College, several other industry partners are sponsoring the summit including CNN Aerial Imagery and Reporting,Turner Entertainment, the Weather Channel, the National Press Photographers Association and the New Media Institute.

“Drones can be an invaluable addition to the journalist’s toolkit, allowing us to create unique and powerful imagery, to be more creative in our storytelling and more importantly, to add context and understanding for all of our viewers and users,” said Greg Agvent, senior director of CNN Air. “As a new and nascent industry, we’re making headway on the opportunities that are before us, but continued collaboration and the exchange of ideas and information are necessary to stay on that upward trajectory.”

Registration is $125 for UGA faculty and staff.

For more details, visit http://georgiadronesummit.com/.

Stretching across four sheets and topping out at 4,543 words, the U.S. Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government. The document was created and signed by the framers during the 1787 Constitutional Convention on Sept. 17, a day which is now observed each year as Constitution Day. In recognition, UGA hosted a lecture by Michael Klarman, a Constitutional law and history expert and the Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School.

The lecture, “The Constitution as a Coup Against Public Opinion,” was one of UGA’s designated fall 2017 Signature Lectures. It focused on Klarman’s 2016 book The Framers’ Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution.

In his lecture, Klarman discussed how the framers of the Constitution wrote the document as a “conservative counterrevolution against the forces of democracy and redistribution that were set in motion or accelerated by the Revolutionary War.” Representatives at the Convention were alarmed by the populist undertones of recent events such as the armed uprising known as Shay’s Rebellion. In response they created a Constitution that was nationalizing, democracy-constraining and anti-populist.

The Constitution shifted a lot of power from the state and local level to the federal level, according to Klarman.

“The framers tried to set up a national government that would be less directly susceptible to popular political influence that existed under the state constitutions of the time,” said Klarman, who also discussed the powers the Constitution bestowed upon the federal government. The Constitution granted the federal government “virtually unlimited” powers in terms of taxing its citizens and raising an army. Despite these powers, its ratification involved a democratic process that was previously unseen in society.

RESEARCH NEWS

columns.uga.edu Sept. 25, 2017

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Digest Peabody welcomes four new media industry leaders to its advisory board

Dorothy Kozlowski

Lohitash Karumbaiah led the research team that created a hydrogel matrix that can treat traumatic brain injuries.

Brain Glue

Regenerative Bioscience Center researchers develop hydrogel that repairs traumatic brain injuries

By Charlene Betourney cbetourney@uga.edu

Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center have developed Brain Glue, a substance that could one day serve as a treatment for traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. The Brain Glue is a hydrogel matrix with a gelatin-like consistency that acts as a scaffolding for transplanted stem cells, which are capable of repairing damaged tissue. With the unique ability to take the shape of the void left in the brain after a severe trauma, the Brain Glue will enable a more natural healing environment for stem cells to colonize and regenerate.

Lohitash Karumbaiah, assistant professor in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, led the team that designed and created Brain Glue. The main difference between Brain Glue and other synthetic

hydrogels, according to the team, is the variety of possibilities to trap neural stem cells, improve integration and reduce the likelihood of rejection.

“It’s very common with these invasive injuries that surgeons will actually remove the part of the dead brain leaving behind a cavity or hole,” said Karumbaiah. “The question is, then, can you replace that with something like our Brain Glue, loaded up with compounds native to the brain together with a mix of protective agents that can be incorporated for the best therapeutic outcome.

“The cool thing about this chemistry is that you can take our Brain Glue liquid formulation and then very briefly expose it to long-wave UV light and form a hydrogel in any shape you like,” he said.

Every day, 153 people in the U.S. die from injuries that include TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those who survive a TBI may live with impaired

thinking, memory, movement or sensation. TBIs also can lead to personality and emotional changes.

The new approach is described in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering and a recently awarded abstract from the International Brain Injury Association.

Steven Stice, director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center, is working with Karumbaiah on a licensed technology for commercialization of the new Brain Glue, which was recently named best abstract at a meeting of the International Brain Injury Association.

Karumbaiah’s work recently attracted a four-year, $1.5 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“Lohitash sets an example for other junior faculty to emulate,” said Stice, GRA Eminent Scholar and D.W. Brooks Professor in CAES. “To be recognized internationally at such an early stage takes great skill and dedication.”

SAVANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LABORATORY

Aquatic rest stops may pose hazards for waterfowl

By Vicky L. Sutton-Jackson vsuttonj@uga.edu

Migratory waterfowl around the world travel hundreds to thousands of miles annually, stopping at lakes, ponds and marshes to refuel and breed. Some of these aquatic rest stops may be at sites polluted by remnants of radioactive waste from nuclear production or accidents, exposing the birds to contamination that they take with them.

This poses a potential risk to humans if the waterfowl enter the food chain.

Now scientists at the University of Georgia have identified two factors that affect the accumulation of a radioactive contaminant in waterfowl.

The study, published recently in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, reveals that the wild birds’ uptake of radiocesium is influenced by two main factors­—the amount of time the bird inhabits a contaminated body of water and the bird’s foraging habits.

Robert Kennamer, lead investigator on the study, guided a team of researchers that examined American coots and ring-necked ducks at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site,

a former nuclear production facility.

Every year thousands of migrant waterfowl visit SRS, which is closed to waterfowl hunting. These birds forage in contaminated areas before resuming their journeys.

“The breeding ranges for both coots and ring-necked ducks extend well into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, so these birds can be making migrations in excess of 1,200 miles,” said Kennamer, a research professional at UGA’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.

For the study, American coots and ring-necked ducks were relocated from a less-contaminated lake at the site to a smaller pond that received higher concentrations of the contaminant. Radiocesium was a byproduct of nuclear production, from the 1950s to 1965.

“Thirty days after we released them onto the pond, we saw increased levels of the contaminant in the coots. For coots that remained on the pond longer—up to five months, there was no additional elevation,” Kennamer said.

In contrast, radiocesium levels continued to rise in the ring-necked ducks up to 21/2 months after the team

moved them onto the pond.

“The differing rates and levels of radiocesium accumulation observed between coots and ring-necked ducks in this study reveal the complexity of how radioactive elements are distributed and accumulated among various plant and animal species within ecosystems,” said James Beasley, co-investigator on the study and assistant professor at SREL and UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Ring-necked ducks are diving ducks, foraging at the bottom of the water body. Their food comes into direct contact with the sediments where radiocesium settles. In contrast, coots primarily feed on aquatic vegetation in shallow or surface water.

Radiocesium is completely released from the waterfowl 30 days after they leave the site, so the potential risk to humans is short term, according to Kennamer.

But the study results are a clear evidence that future cleanup interventions to these aquatic areas must not produce vegetation, or migratory waterfowl will be lured by the bountiful supply and linger in what appears to be a haven.

Peabody has added four new members to its board of advisors, a group of prominent entertainment and media industry leaders providing support for the program’s initiatives.

Launched in 2015, the board of advisors is separate from the traditional board of jurors that each year evaluates entries and bestows the prestigious Peabody Awards for excellence in electronic media. Peabody is based at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

New advisory board members are Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming; David Kramer, co-president, United Talent Agency; John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions; and Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Global Networks.

UGA’s Tull School of Accounting ranks as fourth most admired in US

The J.M. Tull School of Accounting at the University of Georgia was named one of the Top 10 Most Admired Accounting Programs in a new ranking released by Public Accounting Report.

The Tull School is the fourth most admired program among public schools and ranked 10th overall.

Tull is an accredited school of accounting within UGA’s Terry College of Business.

The Tull School also fared well in all three degree program rankings reported in the annual survey. The undergraduate program retained its 11th overall ranking (8th among public institutions). The master’s and doctoral programs each ranked 13th overall (10th among publics).

The Public Accounting Report survey is the only one in which accounting faculty rank the best accounting programs in the nation. Nearly 1,000 accounting professors from 200 college and universities participated in this year’s survey.

Georgia Museum of Art receives three national book awards

The Georgia Museum of Art has received three national awards for its publications.

The museum’s exhibition catalogue for Icon of Modernism: Representing the Brooklyn Bridge, 1883-1950 earned first place in the art category from the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. The book accompanied the exhibition of the same name, on view at the museum Sept. 17-Dec. 11, 2016.

The catalogue includes two essays by Sarah Kate Gillespie, the museum’s curator of American art, as well contributions by Janice Simon, Meigs Associate Professor of Art History at UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art; gallerist Meredith Ward; and Kimberly Orcutt, the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of American Art at the Brooklyn Museum. The Eric Hoffer Award for short prose and books was established at the start of the 21st century as a platform to champion freethinking writers and independent books.

The museum’s exhibition catalogue Paper in Profile: Mixografia and Taller de Grafica Mexicana received an honorable mention from the Eric Hoffer Book Awards in the art category. Paper in Profile also received an honorable mention from the Art Libraries Society of North America for its George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award.

ARLIS/NA does not always list a runner-up for the award, and this is the first time the museum has applied for it. Previous winners include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press and the National Gallery of Art. Paper in Profile, which accompanied the exhibition of the same name in the summer of 2016, features a range of works by 60 different artists who have collaborated with the Mixografia workshop.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE STATEMENT Columns (USPS 020-024) is published weekly during the academic year and

biweekly during the summer for the faculty and staff of the University of Georgia by the Division of Marketing & Communications. Periodicals postage is paid in Athens, Georgia. Postmaster: Send off-campus address changes to Columns, UGA Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Athens, GA 30602-1999.

For a complete listing of events at the University of Georgia, check the Master Calendar on the web (calendar.uga.edu/­).

The following events are open to the public, unless otherwise specified.

Dates, times and locations may change without advance notice.

UGAGUIDE

EXHIBITIONS

Warren H. Manning: Landscape Architect and Environmental Planner. Through Oct. 6. Circle Gallery, Jackson Street Building.

706-542-8292. mtufts@uga.edu Spirited: Prohibition in America. Through Oct. 20. Special collections libraries. 706-542-5788. jhebbard@uga.edu Modern Masters from the Giuliano Ceseri Collection.

Through Nov. 12. ­Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu (See story, below left).

Gold-digging in Georgia: America’s First Gold Rush?

Through Dec. 5. Special collections libraries. 706-542-8079. jclevela@uga.edu Covered With Glory: Football at UGA, 1892-1917. Through Dec. 22. Special collections libraries. 706-542-7123. hasty@uga.edu

MONDAY, SEPT. 25 SYMPOSIUM Join the UGA Institute of Bioinformatics in “Parsing the Microbiome” as its biannual symposium focuses on the microbiome, a collective term for the multitude of microbial communities that form critical components of biological systems important in human health, agriculture and the environment. $25, symposium registration; $35, symposium registration and workshop; $10, student registration; $15, student registration and workshop. 8 a.m. Georgia Center. travisg@uga.edu CLASS Create a Hypertufa planter during this class. Hypertufa is a combination of concrete and other materials to create a very porous structure. These compounds can be used for bird baths or creative garden accents. Wear clothing you do not mind getting wet or dirty. Preregistration required. $40. Visitor Center, classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu CLASS Participants in “Fundamentals of Photography” will learn about lighting, composition, lenses, portraiture basics, creative uses of shutter and aperture and more. $219. For ages 16 and older. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. 6:30 p.m. Georgia Center. 706-542-3537. questions@georgiacenter.uga.edu

TUESDAY, SEPT. 26 TUESDAY TOUR AT TWO Guided tour of the exhibit galleries of the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. Participants should meet in the rotunda on the second floor of the special collections libraries. 2 p.m. 706-542-8079. jclevela@uga.edu EMBRACING DIVERSITY Embracing Diversity is an annual kick-off event to celebrate the

value of diversity and inclusion. At this event, the UGA faculty and staff graduates of the Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion are recognized, as well as the recipients of the Diversity Scholarship and UGA Black Alumni Scholarships. 3 p.m. Chapel.

ECOLOGY SEMINAR “Effective and Evolutionarily Robust Antibiotics,” Sam Brown, Georgia Institute of Technology. A reception, hosted by Andrew Park, will follow at 4:30 p.m. in the lobby. 3:30 p.m. Auditorium, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu PERFORMANCE The Last Witch. Scotland, 1727. An eccentric widow’s refusal to deny charges of witchcraft sets her at odds with a new sheriff, threatening not only her life but that of her daughter.

Performances run Sept. 26-30 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Cellar Theatre. $16, $12 for students.

706-542-2836. wclay87@uga.edu

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27 CLASS In this course, students will step back 300 million years, getting to know plants, their structures and their reproduction. $50.

9 a.m. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden.

706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP PANEL Hear from top female advertising and PR industry executives about the challenges and successes along the path to leadership in their respective companies. Moderated by Grady College professor Karen King. 1:30 p.m. Peyton Anderson Forum, journalism building.

CONSERVATION SEMINAR “Trans-boundary Conservation of Migratory Species: The Monarch Butterfly as a Case Study,” Sonia Altizer, UGA Athletic Association Professor of Ecology. 1:35 p.m. Auditorium, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu TOUR AT TWO Join docents for a tour of Modern Masters from the Giuliano Ceseri Collection. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu (See story, below left.)

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEETING 3:30 p.m. Theatre, Tate Student Center. 706-542-6020. univcouncil@uga.edu STUDENT SUCCESS WORKSHOP “Preparing for Mid-Term Exams” provides useful strategies for preparing for mid-term examinations and teaches some practices that support long-term academic success. Students will learn the importance of active learning strategies, such as how to use the office visit with a professor as a valuable element of their preparation for examinations. 4 p.m. 207 Miller Learning Center. 706-583-0403. khallen@uga.edu

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28 NATURE RAMBLE Join Nature Ramblers and learn more about the natural areas,

Works from the Giuliano Ceseri collection are on display at the Georgia Museum of Art

By Hillary Brown

hazbrown@uga.edu

What were you doing when you were 11 years old? Playing video games? Selling Girl Scout cookies? You probably weren’t collecting art, but Giuliano Ceseri was.

Born in Italy, the son of a tenant farmer, he grew up on the estate of the Strozzi family, just outside Florence. There, he encountered great works of art at a young age, and his interest was sparked. He bought his first engraving at age 11, the beginning of a collection that now numbers thousands of works, mostly prints and drawings. In 1995, he placed about 1,500 of those works on long-term loan to the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia.

The museum has organized several exhibitions from the collection over the past two decades, and it recently opened the latest: Modern Masters from the Giuliano Ceseri Collection, on view through Nov. 12.

Previous exhibitions of Ceseri’s collection have focused more often on the Renaissance-era drawings that make up a large portion of the works he owns and that can be seen in the museum’s Samuel H. Kress Gallery, where they rotate every semester.

This exhibition, on the other hand, consists of drawings by 19th- and 20th-century artists, both American and European, including one of the earliest Ceseri bought, at age14. That drawing is by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, a highly regarded 19th-century French muralist. Although it is unsigned, the sketch of a washerwoman has writing on it that resembles that on other studies by the artist.

While still a child, Ceseri worked in a factory that made nightlights, then as a waiter, buying drawings and prints as he was able to in antiques shops. He eventually parlayed his sharp eye into a career as a gallerist and moved to the U.S. in the 1970s.

The works on display, selected by former Pierre Daura Curator of European Art Lynn Boland, show a range of styles, subjects and purposes. Some are studies for finished works, some come from sketchbooks and others appear to have been made as more finished works. Media are equally varied. Peggy Bacon’s

By Stephanie Motter

stephanie.motter25@uga.edu

When Louise Blair’s Virginia family sent her to Paris in the 1920s to study art, they didn’t expect her to marry her art teacher. The young woman traveled to the City of Lights to learn painting, see the sights and become a more cultured person, not to pursue a career as a professional artist. Shortly after arriving there, she met and fell for the Barcelona-born painter Pierre Daura, who ended up giving her art lessons. Her family disapproved, but she married Daura anyway and painted alongside him.

Blair met with some success at the time, with a painting accepted by the annual Salon d’Automne, but she gradually minimized her career. The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia will present the exhibition Louise Blair Daura: A Virginian in Paris from Sept. 30 through Dec. 10, the first attempt by a museum to examine her work.

Organized by Lynn Boland, the museum’s former Pierre Daura Curator of European Art, the exhibition includes all Louise Blair Daura’s known works and will travel to the Daura Gallery at Lynchburg College after it premieres at the museum. The museum also is publishing a book to accompany the exhibition that includes images of all the work, many of letters she sent to her family while living in Paris and essays

by Boland and Catherine Dossin, associate professor of art history at Purdue University.

Born in Virginia in 1905, Blair studied English at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

She set out for Europe with her cousin Ann

Matthews in fall 1927, shortly after she graduated. That winter, she met Daura and took up painting. Daura painted in both figurative and abstract styles but is best known for his role as a co-founder of the abstract artists’ group Cercle et Carre. Louise did not join the group but instead focused on portraits and landscapes.

Most of the works in the exhibition date from 1928-1930, when Louise was seriously pursuing a career as an artist, but Dossin contends that she stepped back from her career because her work was more traditional than avant-garde.

Louise and Pierre had a daughter, Martha, in 1930, and moved from the exciting arts scene of Paris to a small village in southwest France.

Louise continued to paint and draw but less frequently, and she no longer exhibited her work. She did continue to follow her passion for art by studying and writing on prehistoric art, and she made elaborate birthday and Valentine’s cards for her daughter. Boland said he hopes that “this project prompts a deeper consideration of her work and her insights into the artistic milieu of her time, perhaps making her a bit less obscure.”

Programs related to the exhibition include 90 Carlton: Autumn, the museum’s quarterly reception (free for members of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, $5 nonmembers) Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m.; a Family Day Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon; and a film series focused on Americans in Paris (An American in Paris, The Moderns and Paris Was a Woman), beginning Oct. 26 and screening at 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

All events are open free to the public unless otherwise indicated.

flora and fauna of the State Botanical Garden. Sessions start with an inspirational reading by a nature writer. This is a ramble not a hike; the group will stop to view interesting plants, insects, butterflies, mushrooms, etc., along the way. 9:30 a.m. Meet at the botanical garden’s Shade Garden Arbor.

UGAALERT TEST A full test of UGAAlert, the university’s emergency notification system, will be conducted. 10:45 a.m. 706-542-5845. prepare@uga.edu STUDIO WORKSHOP Join Athens-based artist and educator Brian Hitselberger for a four-part series of drawing courses that serves as an introduction to techniques and materials. Both enthusiastic beginners and more seasoned practitioners are welcome. Topics to be covered include contour, value, simplification and detail, drawing on-the-fly and more focused, detailed methods of markmaking. All sessions will use the museum’s collection as source material, including its archives and many works not regularly on display. Participants will be introduced to brush and ink washes, ink pen, colored pencil and hard and soft graphite. The cost of the course is a $15 materials fee, which will cover all necessary supplies for the four sessions (Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28). Space is limited; call 706-542-8863 or email callan@uga.edu to register.

6:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art.

TERRY LEADERSHIP SPEAKER SERIES The Terry Leadership Speaker Series, presented by the Institute for Leadership Advancement, brings well-known leaders from a variety of organizations to share their unique leadership styles and experiences with students. Dan T. Cathy is chairman and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. and is a member of the company’s board of directors and executive committee.

10:10 a.m. Chapel. 706-542-9770. adavis@uga.edu LECTURE “Feeding Hunger, Reducing Waste: Reflections on Women’s Studies, Civic Engagement and Telos in Teaching/Learning about Food,” Cecilia Herles, women’s studies. Part of the Women’s Studies Friday Speaker Series. 12:20 p.m. 213 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-2846. tlhat@uga.edu

caricature of her fellow artists uses lithographic crayon, a drawing by Giorgio de Chirico uses red chalk and watercolor, and Robert Henri’s two works in the show both make use of charcoal.

Even as they differ, each work has an immediacy that sets it apart from paintings or prints by the same artists. Collectively, they offer an opportunity to study widely disparate approaches to making marks on paper. They also serve as an inspiration. Often, collecting art is thought of as only for the wealthy, but Ceseri’s story shows that persistence and education are just as important as financial means.

Related events include a docent-led tour Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.; a Family Day Sept. 30 at 10 a.m.; a Toddler Tuesday Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. (for families with children ages 18 months to 3 years; email sagekincaid@uga.edu or call 706-542-0448 to reserve a spot); 90 Carlton: Autumn, the museum’s quarterly reception (free for members of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, $5 nonmembers) Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m.; and a public tour with William U. Eiland, the museum’s director, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. All events are open free to the public unless otherwise indicated.

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

4&5

Daura gets her due in new museum exhibition

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

A new exhibition of works collected by Giuliano Ceseri is on display at the Georgia Museum of Art through Nov. 12.

columns.uga.edu Sept. 25, 2017

CONNECT TO PROTECT EVENT Come peruse native plant pairings and collections. Staff will share their favorite combinations of species for dynamic displays. $20. Registration required at botgarden.uga.edu. 5 p.m.

Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu

Louise Blair Daura: A Virginian in Paris, on display at the Georgia Museum of Art from Sept. 30 through Dec. 10, is the first attempt by a museum to examine her work.

photography skills for flower and landscape portraits. In the morning session, participants will review choosing and using appropriate camera equipment. Next, instructors will cover composition, isolating the subject, working with light and shooting landscapes, flower portraits and close-ups. The morning will conclude with a photography exercise in the garden (weather permitting) or the conservatory. After lunch (not included; Cafe Botanica or brown bag), there will be a review of student photos from the morning exercise and an overview on using free software tools to enhance, edit and share photos. $50.

Preregistration required. 10 a.m. Visitor Center, classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu EXHIBITION OPENING Louise Blair Daura: A Virginian in Paris is the first attempt by a museum to examine the work of Daura, who moved to Paris to study art and married her art teacher, Barcelona-born painter Pierre Daura. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu (See story, above.)

FAMILY DAY Check out 19th- and 20th-century drawings from the Ceseri Collection, then try out different drawings, materials and techniques to create a work of art in the Michael and Mary Erlanger Studio Classroom. Family programs are sponsored by Heyward Allen Motor Co., Inc., Heyward Allen Toyota and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art. 10 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu (See story, left.)

WORKSHOP “Garden Photography Basics” helps participants enhance their

ATHENS JAZZ FESTIVAL This free concert features performances from a wide variety of outstanding musicians and singers. 1 p.m. Georgia Center lawn.

706-542-9842.

MONDAY, OCT. 2 CTL FACULTY SERIES The focus of Tiffany Washington’s Award Winning Faculty Series talk will be the ways in which faculty can connect their in-class teaching to their larger research agenda. Focusing on her own pedagogical practice, Washington, an assistant professor in the University of Georgia School of Social Work, will highlight experiential learning techniques and share from her own pedagogical practice, including students’ feedback. Launched in fall 2013, CTL’s Award Winning Faculty Series has hosted several of UGA’s award-winning faculty representing numerous academic disciplines and specialties. This interactive series highlights UGA’s best and brightest in instruction. 11 a.m. 250 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-1355.

WORKSHOP Oct. 3. “Introduction to Effective Service-Learning Course Design” includes key components and best practices for faculty or graduate students interested in how to design and implement a service-learning course. 9:30 a.m. Conference room, rear annex, Office of Service-Learning Building. 706-542-0892. pmatthew@uga.edu LUNCH & LEARN Oct. 3. The Innovation Gateway Lunch & Learn series provides training and presentation sessions that occur once a month during the lunch hour. The goal is to inform and inspire individuals working with startup companies as well as those interested in issues facing university startups. Topics range from employment issues and tax credits to grant programs and intellectual property. The Innovation Gateway Lunch & Learn in October will feature Stephen MacDonald, managing director of the Bio/Med

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.

UGA STAFF COUNCIL MEETING Oct. 4. 2:30 p.m. 207 Miller Learning Center. 706-425-3183. mmoore10@uga.edu

CONCERT The Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra features professional soloists and students from Moscow’s Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. This engaging pops concert includes an array of popular selections as well as traditional Russian folk music. $25. 3 p.m.

Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400.

(See story, right.)

COMING UP

YOM KIPPUR Jewish religious observance.

ECOLOGY SEMINAR Oct. 3. “Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases in the US: Climate Influences on Tick-Host-Pathogen Interactions,” Maria Diuk-Wasser, Columbia University. A reception hosted by Andrew Park follows the seminar at 4:30 p.m. in the lobby. 3:30 p.m. Auditorium, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu

SUNDAY, OCT. 1

VOLLEYBALL vs. Texas A&M. 7 p.m. Ramsey Student Center.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

Investor Network. The Bio/Med Investor Network was created by Georgia Bio to connect early-stage biomedical and healthcarerelated companies with angel investors interested in advancing technologies in Georgia’s life sciences industry. The event is open free to the public. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Tina Christie at tina@uga.edu or 706-542-0796. Noon.

Room 128/130 CAGTECH.

Any additional information about the event may be sent directly to Columns. Email is preferred (columns@uga.edu), but materials can be mailed to Columns, Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.

The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall.

Performing Arts Center to present Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra

By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu

The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall.

The program will feature popular selections as well as Russian folk music performed on traditional instruments including the bayan, domra and balalaika.

The Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra is composed of professional soloists and students from Moscow’s Gnessin Academy of Music, one of Russia’s most prestigious conservatories. The orchestra is conducted by Boris Voron, an Honored Artist of Russia.

During the orchestra’s visit to Athens, the Performing Arts Center will present a concert for local elementary school students on the Performances for Young People series, and members of the orchestra also will work with students from UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Tickets for the Oct. 1 concert are $25 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400.

NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES Sept. 27 (for Oct. 9 issue) Oct. 4 (for Oct. 16 issue) Oct. 11 (for Oct. 23 issue)

6 Sept. 25, 2017 columns.uga.edu

Mary Ann Johnson, the Flatt Professor in Foods and Nutrition in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been named president of the American Society for Nutrition.

Johnson, who also serves as the associate director of the University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology within the College of Public Health, will serve a oneyear term.

Established in 1928, the ASN has more than 6,500 members in 75 countries who work in Mary Ann Johnson academia, government, industry and practice.

Among Johnson’s key priorities during her presidency are endorsing strategic planning and vision for the future of nutrition science; leading the launch of Nutrition 2018, ASN’s new scientific sessions and annual meeting; and advocating for increased research funding for nutrition from government and the private sector.

Johnson joined the college’s foods and nutrition department in 1983 and was named the inaugural Flatt Professor in 2008.

Petros Panaou, a clinical associate professor in the College of Education’s language and literacy education department, recently received an award from the Cyprus section of the International Board on Books for Young People for a Greek science fiction manuscript he wrote last year.

Representing an international network of people from all over the world, the International Board on Books for Young People is a nonprofit organization that brings books and children together. Panaou became a Petros Panaou member of the U.S. section and a state ambassador of the organization after serving as a board member of the Cyprus section for several years. His manuscript, which was judged in a blind review process along with novels submitted by Greek-speaking authors from around the world, will likely be published as a result of the recognition.

Panaou’s manuscript, The Cellphone, follows Renos, a 15-year-old boy growing up in a world plagued by economic depression, racism, xenophobia and extremism. Even when someone is willing to listen, Renos’ shyness and social awkwardness prevent him from communicating with his peers as well as adults. But as clumsy as he is with oral communication, he excels as both a reader and writer. His extraordinary skills with the written word come in handy when he discovers an amazing device that he initially mistakes for a cellphone.

Frank Martin, a member of the University of Georgia football program’s video operations department, was recently awarded the Recruiting SAVVY Award for his video Autumn Fire: Humility.

The award was presented by the Collegiate Sports Video Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to professional sports video, at its recent annual conference in Atlanta. There are three SAVVY award categories—motivational, highlight and recruiting—along with one Ultimate SAVVY Award for the best overall video from the three categories. Winners for each category are selected by receiving the most votes from peer sports video members of the CSVA. To be considered for these awards, each video must meet specific criteria.

Martin created the video with Neil Peterson and Eric Black under the direction of producers Clark Williams and Brett Greene. Narration was by Aneek James and Mike Young. Additional contributions were made by IMG, Marina Cunn and Grayson Holt.

Kudos recognizes special contributions of staff, faculty and administrators in teaching, research and service. News items are limited to election into office of state, regional, national and international societies; major awards and prizes; and similarly notable accomplishments.

FACULTY PROFILE

Dorothy Kozlowski

Kevin Jones’ interest in the Middle East started as an undergraduate, and he now specializes in 20th-century Iraqi history.

Professor brings passion for Middle East history, discovery to classroom

By Alan Flurry

aflurry@uga.edu

Assistant professor Kevin Jones’ career encapsulates the power of discovery in the liberal arts.

As the Middle East expert in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences history department, Jones teaches a three-part survey on the region, a course on the Arab-Israel conflict and an Honors course on religion, nationalism and revolution. The combination reflects an ongoing scholarly journey that all began in Jones’ earliest days of college.

“My first day as an undergraduate student was Sept. 11, 2001,” Jones said.

“The Middle East was in the news, and as an undergraduate I took some classes to try and better understand it.”

A philosophy major at Wake Forest University, Jones gravitated toward history as a second major before committing to the discipline as his primary academic focus.

“When I started taking courses on the Middle East, at first I was more interested in learning more about the history of Islam,” Jones said. “But when the Iraq War began—I was a junior—I became more interested in the history of imperial encounters in the region. I wrote for the student newspaper and became more interested in Iraqi history, and now 20th-century Iraq has become my specialty.”

After his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan, Jones completed

a one-year fellowship at the George Washington University Institute for Middle East Studies. He has spent time living in Egypt and Yemen, experiences that can find their way into the classroom.

“It gives me some stories to share,” Jones said. “When we talk about the Arab Spring uprisings for example, I was in Egypt until about six months before the revolution. Students have a lot of interest in hearing what it was like, how unexpected it was.

“Attending house parties in Cairo six months prior to the revolution and hearing young people in their 20s lament that ‘a revolution could never happen here,’ because people are too ambivalent or not invested enough in the political situation is a reminder that revolutions can happen quite unexpectedly,” he also said.

Jones’ expertise includes the first half of 20th-century Iraqi history, through 1963.

“It’s little bit hard to find the right terminology to describe it because Iraq was an independent country but it was still very closely tied to Britain,” Jones said. “Most Iraqis felt they were still living under colonialism, as they were living under a monarchy that had been put in place by the British Empire.”

Jones finds that students are perhaps more open to thinking critically about historical episodes of colonialism.

“When we start by talking about what France did in Algeria, what the fascists did in Libya, students tend to

FACTS Kevin M. Jones

Assistant Professor of History Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Ph.D., History, University of Michigan, 2013 B.A., History, Wake Forest University, 2005 At UGA: Three years

have an easier time thinking about the disastrous impact of colonialism on the social fabric of the Middle East,” he said.

Jones’ knowledge of Arabic is a crucial part of his scholarship that adds currency to his teaching.

“Perhaps it is a holdover from my liberal arts education, but when I choose primary sources for the students, I really try hard to cast a wider net than certainly the Middle East history courses I took as an undergraduate,” he said. “I’m less interested in reading state documents and treaties, and so I try to add selections from literature, poetry and memoirs, a varied body of sources so people see a variety of voices and perspectives.”

For his book project on 20thcentury Iraqi history, Jones integrates his own translations into the historical archive informing his book.

“Part of the work is on poetry and the history of poets in social interaction with dissidents, so it will include a social and cultural history of poets and the interactions in society,” he said.

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Executive director of University Housing named

By Stan Jackson ugastan@uga.edu

Linda Kasper, currently executive director of residential education at the University of South Florida, has been named executive director of University Housing at the University of Georgia.

Kasper will provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive housing and residential life program for UGA students. She will report directly to the vice president for student affairs and serve as a member of the leadership team for the Division of Student Affairs.

“I am extremely excited for Linda’s innovative leadership in helping us to provide the best residential life and learning experience possible for UGA students,” said Victor K. Wilson, vice president for student affairs. “Her depth of expertise and experience, along with her leadership on the national level, will be a tremendous benefit for housing and residential life at UGA.”

Kasper’s appointment is effective Dec. 11.

In this role, she will lead a department that accommodates more than 7,600 students in 22 residence halls, almost 600 family Linda Kasper and graduate apartment units, 48 townhouses and six single family homes on the Health Sciences Campus and four Greek Park fraternity houses. She will oversee more than 200 full-time employees, nearly 500 student employees and administer a departmental budget of approximately $47 million.

Specifically, Kasper will further enhance the department’s impact on student learning and development and connections with faculty and academic partners, continue to upgrade and improve the campus’ housing supply,

including the ongoing renovation of Russell Hall, and implement the Housing Comprehensive Plan.

“I have known past interns, graduate students, staff members and current staff working at UGA,” she said. “It is an honor to continue my career at an institution that is innovative, visiondriven and one that promotes student and staff success.”

Kasper brings more than 20 years of experience in University Housing. She previously served as assistant director for residential education at the University of Arizona and director of residential education and associate director of University, Housing and Dining Services at Oregon State University.

Kasper earned her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in broadcasting from Northern Michigan University.

CLOSING from page 2

The Services Department prepared early for flood situations. Approximately 100 grounds department staff worked during the storm, giving priority to making sure parking lots, walkways and paths between residence and dining halls were clear. The operations and maintenance had about 25 people available to respond to power outages and drainage concerns.

The payroll team and Administrative Information Systems worked to ensure payroll was processed early so payroll checks would be issued in a timely manner. Finance & Administration IT staff also came in to check on servers and systems to ensure staff could access electronic resources.

Risk management and insurance representatives stood by throughout the storm to provide support and will continue to evaluate and support repair needs.

Division of Student Affairs

While residence halls remained opened, all campus events and activities were canceled. Staff in the Division of Student Affairs handled the operational logistics in both areas.

Residential Programs and Services reviewed inclement weather procedures with staff and residents and ensured they had supplies on hand to address water-related issues.

Housing facilities staff inspected each residence hall for building integrity and possible debris. Senior/area coordinators were in communication with the staff from their areas, relaying information about issues that were occurring and sharing information with staff about university and community response efforts.

Housing Facilities added on-call staff to be on campus during the storm. Five additional Housing maintenance staff arrived at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 and spent the night on campus in the residence halls and at the University Village administration building. Live-in staff also were present in every residence hall.

According to the Tate Student Center’s Office of Campus Reservations, Events and Technical Services, close to 400 activities were canceled due to the university’s closing.

The office is currently working with individual organizations to reschedule activities affected by the weather.

“The safety and well-being of our students is of primary importance, and this was yet another example of Student Affairs staff making every effort to ensure our students are safe and supported. I’m so grateful to have a team so committed to our students,” said Victor K. Wilson, vice president for student affairs.

Enterprise Information Technology Services

The Enterprise Information Technology Services data center remained staffed, and workers monitored IT services throughout the storm. A crisis center was maintained

by EITS leadership between 7 a.m. Sept. 11 and 1 p.m.

Sept. 13. Throughout Sept. 11 and 12, the department remained in close contact with the Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Emergency Operations Center.

Public Service and Outreach

UGA Public Service and Outreach units stepped up to provide lodging, food, water and other supplies for families in need.

The Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel provided a home-away-from-home for evacuees as well as some local students and residents who needed temporary shelter. Hotel staff brought in games and toys to keep the several dozen children at the hotel entertained during their stay.

columns.uga.edu Sept. 25, 2017

Two new UGA teams help local community during Irma

By Krista Richmond and Saleen Martin

krichmond@uga.edu, saleen.martin25@uga.edu

In addition to keeping the university operational when it was closed because of Tropical Storm Irma, two groups from UGA pitched in to help the local community.

The UGA Medical Reserve Corps and Citizen Emergency Response Team provided pre-credentialed volunteers to staff a citizen call center within the Athens-Clarke County Emergency Operations Center for ­12-hour shifts Sept. 11 and 12 to decrease the call volume to the 911 center.

The volunteers answered all non-emergency questions and took down information on such things as school closures and downed trees and power lines and provided that information to appropriate representatives in the emergency operations center.

Volunteers also provided resource information to callers, including evacuees from Florida, about reporting downed power lines, finding assistance for flooded homes and seeking shelter.

UGA MRC is a new unit and is looking for volunteers.

“We saw in the Irma response that if we had more volunteers, we could have supported shelters south of us,” said Nina Cleveland, UGA MRC co-director. “We really need physicians and nurses.”

Learn more at prepare.uga.edu.

Students and faculty at Grady Newsource teamed up Sept. 9-10 to match evacuees with local residents offering shelter in their own homes.

Newsource students created the Hurricane Irma Switchboard when they realized there weren’t many organizations in Athens that were helping people The hotel also housed employees who worked at the hotel during the storm so that they would not risk their safety driving to and from campus.

The hotel originally was fully booked for a conference from Sept. 10-13. When conference organizers canceled Sept. 9, Georgia Center employees quickly reached out through social media to let displaced families know that rooms were available even though most Athens area hotels were already full.

“I am proud that our Public Service and Outreach units came forward to help people who needed shelter, food and water during the storm,” said Laura Meadows, interim vice president for Public Service and Outreach at UGA. “I am also gratified that we have a community that is willing to step in and help when emergencies arise.”

Campus Kitchen at UGA

UGA students involved in Campus Kitchen launched a special operation the weekend of Sept. 9-10 to provide food to clients who were at risk of being stranded by the weather without sufficient food.

Of the 40 families regularly served by Campus Kitchen, 17 families (38 people, half of them children) were identified as needing non-perishable food and clean drinking water.

Students and staff used social media to solicit supplies, which they collected and distributed the afternoon of Sept. 10.

Donations came from Campus View Church of Christ, residents in the Five Points neighborhood of Athens and

WEEKLY READER

Book details social work case management

Social Work Case Management: Case Studies from the Frontlines

By Michael J. Holosko Sage Publications $90

7

Social work case management is a high growth occupation. Case management, which requires determining the social and/or health care needs of a client and facilitating service use in a community of care, is often part of other social work duties as well as a position in its own right.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of social work case managers in the health care sector are expected to increase 19 percent between 2014 and 2024, a much faster rate than the average for most professions.

To fill the void, Michael J. Holosko wrote and edited Social Work Case Management: Case Studies from the Frontlines with input from 42 contributors. Holosko is the Pauline M. Berger Professor of Family and Child Welfare at the UGA School of Social Work.

Contributors to the book, many from the UGA School of Social Work, provide compelling, real-life examples of how they employ a step-by-step approach to case management known as the task-centered case management model.

find shelter.

“The main goal of the entire project was to help as many people as possible get to safety,” said Garrett Michael, a senior journalism major and Newsource student.

David Hazinski, an assistant professor of journalism, found funding for the program and oversaw it with Dodie Cantrell, a lecturer at Grady.

With help from Don McClain, an application programmer associate at Grady, Newsource students created an online form where evacuees listed their locations and how much space they needed, as well as any necessary accommodations for children and pets.

Hosts filled out the form to offer shelter, and the Newsource staff matched them with families based on similar needs and availability. The switchboard team exchanged contact information between evacuees and hosts so they could make travel arrangements.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 9 and 10, Michael and eight other Newsource students operated the switchboard. Michael and his partner, Emily Middleton, oversaw student volunteers and acted as liaisons between evacuees and those volunteering their homes.

“They all helped to reach out to hotels that had sold out and to various news organizations to spread the word,” Michael said. “I cannot say enough about how helpful they all were in the entire process.”

This is the first time Newsource has organized a program like this. Together, the team helped four families find refuge during the storm, and more than 50 households in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina opened their doors to those in need.

“The unselfishness of the people who volunteered their homes and the bravery of the evacuees were amazing to see,” said Michael.

UGA students. Campus Kitchen volunteers delivered enough water, cans of fruits, proteins and vegetables to the families to last two days. They also distributed flashlights and can openers.

Campus Kitchen is run through the Office of ServiceLearning, which reports jointly to the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach and the Vice President for Instruction. Campus Kitchen provides weekly meals to older adults in the Athens area, including grandparents raising grandchildren and Meals on Wheels participants.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

More than 60 clinicians, veterinary technicians, staff and students made their way to campus Sept. 11 and 12 to work in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s 24-hour emergency services center, which lost power for five hours Sept. 11.

“We had several of our veterinary technicians who work in our emergency, intensive care and intermediate care services who came in early for their shifts,” said Cindy Rice, the hospital’s communications director.

Some staff members who weren’t scheduled to work came in to lend a helping hand.

Hospital staff treated animals that already were checked in before the storm swept through Athens and saw pets whose owners brought them in for emergency care. Some team members also came in to call pet owners and reschedule their appointments. Others providing research and teaching animal care also were called into service.

CYBERSIGHTS

ABOUT COLUMNS Columns is available to the community by ­subscription for an annual fee of $20 (secondclass 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

State Botanical Garden unveils new site

http://botgarden.uga.edu/

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia at UGA has launched a new website that highlights its unique education, outreach and conservation programs and their impact on Georgia.

The new mobile-friendly design focuses on communicating the garden’s priorities through stories, strong visuals and social media.

Overall content was reorganized so visitors can access information such as rentals, conservation initiatives and education programming.

Other new features include an enhanced event calendar, live social media feed and robust news section.

A giving page provides an easy opportunity for donors to support the garden.

Art Director Jackie Baxter Roberts Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski Writer Leigh Beeson Communications Coordinator Krista Richmond 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 Sept. 25, 2017 columns.uga.edu GRANTS

TOUR

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by UGA faculty with partners in the top universities around the world,” said Noel Fallows, associate provost for international education. “Our facilitation further positions the Office of International Education as the nexus for international teaching and research initiatives at UGA.” Juliet Sekandi, a faculty member in the epidemiology and biostatistics department, and Christopher Whalen, Ernest Corn Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, both from the College of Public Health, are collaborating with Esther Buregyeya, Lynn Atuyambe and Frederick Makumbi from the Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda on mobile phonebased treatment monitoring for tuberculosis patients. The project will develop a pilot mobile app and test the feasibility of remote observation by heath workers to ensure patients are complying with their treatment regimens.

James Beasley, a faculty member at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is collaborating with Thomas Hinton of Fukushima University in Japan to study the effects of low dose radiation exposure on wildlife inhabiting the Fukushima Exclusion Zone. The two researchers recently collaborated on similar research in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

In this study, they will collect pilot data on the distribution of wildlife species in the zone and will fit several wild boar with GPS-dosimetry collars to collect location and radiation exposure data on the animals.

The project’s goal is to provide a picture of the ecological consequences of energy production and potential accidents, using a systems approach to assess radiation effects on wildlife at molecular, individual, population and community levels.

Nicole Gottdenker, a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s pathology department, John Drake and John Paul Schmidt from the Odum School of Ecology and Travis Glenn from the College of Public Health’s environmental health sciences department, are collaborating with Azael Saldana and Jose Calzada from the Instituto Conmemorativo Gogas de Estudios de la Salud in Panama and Jennifer Peterson from the Universidad Peruana Cayetabo Heredia in Peru on the relationship between the spread of palm oil plantations and the transmission of Chagas disease.

David Okech from the School of Social

Work, Nathan Hansen from the health promotion and behavior department in the College of Public Health and Jody ClayWarner from the sociology department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences are collaborating with John Anarfi from the University of Ghana on giving survivors of human trafficking a voice in developing effective reintegration services.

The first phase of their collaboration has produced research on the psychological, social and economic consequences of trafficking. The seed grant will fund the next phase, which includes interviewing survivors and identifying service gaps in existing reintegration programs.

Javad M. Velni, Changying “Charlie” Li and WenZhan Song of the College of Engineering are collaborating with Herbert Warner from Germany’s Hamburg University of Technology to develop tools to help maintain communications and avoid data bottlenecks among complex systems of robots when they’re performing joint tasks in harsh environments that may interfere with normal communication methods. The portion of the work funded by the grant will focus on developing a system model and a communication method that cuts down on the amount of data that must be transferred among robots.

Nina Wurzburger from the School of Ecology is collaborating with Michael P. Oatham from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Jack Brookshire from Montana State University to study the interaction of various soil nutrients on a forest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Using new field studies and taking advantage of more than 30 years of tropical forest data from the Victoria-Mayaro Forest Reserve in Trinidad, the team seeks to understand how these forests respond to global changes in the environment, and eventually to develop a model for sustainable forestry in tropical regions.

“This program is a vital component of our ongoing efforts to increase international collaborations, help solve the planet’s grand challenges and secure additional funding for the world-class research conducted at UGA,” said UGA Vice President for Research David Lee. Applications are due Oct. 10 for the fourth round of Global Research Collaboration Grant funding. Details can be found at https://t.uga.edu/3xI.

Bulletin Board Dream Award nominations

The Office of Institutional Diversity is calling for nominations for the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award 2018. The award honors those in the university and Athens-Clarke County communities who are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief in equality and justice alive. Nominations are open until Oct. 29.

The Fulfilling the Dream Award showcases members of the community, faculty, staff and students who advance issues of race relations or human rights. Award winners are dedicated to volunteerism and civic engagement and use King’s teachings to reduce tensions between communities and unite people across different cultures and backgrounds.

Recipients of the award are honored at the annual MLK Freedom Breakfast, which will be held Jan. 12 at UGA. The breakfast is held in honor of King’s life and legacy and is sponsored

by UGA, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and the Clarke County School District.

To nominate someone for the award, visit https://ugeorgia.qualtrics. com/jfe/form/SV_899RN74wSEHuuQR

or contact the Office of Institutional Diversity at 706-583-8195.

TEDxUGA presenters

TEDxUGA is currently seeking faculty and staff presenters with dynamic ideas to take the stage in March 2018.

Visit tedxuga.com/nominate to submit a faculty or staff nomination

by Sept. 30. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged. Email tedxuga@uga.edu with questions.

UGAAlert rescheduled

The campus-wide test of the UGAAlert emergency notification system originally scheduled for Sept. 14 has been rescheduled to Sept. 28 at 10:45 a.m.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to check and update their information in the UGAAlert system at ugaalert.uga.edu prior to the test.

For more information, contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness at prepare@uga.edu or 706-542-5845.

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

Andrew Davis Tucker

UGA President Jere W. Morehead and state leaders learned more about Northeast Georgia’s farms, nurseries and the agritourism industry during the annual farm tour.

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee; Rep.Terry England, chairman of Georgia House of Representatives Appropriations Committee; Rep. Tom McCall, chairman of the Georgia House of Representatives Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee; and Sam Pardue, dean and director of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences accompanied Morehead and Black on the tour.

UGA researchers and Extension experts are committed to understanding the challenges that face Georgia’s more than $13 billion agriculture industry and finding solutions for Georgia farmers.

Agritourism, the green industry and dairy production all play key roles in Northeast Georgia’s agricultural economy, and the delegation explored aspects of all three industries.

The tour began in Colbert at James Greenhouses, which grows a variety of ornamental perennials as wells as UGA-developed blueberry cultivars.

The last nursery grower on the tour was Evergreen Nursery in Statham, a wholesale nursery that was able to cut its water use drastically by implementing a smart irrigation system developed by UGA horticulture researchers.

Ornamental horticulture, which ranges from the production of houseplants and landscape shrubs to turf and shade trees, contributes $831 million to Georgia’s economy,

according to the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

Farmview Market, the brain child of 1980 UGA CAES graduate Keith Kelly, is a combination butcher shop, specialty food shop, restaurant and farmers market that draws thousands of travelers each week. Kelly conceived of the farmers market complex, which opened in 2016, as a way to connect “farms to families.”

With a $133 million impact on Georgia’s economy, agritourism destinations such as Farmview Market also connect Georgia’s farmers to new revenue streams, making farm businesses more diverse and more economically sustainable.

Williams Dairy, the tour’s second stop in Morgan County, is home to 3,700 cows and is operated by Georgia 2017 Farmer of the Year Everett Williams. Williams graduated from UGA in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science.

His reputation for cutting-edge technology and civic leadership has earned him a worldwide reputation as a leader in Georgia’s $278 million dairy industry.

Dairy farmers from other countries often stop at the Williams Dairy to see how he is using the latest technology to produce milk more efficiently.

At each stop, farm and nursery managers shared ways in which UGA has contributed to their success and ways that the university could help in the future.

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international affairs.

• John Esteban Rodriguez of Guyton will be conducting research on the intersection of race and LGBTQ identities, while pursuing a master’s degree in gender, politics and sexuality in Paris. He recently completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at UGA. • Anna Forrester of Kingsport, Tennessee, will be studying Shakespearean performances in Turkey, exploring how Shakespeare has shaped the country’s national dramatic identity. She will be based in Istanbul. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in English literature at UGA. Two alumni received Fulbright English teaching assistantship awards. Their study concentrations and host countries are: • Asad Delawalla of Lawrenceville will be teaching English classes in South Korea.

He graduated from UGA in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and a minor in French.

• Margaret Harney of Atlanta will be assisting English teachers in Spain. She graduated from UGA in 2016 with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and journalism.

The flow of innovative ideas and techniques from this regional “manufacturing hub” based at the Georgia Institute of Technology could create a pipeline of therapies and lifetime cures for an aging population challenged by escalating chronic diseases.

Georgia Tech is able to host this research thanks in part to a previous gift of $16 million from the Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation to build a research center for therapeutic cell characterization and manufacturing. Additional funding from the Georgia Research Alliance and Georgia Tech sources bring the total investment in the center to $23 million.

“The support of the Georgia Research Alliance and investments by the University of Georgia in talented faculty members who are committed to working with colleagues across the state and beyond is cementing Georgia’s reputation as a hub of research activity,” said UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten.

UGA is one of three major partners, including the University of Wisconsin and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, as well as affiliate partners such as the University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, the Gladstone Institutes and Michigan Technological University.Additional international academic partners, as well as industry and the U.S. national laboratories, also will be critical to this large-scale, collaborative effort.

CMaT’s vision is to bring together a diverse group of scientists who can yield new levels of efficiency and productivity to make cell therapies more affordable and, therefore, more accessible.

UGA’s College of Engineering Dean Donald J. Leo noted the benefits of the partnership for CMaT. “The distance between discovery and delivery is dramatically shrinking,” said Leo. “Now is the time to bring people with different expertise together to work as one— something we’re all really excited about.”

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the east side facing Lumpkin Street stands Benson Hall, named for one of Athens’ most community-minded families: patriarch W. Howard Benson, son H.E. “Ed” Benson and grandson Larry R. Benson. Moore-Rooker Hall, on the west side facing Hull Street, is named in honor of the family of Dudley L. Moore Jr. and the family of John W. Rooker, both of Atlanta.

The third and final phase of the project will include two buildings located at the northwest corner of Lumpkin and Baxter streets. The new buildings, which are scheduled to open in 2019, will house additional classroom space, faculty and staff offices and conference rooms.