UGA Columns Sept. 3, 2019

Page 1

Periodicals Postage is PAID in Athens, Georgia

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

UGA researcher is working to make textile dyeing methods more sustainable RESEARCH NEWS

3

Performing Arts Center season opens with Aaron Diehl Trio concert Sept. 6 Vol. 47, No. 6

September 3, 2019

www.columns.uga.edu

UGA GUIDE

4&5

Terry College MBA program adds social innovation emphasis

By Matt Weeks

mweeks@uga.edu

Jack Tuszynski

High school students are working at internships thanks to planning between the Cherokee Workforce Collaborative and UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

‘Win talent goals’

Institute of Government strategic planning boosts workforce development in Georgia By Scott Michaux columns@uga.edu

Just northwest of Atlanta, Cherokee County boasts a welleducated population. More than 90% of its residents 25 and older graduated from high school. More than a third have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Yet 78% of the employed residents commute outside Cherokee County—some as far as Hall and Clayton counties. That commute to areas outside of Cherokee County causes multiple problems. Residents find themselves sacrificing quality of life for hours in traffic while the county faces an influx of new residents but a daily drain in talent. If the workforce in Cherokee County didn’t match the jobs local industries were looking to fill—or

the jobs they hope to draw in—the local economy would be in trouble. “They recognized that if they were going to achieve their economic development goals, they were going to have to win at their talent goals,” said Greg Wilson, a public service assistant at UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. “Keeping jobs and attracting new jobs in years to come.” In 2016, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development formed the Cherokee Workforce Collaborative and partnered with the Institute of Government to develop a strategic plan for workforce development.The collaboration brought together community members representing industry, education and other critical partners from economic and workforce development to evaluate labor market and education data to address the talent

gaps and workforce challenges. Guided by Wilson and supported by David Tanner and Mercy Montgomery from the Institute of Government, the CWC began creating a road map to identify workforce needs and strengthen its ability to recruit and retain jobs. The plan that evolved identified four priorities for improving its workforce pipeline: internships, innovative career preparation, business and education alliances, and sustaining momentum. Within two years, Cherokee has already started hitting all the marks by using the plan that the Institute of Government helped the CWC create as “a strategic blueprint.” Workforce development is not just an issue for Cherokee County, but for communities throughout the state. Workforce quality and

See WORKFORCE on page 8

GRADUATE SCHOOL

A new emphasis in social innovation will position Georgia MBA students to apply their acumen to the interconnected worlds of business and society. Beginning this fall, students in the Terry College’s Full-Time MBA Program can add the social innovation emphasis through 15 credit hours of dedicated coursework, including an applied learning experience in the social innovation space. “Increasingly, Terry students want to balance profits with purpose —as do many companies that hire

our students. The new area of emphasis in social innovation speaks to that,” said Terry College Dean Benjamin C. Ayers. “By giving our students the skills necessary to do good while doing well, the Terry College is evolving with the marketplace and the job-ready skills that can be put into practice immediately.” Through the emphasis, Georgia MBA students will have opportunities to work with a variety of businesses seeking to benefit their communities. “Corporations will continue to play a key role in influencing both society and government. This area

See MBA on page 8

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Governor appoints CAES faculty member state’s fiscal economist By Merritt Melancon jmerritt@uga.edu

For three decades, University of Georgia students have relied on Jeffrey Dorfman to help them apply sound economic reasoning to the world outside their classroom. As of Aug. 1, Dorfman is applying that economic reasoning to real-world problems and situations in the policy arena as the state fiscal economist of Georgia. In this role, Dorfman will develop forecasts based on Georgia’s tax revenue, work closely with bond rating agencies to identify revenue and economic trends and manage the development of fiscal impact estimates on tax-related legislative proposals. “I am excited to serve in this new role, and I look forward to providing the state of Georgia and

Gov. Kemp’s administration the most accurate and timely economic input that I can,” said Dorfman, a longtime proJeffrey Dorfman fessor in the agricultural and applied economics department of UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. His research at the university ranges from the economics of landuse policy to disaster recovery and methods of calculating economic impact. He is a prolific writer and a sought-after source in the popular media. “Given Jeffrey Dorfman’s extensive background and expertise in See ECONOMIST on page 8

BLACK FACULTY AND STAFF ORGANIZATION

Initiative helps grad students prepare for careers Mary Frances Early will speak By Camie Williams career-oriented experiences that of my time.” camiew@uga.edu

Much of Marcus Dumas’ time these days is spent completing his doctoral work. But his commencement day will come next May, and the health promotion and behavior graduate student has life after his hooding in his sights. Despite his busy schedule, Dumas has taken advantage of a number of career-readiness workshops and events hosted by the Graduate School to gain additional skills to help him be successful in the next phase of his career. The Graduate School’s Experiential Professional Development, or xPD, initiative launched last fall with the goal of providing

prepare master’s and doctoral students for entering the workforce. Since November, about 500 students, including Dumas, have participated in events and symposia on topics such as job search planning, networking, personal branding and careers in consulting. “I truly believe the program is preparing me for my career. Also, it has helped me to understand how to work well with colleagues who have different strengths,” said Dumas, who dreams of opening a nonprofit community health center. “The program has made me become more intentional about learning how to use my strengths in my personal and professional life. As a whole, this was a great investment

The xPD initiative expands on the University of Georgia’s commitment to providing meaningful learning opportunities that enhance classroom learning. In 2016, UGA became one of the largest public universities to ensure all of its undergraduates participate in a purposeful academic experience such as an internship, servicelearning course or study abroad program prior to graduation. The xPD program expands experiential resources to graduate students. “Through the xPD initiative, the University of Georgia is taking a leadership role in enhancing graduate education to meet the needs of our students as well as the economy See INITIATIVE on page 8

at BFSO Founders’ Luncheon

The Black Faculty and Staff Organization at the University of Georgia will host its 17th annual Founders’ Luncheon on Sept. 25 from noon-1:30 p.m. in Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. This year’s luncheon will be an intimate conversation with Mary Frances Early, who in 1962 became the first African American to graduate from UGA. Individual tickets are $55. Tables, which seat eight people, are available for sponsors starting at $500. Proceeds from the luncheon will be used for BFSO activities and the scholarship program, which awards scholarships to outstanding

undergraduate, graduate and professional students at UGA. If interested in purchasing tickets or sponsorship Mary Frances Early o p p o r t u n i ties, contact Deborah Elder, BFSO treasurer, at dlstrong@uga.edu. BFSO is honored to have Early as the speaker for this year’s luncheon, according to Susan M. Williams, BFSO president.

See LUNCHEON on page 8


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.