CHAIRMAN’S LETTER / WINTER 2015
Dear Friends, I trust that you all had a Happy New Year and that 2015 is off to a great start for you. This is an exciting time to be part of the University of Georgia Foundation as we prepare for our first‐ever board meeting in Washington and as we look forward to the dedication of the new UGA in Washington facility next month. For your reference, a listing of committee meetings that will take place prior to our Washington trip is included in the calendar at the end of this newsletter along with the itinerary for all meetings and activities scheduled in our nation’s capital. As you will read in the pages that follow we have much to celebrate with regard to the accomplishments of our trustees and emeritus trustees, and a major Athens dedication ceremony scheduled for next month. Thank you again for your service to the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia Foundation. I look forward to working with you in the coming year. Sincerely,
John Spalding (AB ’82, JD ’85) Chairman
New Dean of UGA School of Law takes the helm
UGAF Trustees well‐represented in Georgia Magazine I hope you had a chance to read the December issue of Georgia Magazine. The University of Georgia Foundation was well represented in its pages. Trustee David Battle is featured in a cover story about the Corsair Society, a student and alumni led Honors Program initiative that mentors UGA undergraduates pursuing banking, finance and management consulting careers and which provides a superb support network for students in the program. A “Close Up” profile in the same edition on Trustee Keith Mason tells the story of his generous support for law, business and political science at the university. David and Keith are great ambassadors for the University of Georgia who truly “walk the talk” in putting their words into action for the betterment of our students and the institution as a whole. It is an honor to have these gentlemen on our board, and I am proud to call them colleagues and friends.
Welcome to Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge, who became the new dean of the University of Georgia School of Law on January 1. Rutledge, who has served as the associate dean for faculty development at Georgia Law since 2013, is a leading scholar in the fields of international dispute resolution, arbitration and the U.S. Supreme Court. As associate dean, he worked closely with faculty to expand scholarly activities, mentored untenured faculty, and provided strategic guidance on publishing and engaging with external audiences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude. Rutledge earned a master of letters degree in applied ethics from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and a J.D. with high honors from the University of Chicago. Prior to his service in Athens, Rutledge was a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and for 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III. He holds the Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law which is endowed in the University of Georgia Foundation.
Board of Visitors Luncheon set for February 12 I hope you are planning to join us for the next UGA Board of Visitors luncheon in Atlanta on Thursday, February 12 (coordinates below.) This meeting will be a great lead‐in to our upcoming board meeting. President Morehead, Griffin Doyle, UGA vice president for government relations and I will participate in a panel discussion focused on the UGA in Washington program (the facility is featured on the invitation you should have received.) Keith Mason, who chairs the foundation’s Board of Visitors Subcommittee, reminds us that you are welcome to bring guests, just advise Rita Manning (rmanning@uga.edu) so that she may reserve space. It is not necessary for your guests to have any connection to the University of Georgia. This is an opportunity for them to learn more about the university, meet leaders of the institution and to become more engaged.
Meeting coordinates: UGA Board of Visitors Thursday, February 12, 2015 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ‐ Sharp
The Buckhead Club 3344 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326
Buckhead Club Phone: (404) 262‐2262
#GivingTuesday moves UGA fundraising forward Last month, UGA invited Bulldogs around the world to consider giving to the university as part of their personal philanthropy and I’m happy to report that many alumni and friends responded. The day is deemed annually as “#GivingTuesday,” and in the 24 hours of December 2, the university raised more than $29,000, which almost tripled last year's #GivingTuesday total and easily exceeded the day’s goal of $25,000. The gifts offered by graduates and friends of the university will benefit a range of institution‐wide initiatives, school and college support funds and other areas of need. By clicking on the photo below, you can watch a #GivingTuesday video featuring UGA students thanking donors. Included among those students is UGA Student Body President and UGA Foundation Ex Officio Trustee Drew Jacoby.
In concert with #GivingTuesday, UGA officially launched its new crowdfunding platform, “GeorgiaFunder.” It is modeled after other Web‐based commercial services that seek to raise relatively small donations from large groups of people. “Innovative fundraising initiatives like these energize our supporters," said David Jones, executive director of annual giving and constituent development. “It is an interactive way to unite the university.” More information on #GivingTuesday and GeorgiaFunder is available by clicking here.
New Veterinary Medical Learning Center to be Dedicated February 13 Mark your calendar for Friday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. when the University of Georgia’s spectacular new Veterinary Medical Learning Center (VMLC) will be dedicated.
Trustee Rusty Lindner is new chairman of Federal Reserve’s regional bank
I was pleased to learn that our colleague and good friend Rusty Lindner became chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia earlier this month. He has The facilities, pictured above, are in the final stage served on the bank’s board since 2011. of construction. Located at the intersection of College Station and Barnett Shoals roads in Athens, It is an honor to have an individual with the VMLC houses nearly 300,000 square feet. his tremendous business acumen on our board of trustees and to benefit The campus will include: from his expertise. VMLC hospital housing all of the small animal service areas, clinical pathology, equine and Rusty is chairman food animal service areas. and CEO of The Veterinary academic building with classrooms, Forge Company, a an auditorium, and seminar/dining space. Washington‐based enterprise that is Covered outdoor arena for equine lameness the parent company evaluation. of Colonial Parking, Theriogenology and farm field services Inc., and Bear Saint building. Properties, Inc. Large animal isolation barn. Congratulations Rusty. We appreciate Fundraising for the project is ongoing with everything that you do for the approximately $27 million raised thus far toward a University of Georgia and the UGA final goal of $32.7 million. If you are interested in Foundation! learning more, please visit the College of Veterinary Medicine web page.
University of Georgia ranks among America’s best in multiple studies
It is very nice to see the world learning what we have known for years; that the University of Georgia is one of the nation’s best institutions of higher education. The university has been recognized recently in several prestigious collegiate rankings. UGA placed tenth on the Kiplinger’s Personal Finance list of best values among public colleges and universities for 2015. UGA climbed to tenth place last year based on improved test scores and a more‐competitive admission rate, and held that position in the newly released rankings for the current year. Kiplinger lauded UGA’s high admissions yield and low average student debt at graduation as keys to the outstanding results. “Just over half of applicants are offered admission, and nearly half of the students who are accepted choose to enroll (one of the highest yields in our top 10),” Kiplinger wrote in the ranking announcement. In addition, UGA ranked 18th for out‐of‐state value among public colleges in the study. Kiplinger’s rankings factor in admission rates, the percentage of students who return for their sophomore years, the student‐faculty ratio and the four‐year graduation rate. Cost criteria include tuition prices, financial aid and average debt at graduation.
In subsequent rankings released recently, the annual Niche Best Overall Rankings listed the University of Georgia among its Top 50 colleges and universities in America and the number one public institution in the state of Georgia. The Best Overall ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall experience at traditional four‐year institutions. It uses more than 50 statistics sourced from various government and public data sets, Niche's own proprietary data, and 11,857,508 opinion‐based survey responses across 20 topics from 294,497 current students and recent alumni. MONEY magazine recently ranked UGA as one of the nation’s best values in higher education and followed those rankings by naming the University of Georgia as one the best institutions for accommodating high school seniors who have yet to apply for the fall 2015 semester.
The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication was named one of the top two journalism schools in the country, according to an annual survey by TVWeek and the Radio Television Digital News Association.
U.S. News and World Report lists the Terry College of Business in the nation’s top 15 public business schools, and lists it number one in America for undergraduates seeking Risk Management and Insurance degrees.
Emeritus Trustee honored by UGA Welcome Jay Stroman!
I was excited to learn UGA Foundation Emeritus Trustee Gary Bertsch was named a 2015 UGA President’s Medal award winner as part of Founders Day activities in Athens. The President’s Medal recognizes extraordinary contributions of former employees who have supported students and academic programs, advanced research and inspired community leaders to enhance Georgians’ quality of life. Bertsch served on the UGA faculty from 1969‐2010 and was founding director of the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) in 1987. CITS is a UGA‐based program conducting international research, teaching and outreach to promote economic prosperity, international peace and security. It is recognized worldwide and has generated more than $30 million in external funding. Dr. Bertsch was designated a University Professor in 1995, the highest recognition of his endeavors on behalf of the university’s mission. He served very capably on the UGA Foundation board from 1994‐2004 and the board of directors of the University of Georgia Research Foundation from 1987‐1997. “Dr. Bertsch has made significant contributions to the institution,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “His commitment to the university’s core missions of teaching, research and service are evident in the many accolades he has earned during his distinguished career.” The President’s Medal was conceived by the UGA Emeriti Scholars and first awarded during the 2014 Founders Day program. The inaugural recipients were UGA Foundation Emeritus Trustee and former UGA Vice President for Academic Affairs Louise McBee, and the late Thomas Dyer, UGA emeritus professor and former vice president for instruction.
The University of Georgia Division of Development and Alumni Relations officially welcomed Jay Stroman as the new senior associate vice president on January 12.
Jay, who comes to us from Young Harris College, is now the division’s chief operating officer. Prior to his service at Young Harris, he was vice president for development at Mercer University.
On January 13, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Kelly Kerner hosted a meet and greet breakfast at Milledge Center to welcome Jay (pictured above chatting with development staff.) _____________
Meredith Gurley Johnson is new executive director of Alumni Association Congratulations to Meredith Gurley Johnson who “officially” became the new executive director of the UGA Alumni Association in December. She had served in an interim capacity for several months prior to the appointment.
Meredith, who is a 2000 graduate of the University of Georgia, has more than 13 years of experience in higher education advancement and has served the Alumni Association in various positions since 2001.
As executive director, she oversees all alumni engagement activities and services, including student programs, young alumni outreach, regional programs, special events and collaborative projects on campus.
“As a graduate of UGA, I have never been more proud of the hard work put forth by the administrators, faculty and students that make this place so special,” she said. “I am thankful for the alumni and friends who support this university, and look forward to energizing my peers and the UGA community as we advance the institution together.”
DATES TO REMEMBER February 2, 2015
February 7, 2015
February 12, 2015
February 13, 2015
February 20 ‐ 21, 2015
February 26, 2015
Foundation Fellows Committee Meeting 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM UGA Atlanta Alumni Center Development and Public Affairs Committee Meeting 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM UGA Atlanta Alumni Center Audit Committee Meeting 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM UGA Atlanta Alumni Center UGA Alumni Association Bulldog 100 Celebration 6:00 PM Reception, 7:00 Dinner Marriott Marquis 265 Peachtree Center Avenue Atlanta, Ga. UGA Board of Visitors Luncheon 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM The Buckhead Club 3344 Peachtree Road Atlanta, Ga. Veterinary Medical Center Dedication 2:00 PM 2200 College Station Road Athens, Ga. Foundation Fellows Interview Weekend Various Campus Sites Athens, Ga. Investment Committee Meeting (Working Lunch) 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM Washington Court Hotel Washington, D.C. Dedication of UGA Washington, D.C. Building 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Post Dedication Reception at Washington, D.C. Building 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM UGA Foundation Board Dinner and Program 6:30 PM Washington, D.C.
DATES TO REMEMBER (Continued)
February 27, 2015
Nominating and Governance Committee Meeting 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Washington Court Hotel Washington, D.C.
May 1‐3, 2015 May 8, 2015
UGA Foundation Full Board Meeting 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM UGA in Washington D.C. Building Washington, D.C. Open House 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM UGA in Washington D.C. Building Washington, D.C.
Return to the Arch Alumni Seminar UGA Hotel and Conference Center Athens, GA
May 14, 2015
June 11‐12, 2015
Spring Commencement 10:00 AM Graduate Ceremony ‐ Stegeman Coliseum 7:00 PM Undergraduate Ceremony ‐ Sanford Stadium Board of Visitors Luncheon Program to be determined The Buckhead Club Atlanta, GA UGA Foundation Spring Board Meeting St. Simons Island, GA
University of Georgia Foundation 394 South Milledge Ave., Suite 100 Athens, Georgia 30602-5582 Telephone (706) 542-6677 www.ugafoundation.org