The University of Georgia Magazine June 2011 by University of Georgia Alumni Magazine

a whole new meaning to

living room.

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GEORGIA The University of

Magazine

June 2011 • Vol. 90, No. 3

ADMINISTRATION Michael F. Adams, President Jere Morehead, JD ’80, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Tom S. Landrum, AB ’72, MA ’87, Senior Vice President for External Affairs Tim Burgess, AB ’77, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration PUBLIC AFFAIRS Tom Jackson, AB ’73, MPA ’04, PhD ’08, Vice President Alison Huff, Director of Publications GEORGIA MAGAZINE Editor, Kelly Simmons, MPA ’10 Managing Editor, Allyson Mann, MA ’92 Art Director, Lindsay Bland Robinson, ABJ ’06, MPA ’11 Advertising Director, Pamela Leed Office Manager, Fran Burke Photographers, Paul Efland, BFA ’75, MEd ’80; Peter Frey, BFA ’94; Robert Newcomb, BFA ’81; Beth Newman, BFA ’07; Rick O’Quinn, ABJ ’87; Dot Paul; Andrew Davis Tucker Editorial Assistants, Grace Morris and Meg Twomey

GEORGIA MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD VOLUNTEER MEMBERS

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu

Around the Arch

Food network

Dawgs with dogs Yellow-vested puppies are a common sight on campus as more students volunteer to raise guide dogs in training

Features 20 The Peacemaker Professor Han Park helps keep peace between the U.S. and North Korea and helps UGA students better understand global issues

26 Getting PRactice Grady College public relations students get hands on experience through a student-run agency

30 Looking for life Alumnus Roger Hunter oversees NASA’s quest for life outside our solar system.

Class Notes 36 Alumni profiles and notes Students in UGA’s Foundation Fellows program tour the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, considered to be the architectural forerunner of the Taj Mahal, during a spring break trip to India. Photo by Dot Paul

Photo by Peter Frey

In UGA dining halls, student culinary teams prep both food and future careers

Professor Han Park, director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues, stands before the wall map of the world in his North Campus office.

Closeups 12 Special education 14

ON THE COVER

Students in a law school practicum help parents with special needs children exercise their educational rights

FINE PRINT Georgia Magazine (ISSN 1085-1042) is published quarterly for alumni and friends of UGA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: University of Georgia, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Athens, GA 30602-5582

In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or military service in its administration of educational policies, programs, or activities; its admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic or other University-administered programs; or employment. In addition, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation consistent with the University nondiscrimination policy. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the director of the Equal Opportunity Office, Peabody Hall, 290 South Jackson Street, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Telephone 706-542-7912 (V/TDD). Fax 706-542-2822.

Campus news and events

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Tom S. Landrum, AB ’72, MA ’87, Senior Vice President, External Affairs; Tom Jackson, AB ’73, MPA ’04, PhD ’08, VP, Public Affairs; Deborah Dietzler, Executive Director, UGA Alumni Association; Alison Huff, Director of Publications; Eric Johnson, ABJ ’86, Director of UGA Visitors Center How to advertise in GEORGIA MAGAZINE: Contact Pamela Leed: 706/542-8124 or pjleed@uga.edu Where to send story ideas, letters, Class Notes items: Georgia Magazine 286 Oconee St., Suite 200 North Athens, GA 30602-1999 E-mail: GMeditor@uga.edu Web site: www.uga.edu/gm or University of Georgia Alumni Association www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni Address changes: E-mail records@uga.edu or call 888/268-5442

President Michael F. Adams on UGA’s international connections

Cecil Bentley, BBA ’70, UGA journalism staff; Valerie Boyd, UGA journalism faculty; Bobby Byrd, ABJ ’80, Wells Real Estate Funds; Jim Cobb, AB ’69, MA ’72, PhD ’75, UGA history faculty; Richard Hyatt, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer; Brad King, MMC ’97, BVK Communications; Fran Lane, AB ’69, MEd ’71, retired director, UGA Visitors Center; Bill McDougald, ABJ ’76, MLA ’86, Southern Living; Nicole Mitchell, UGA Press; Leneva Morgan, ABJ ’88, Georgia Power; Donald Perry, ABJ ’74, Chick-fil-A; Swann Seiler, ABJ ’78, Coastal Region of Georgia Power; Robert Willett, ABJ ’66, MFA ’73, retired journalism faculty; Martha Mitchell Zoller, ABJ ’79

Departments 5 Take 5 with the President

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

The Bell family (from left) Liz, Weston, Sydney and Jeff at Sanford Stadium.

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TAKE

— President Michael F. Adams on UGA’s international connections

Q: Han Park is perhaps the best-known UGA faculty member on the international scene. How does it benefit UGA to have someone with his experience on campus? A: Dr. Park would be the first to tell you that he is one of many UGA faculty with a broad portfolio of international credentials. What they all bring to UGA is a strong international reputation and credibility, a deeper appreciation for our overall academic programs and a terrific resource for the people of Georgia about the state of the world. Q: How does his role as an unofficial ambassador to North Korea fit in with the university’s efforts to increase students’ understanding of international affairs?

Michael F. Adams

A: Well, it’s particularly important because North Korea, right now, is an area of the world that is perceived to be volatile, and it takes a very rare, well-wired person to be a liaison to the North Korean regime. In many ways, Dr. Park has established a set of relationships with people, organizations and governments in that region that few if any others outside of that region have been able to accomplish. He has been a positive broker in an honest way, and I believe that he has helped make the world a much safer place in the process. Q: How does The Center for the Study of Global Issues (Globis) enhance UGA’s academic programs? A: I have had the pleasure of traveling with Dr. Park and with other UGA Globis scholars to locations all across the world. I particularly remember a time being with Han in Asia holding court with some of our wide-eyed students, marveling as Dr. Park talked about the growing impact of the Pacific Rim and the immense importance China plays in the global market. With the challenges we have faced with Korea and now the challenges facing Japan, along with the dramatic economic and national security impact Southeast Asia has on the United States, the experiences that Globis and other UGA programs provide our students broaden their horizons because of the exposure they receive. Q: Has Globis become more relevant in recent years as Asian nations have become more powerful economically? A: Absolutely. The entire Pacific Crescent is an area to which my children and grandchildren will have to pay more attention— more so than many of us who grew up with a very Western-based perspective have ever had to. Dr. Park and others at UGA are especially well positioned to speak about these things. Also, what we are doing in the Terry College with the international business programs will help our students prepare to deal with the very powerful economic changes ahead. Q: Are there other countries or areas of the world that UGA needs to focus on through Globis or another center? A: Two areas where we have not been as active are South America and Africa, although we are increasingly investing in programs in those continents. The growing economic might of Brazil, for instance, makes it a major competitor to our agricultural interests, and that will only increase. It is one of the reasons why our UGA Costa Rica programs are so important. The university’s reach into Africa in countries like Liberia, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania is greater than most alumni probably realize. I have had the chance to travel to programs in both Africa and South America where we have UGA students, and I truly believe that both of those places will become more important to our economic success as the world moves forward.

Globis students walk across a university campus in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

SPECIAL

ARCH AROUNDTHE

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

Senior Jason Bland participates in the knife throw contest at the Southern Forestry Conclave 2011, hosted in March by UGA’s Forestry Club, which placed third overall. The event also featured contests in archery, bow saw, pole climb, log roll and axe throw. The Forestry Conclave began at UGA in 1958 with the purpose of promoting cooperation and friendly competition among forestry schools across the Southeast. It has expanded from eight forestry schools to 15 and includes more than 250 contestants. In addition to physical events, the conclave has added technical events like timber volume estimation and wood identification. For a multimedia presentation of the Southern Forestry Conclave, visit www.photo.alumni.uga.edu/multimedia/forestryconclave

Twirling to the top

HONOR FOR ADAMS

UGA feature baton twirler Karrissa Wimberley was one of five finalists for the Amateur Athletic Union’s annual Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the country. She lost to Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek, but Wimberley has won more than a dozen world championships in her sport, travels internationally to teach and has been invited to perform with Cirque du Soleil. UGA fans will have one more football season to enjoy Wimberley’s talents while she finishes a master’s degree in math education. Karrissa Wimberley

6 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

SPECIAL

UGA President Michael F. Adams is the 2011 Alumnus of the Year at Lipscomb University in Tennessee, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in speech and history. Now in his 14th year at UGA, Adams was honored at several receptions surrounding his May 7 address to the Lipscomb graduates. The award, the highest given by the Lipscomb University Alumni Association, recognizes an individual for exemplary accomplishments, as well as his/her strong faith and servant-like heart. Adams holds a doctorate in political communication and a master of arts degree in communication research and methodology from Ohio State University. Adams met his wife, Mary Lynn Ethridge Adams, in a Lipscomb University history class.

Missing link A program at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine educates veterinarians and the general public about the link between domestic violence and animal abuse. The Vets for Pets and People program also places pets of domestic violence victims into foster care in the homes of faculty, staff and students. Vet student Michelle Morrison (left) and resident Dr. Andrea Wang are caring for a 1-year-old yellow Labrador retriever while he waits for a foster home. Vets for Pets and People was named 2010 Advocate of the Year by the Domestic Violence Task Force of Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. For more information, visit www.vet. uga.edu/vetsforpetsandpeople.

SUE MYERS SMITH

PAUL EFLAND

Ponies used for research on intestinal parasites graze in a pasture on South Milledge Avenue.

Ponying up parasites If you traveled on South Milledge Avenue this spring you probably noticed some new animals alongside the sheep and cows. Six ponies, acquired from a herd on the University of Kentucky research farm by Ray M. Kaplan, a parasitology researcher at the College of Veterinary Medicine, are being used to study the resistance of parasites to drugs. Kaplan harvests parasite eggs from the 2- to 3-year-old ponies’ manure, grows them into third-stage larvae then isolates the parasites for use in studies on parasites’ resistance to ivermectin, the most commonly used drug. Parasite drug resistance is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest health threats to grazing livestock. The Kaplan lab studies the dynamics of parasitic drug resistance in order to find ways to prevent it and to diagnose it early enough to intervene before the parasites cause major damage. Learn more about Kaplan’s research at http://vet.uga. edu/ID/people/kaplan.html.

YES, GEORGIA, WE HAVE BANANAS While 99 percent of the bananas eaten in the U.S. now come from other countries, UGA researchers are testing some varieties in the state’s warmer climates. Researchers with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have investigated 35 banana varieties in Georgia since 2003. One variety called Veinte Cohol, discovered in Florida, looks the most promising. The Veinte Cohol is smaller than the typical Cavendish variety most commonly consumed in the U.S. and is a little tangier with a slight citrus taste. In addition to growing bananas as a food crop, the team’s engineers are looking at the potential of using bananas or its byproducts for alternative fuels. The team first started the project at the UGA Bamboo Farm and Coastal Garden in Savannah. In 2009, they began studying them on the UGA campus in Tifton.

GREG FONSAH/UGA

Bananas grow in bunches on a tree on the UGA Tifton Campus.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

AROUNDTHE

ARCH BEST IN SHOW A

STUDY SHOWS BREED SPECIFIC CAUSES OF DEATH IN DOGS

BARK OUT TO

… speech and hearing clinic Director Carol Ann Raymond, who received the 2011 Dr. Robert A. Hull Leadership Award from the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in recognition of almost four decades of work in her field. … Terry College of Business Dean Robert T. Sumichrast, who was elected to serve on the board of directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. … Bob Izlar, director of the Center for Forest Business in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, who was named a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. ... Social Work Associate Professor Alberta J. (Bert) Ellett, who received the 2010 Distinguished Recent Contributions in Social Work Education Award from the Council on Social Work Education.

Bob Izlar

… Lamar Dodd School of Art Director Georgia Strange, who was elected to the board of directors of the College Art Association for the 2011-2015 term. Alberta Ellett

… Dean of Students William M.“Bill” McDonald and T.W. Cauthen, director of the Center for Leadership and Service within the department of Campus Life, who were honored by the American College Personnel Association, College Student Educators International. McDonald was named a 2011 Annuit Coeptis Senior Professional, and Cauthen was selected as a 2011 Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professional. … College of Education Professor Emeritus Thomas C. Reeves, who was named the 2011 Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education Fellow. … Counseling Professor Gwynn Powell, who was named the recipient of the 2011 Hedley S. Dimmock Award from the American Camp Association. ... Counseling assistant professor Anneliese Singh, who received the Group Work Practice Award—Early Career from the Association of Specialists in Group Work and a Presidential Recognition Award for her work as the chair of the ASGW Diversity and Human Rights Committee on developing Social Justice and Multicultural Competencies for Group Workers. Gwynn Powell … Associate Professor of Counseling Deryl Bailey, who received the 2011 Professional Advancement Award from the Association for Specialists in Group Work, a division of the American Counseling Association.

… Ian Russell Hardin, Georgia Power Professor of Textile Science, who was awarded the Olney Medal by the American Association of Textiles and Color Chemists, for outstanding achievements in the field of textile chemistry.

8 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

A new UGA study provides a comprehensive look at causes of death in more than 80 breeds of dogs and will help veterinarians create breed-specific health maintenance programs. Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the study is a starting point for future research that will explore the genetic underpinnings of disease in dogs. Dr. Kate Creevy, an assistant professor in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, and her co-authors examined data from the Veterinary Medical Database to determine the cause of death for nearly 75,000 dogs over the 20-year period of 1984 through 2004. While some of the findings corroborate smaller, breed-specific studies, the researchers found some surprises. Toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Maltese, are known to have high rates of cardiovascular disease—19 and 21 percent of deaths within the breeds, respectively. Golden retrievers and boxers already are known to have high rates of cancer (50 and 44 percent of deaths, respectively), but the researchers found that the Bouvier des Flandres actually has a higher death rate from cancer (47 percent) than the boxer. The researchers found that larger breeds are more likely to die of musculoskeletal disease, gastrointestinal disease and, most notably, cancer. Smaller breeds had higher death rates from metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease.

An app for that Faculty researchers from UGA’s journalism, theater, engineering and education programs have created an iPhone app designed to teach children about osmosis. The app, based on education software used in Georgia classrooms, features Osy Osmosis, a character that helps children understand how water moves through cells. The app is part of a five-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health to create interactive biology lessons for students. Available in Apple’s App Store, it is $1.99 for iPhone and $3.99 for iPad.

HONORS STUDENTS WIN FELLOWSHIPS Juniors Victoria Akin, Michael Burel and Amar Mirza were awarded 2011 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, which honor outstanding students who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. Akin, a Foundation Fellow, is pursuing a degree in math; Victoria Akin Michael Burel Amar Mirza Burel is pursuing a degree in cellular biology; and Mirza is pursuing a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. UGA students have received this award almost every year since 1995. This year’s recipients bring the university’s total to 39 Goldwater Scholars. Ashley Bartlett, who graduated in May with bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and history, won a 2011 Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship. Bartlett is the first UGA recipient of this award, which recognizes outstanding students pursuing careers as U.S. Foreign Service diplomats. Betsy Katz (AB ’09, BS ’09) is one of 12 national recipients of a 2011-12 George J. Mitchell Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance. She plans to pursue a Ashley Bartlett master’s degree in intercultural studies at Dublin City University in Dublin. Katz earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and Spanish at UGA and is teaching secondary mathematics in Richmond, Calif., with Teach for America. This is the third consecutive year a UGA student has been named a Mitchell Scholar.

Muktha Natrajan

Yasmin Yonis

The junior class of Leonard Leadership Scholars in the Terry College of Business will receive $10,000 to implement a community service project in an Athens Boys and Girls club—a prize for their winning proposal in Ernst & Young LLP’s “Your World, Your Vision” campus competition. The scholars will use the money to develop a communitybased recycling plan, expand learning opportunities offered to participants, cover up gang-related graffiti and create a soccer league at the Garnett Ridge Boys and Girls Club. The Ernst & Young competition challenges college groups to submit proposals for funding community service initiatives that will influence education, entrepreneurship or environmental stewardship. Learn more about Leonard Leadership Scholars at www. terry.uga.edu/leadership/undergraduate.html.

Top dog

Betsy Katz

Muktha Natrajan has received a 2011 Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which offers recipients who reside outside the United Kingdom the opportunity to pursue graduate studies at the University of Cambridge. Natrajan, a Foundation Fellow who graduated in May, earned a bachelor of science degree in genetics and a master of public health degree in environmental health science. Sophomore Todd Pierson was named a recipient of the 2011 Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Scholarship, which recognizes sophomores or juniors who are pursuing careers in environmental or Native American issues. Pierson, a Foundation Fellow pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ecology, is UGA’s seventh Udall Scholar.

Good business

Gymnast Marcia Newby-Goodman was named a 2011 recipient of the NCAA Top VIII Award, presented annually to eight outstanding students who are involved in athletics, academics, community service and leadership. The winners are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, made up of eight athletics administrators and nationally distinguished former studentathletes. Newby-Goodman, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., was on three NCAA championship teams at UGA, was a three-time Academic All American and a 2010 recipient of the Brad Davis SEC Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship. She graduated in May 2010 with a degree in biological sciences.

Todd Pierson

Yasmin Yonis, who graduated in May with bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and journalism, was named a 2011 Merage American Dream Fellow. She is the sixth consecutive student in the UGA Honors Program to receive this award, which provides up to $20,000 over a two-year period to academically outstanding undergraduates who are immigrants to the United States. Born in Somalia, Yonis and her family emigrated when she was 3 years old.

Marcia Newby-Goodman

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

AROUNDTHE

ARCH Sheepish When UGA landscapers wanted to clear privet alongside the North Oconee River on East Campus they went back to nature, bringing in a flock of sheep to graze on the shaded slope until the invasive plants were gone. Local sheep farmer Jennifer Chandler loaned 30 of her sheep to the university for the project. Protected by a fence and two donkeys, the sheep spent two weeks clearing the river bank in March and were brought back for Earth Day in April so that students and campus visitors could see the vegetation management technique in action. Sheep are preferable to other grazers because they do not go into the water, which can destroy the embankment, and they stay away from the larger, desirable trees. Though it can take a long time and many subsequent visits from the sheep to completely clear the privet, UGA landscape architects hope to one day develop the site as a park that would provide access to the river for recreation. Sheep graze on UGA’s East Campus during April. The flock was put to work on clearing privet, an invasive plant that displaces more diverse and native species. DOT PAUL

INAUGURAL SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS AWARDED Water bottle refilling stations, a campus bike share program, a waste reduction plan for dorm-move out and a rainwater harvesting system are the projects selected to receive the inaugural Campus Sustainability Grants, awarded by the UGA Office of Sustainability. Winners are: • Emily Karol, in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, who plans to use her grant to install a water bottle refill station in the Miller Learning Center to encourage students to use refillable rather than disposable bottles. • Sheena Zhang, in the Odum School of Ecology and the department of biology, who will help establish a bike share program in the soon-to-be LEED-certified Building 1516 residence hall on East Campus. • Nick Martin, in the College of Public Health, who will work to enhance the dorm move-out waste reduction program designed to save unwanted but usable dorm furniture and clothing items from the landfill, instead making them available to the people in the community who need them. • Andrew Douglass, in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who will assist with the installation of a rainwater harvesting system at UGArden, the campus community garden located near the State Botanical Garden of Georgia on South Milledge. There were 18 entries for the awards. The Office of Sustainability provided $13,000 from student green fees to fund the projects.

10 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

GATEWAY TO NATURE

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

The Threaded Bar Gate is one of several garden gates by Atlanta artist Andrew T. Crawford on display at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia features the work of Atlanta artist Andrew T. Crawford in an exhibition of garden gates. Five gates will be on display through Dec. 23. A sunflower gate is located in the Flower Garden, which will be the location of the 11th Annual Sunflower Concert Series this summer. An assortment of garden tools accents a gate located among the vegetable crops of the Heritage Garden. The vine gate is located within the Visitor Center. Facebook fans have been following Crawford’s progress on these gates for months, watching as each new gate is completed and placed in the garden. For more information on the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, see www.uga.edu/botgarden.

GOING GREEN Waste not, want not

UGA’s Recreational Sports Complex features a newly planted row of trees.

PETER FREY

TREE CAMPUS USA UGA earned the Tree Campus USA designation and was presented with a plaque in February by the Georgia Forestry Commission on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Campus USA is a national program that honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy management of campus forests and for engaging the community in environmental stewardship. UGA recently completed a mapping project of the more than 6,000 trees on campus. The Select Sustainable Tree Trust has pledged to provide UGA with 700-1,000 additional trees over the next decade. Several hundred of those donated trees have already been planted around campus. For more information about the Tree Campus USA program, see www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.

During Earth Week in April, UGA’s Office of Sustainability performed a waste audit of the Miller Learning Center to evaluate the effectiveness of a new waste reduction pilot program. Research by Will Grant, a UGA environmental engineering student and intern, found that the MLC building contained 10 times more trash cans than recycling bins. In an attempt to make it as convenient to recycle as it is to throw something away, the office partnered with Physical Plant Support Services and UGA Libraries to install a new waste reduction pilot program. Now waste reduction stations are located throughout the building, with bottles and cans and paper recycling bins next to trash containers, which have been labeled “landfill.” The MLC waste bins were emptied and sorted to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program. The audit showed that the MLC produced 260 pounds of trash and that eight percent of the trash could have been recycled—a 56 percent decrease in materials going to the landfill since a 2008 audit.

One scrappy office When staff from the Office of Sustainability began to renovate their offices in the 100-year-old former Armory building at Chicopee they stayed true to their name. Instead of bringing in new materials, they used scrap and surplus fixtures and furniture to outfit their workspace. Discarded wooden doors are now desktops, scrap wood makes a decorative new wall, and carpet remnants cover the floor. Former program director Jennifer Perissi headed the renovation efforts and scoured the campus for materials. She found old wooden handrails from the Tate Center renovation to use for the conference room wall, filling in the gaps with smaller pieces of maple and hickory wood from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The UGA carpentry team built the wall and fashioned desks out of old, oddsized doors. Renewable cork tiles divide the desks, and recycled steel from the UGA metal shop holds the dividers in place. The office also is testing a new lower energy fluorescent lighting system to illuminate the office, enhancing the natural light let in though openings cut in the wood. “We want to show off what’s possible,” Perissi says, “and to showcase potential.” For more on the Office of Sustainability, go to www.sustainability.uga.edu.

PETER FREY

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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Special education Law students help parents exercise their educational rights by Meg Twomey (ABJ ’11) By sixth grade, Liam Ellis was doing well enough academically to transition from special education into a mainstream classroom. But after one classroom incident related to his Asperger’s syndrome, school officials wanted to send him back to special ed. “His grades were up and then he had an issue that caused a setback and instead of trying to help him, he basically was put in in-school suspension for a month,” Liam’s mom Pam Ellis says. Ellis turned to the UGA School of Law for help. Working with law students in the school’s special education racticum, she was able to navigate the public school system policies to keep her son in the regular classroom and receive the services he needs to be a success there. Directed by Torin Togut, an at-

torney with the Georgia Legal Service Program, who launched the program at UGA in 2006, the special education practicum provides legal assistance and advocacy to lower-income families with special needs children to ensure their children receive the free, appropriate public education that they are promised under federal law. While the program provides a valuable service to parents, it also gives students a firsthand look at one area of the law they may be working in once they graduate. The seminar portion of the practicum allows students to discuss their clients’ experiences with Togut and each other. “I was interested in getting practical experience… I wanted to see how it is in reality,” says Emily Boness (JD ’10), who participated in the practicum. The practicum lasts a semester and complements work the students perform in the classroom. The students are assigned in pairs to parents seeking help for their children. They review case files, meet with clients and research laws to build a case to take to school board

officials. They also observe Togut in the courtroom and at school meetings. “Maybe most importantly what they learn is not only skills, but they see their supervisors, who are acting as lawyers. They see people doing what they came here to do,” law school Associate Dean Paul M. Kurtz says. The special education practicum is one of 12 clinics now offered through the law school to provide students real world experience while earning their degrees. Boness recalls a father who stopped to thank her after a frustrating, threehour school meeting. “He knew it was important to get his son through school, and he appreciated us being there,” she says. “And I thought, this is what it’s all about… this makes it worth it.”

GET MORE To learn more about the School of Law clinics, go to www.law.uga.edu/clinicalprograms.

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

Law student Sonya Elkins meets with Pam Ellis and her son Liam, 11, at the Georgia Legal Services program office as part of the UGA School of Law’s special education practicum. Elkins and other law students helped Ellis navigate public school system policies so that Liam can receive the services he needs.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLOSE UP

Food network by Grace Morris photos by Andrew Davis Tucker Thousands of students flock to the UGA dining halls every day, but most go there to eat. Members of the Student Culinary Team, dressed in bright red smocks, are there to work alongside professional chefs to learn about food preparation and the food industry. “They’re very hands on,” says Snelling Dining Commons Manager Bryan Varin. “We give them guidance, but we get them to the point where they can make a recipe from start to finish.” The team is made up of eager students who express an interest in food preparation. Many plan to pursue careers in the food industry, but a few of them just have a passion for cooking. “I love being part of the whole process,” says Kristin Evans, a senior international affairs major from Alpharetta. “When I’m making a cake I’m there from beginning to end. I get to mix the dough and pull it out of the oven when it’s all finished.” Varin invited Evans to join the team as a sophomore after she volunteered to help in the kitchen during an event. He and Oglethorpe Dining Commons Head Chef Darnell Tate select

members of the team on a case-by-case basis. Evans fit the bill because she displayed both leadership skills and a love for food. “They’re held to a higher standard,” Tate says. “All of our employees are held to a standard, but these students have something they should be especially proud of.” Tate started the program at Oglethorpe two years ago after he noticed that student employees were often confined to one area of the kitchen. The idea was a quick hit among students and soon Varin started a team at Snelling. Within the next year, all four dining halls will have student culinary teams. Although they don’t receive course credit, students earn a certificate after one year in the program. Most return year after year to gain more experience in the kitchen. “I want to go work in the food industry when I graduate,” says Will Toms, a junior from McDonough majoring in consumer foods. “I actually got into a lot of culinary schools after high school, but I decided I would rather come to UGA.” “We do everything from chopping produce to baking cakes to

Baker Latasha Bonds, left, talks with Student Culinary Team member Kristin Evans, middle, while they work together in the bakeshop at Snelling Dining Commons.

14 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

“It involves working under pressure, teamwork and people skills.” -Darnell Tate, head chef at Oglethorpe Dining Commons

Student Culinary Team member Will Toms cooks in the kitchen while preparing for lunch at Oglethorpe Dining Commons.

rubbing down meats,” he says. “Sometimes an ingredient you need isn’t there so you have to ad lib a recipe, and I love doing that.” Toms started cooking in high school when he and his friends opened a catering business, but working on the culinary team has made him comfortable with larger crowds. “It took some adjustment to go from serving 50 turkeys to hundreds of turkeys,” he says. “But with the training they give us, pretty soon you realize it’s in you.” Evans also credits the large scale dining hall operation as the most challenging and rewarding part of being on the team. “On nights when we’ve served 1,300 people in an hour it gets tough to keep food out for kids to eat and to make sure their favorite foods are out there,” she says. “You have to be forward thinking. On chocolate chip cookie day you have to have extra chocolate chip cookies.” Planning ahead is just one of many skills Evans has honed while on the culinary team. As a senior member of the bakeshop, she organizes recipe preparation, delegates tasks and teaches new student

employees the ropes. With flour on her face and questions from every direction, Evans patiently leads other student employees and rarely stops smiling. Although Tate designed the program to teach students more about food, he says their role in the kitchen teaches responsibilities that will be useful in any work environment. “It involves working under pressure, teamwork and people skills,” he says, “and it combines all of those on a day-to-day basis.” Armed with these skills, the culinary team members act as leaders in the kitchen, but Tate says they don’t stand out because of individual accomplishments. “It’s the fact that they work together, always as a team,” he says. “Other students notice that. They come to me and tell me they see that team in the red shirts, and they want to be a part of it too.” GET MORE To learn more about food services at UGA, go to www.uga.edu/ foodservice.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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Dawgs with dogs UGA students raise guide dogs in training by Allyson Mann (MA ’92)

It’s a Sunday evening in November, and two dogs are playing in a parking lot. Fey is a 9-month-old black Labrador retriever, and Yukon is a 9-month-old yellow Lab. “Fey domination! Go Fey go!” says senior Sonja Price, who’s holding Fey’s leash. “Yukon’s like, ‘I’m about to get this,’” replies junior Ashleigh McCollum, who has his leash. Playtime finished, they walk toward downtown Athens with Sarah Hooper (BSA ’10) and Mica, a 2-month-old collie.

“Find the stairs,” Price says to Fey. “Good girl. Sit. Good girl.” “Yukon. Yukon, find the stairs,” McCollum says. After several tries Yukon approaches the stairs, where he sits and waits. “Find the stairs” is an unusual command, but Yukon is not the average dog—he’s a guide dog in training. So are Fey and Mica. The dogs are spending the first year of their lives in Athens, then they’ll head to New York and the Guide Dog Foundation, where they’ll undergo intensive training before being placed with a visually impaired person. Yukon, Fey and Mica are special, but not uncommon in Athens. There are roughly 85 guide dogs in training in the area, and the majority of the more than 100 trainers—known as puppy walkers—are UGA students.

(Left) Vet student Sarah Hooper (BSA ’10)—with German shepherd Odin, smooth collie Mica and Weimaraner Olive—was the first UGA student to bring a guide dog in training to campus. Five years later, there are about 100 puppy walkers in the Athens area, and the majority of them are UGA students.

CASSIE WRIGHT

Freshman Amanda Lee works with 7-month-old Olive at a January puppy walker meeting at UGA’s Tate Center. Olive and Mica are being co-raised by Hooper and Lauren Dooley.

On a Sunday afternoon in January, Sarah Hooper answers her cell. “Did we get it sorted out?” Hooper asks calmly. “Within the hour we need to get charcoal in the dog.” A dozen dogs and puppy walkers wait patiently in the lobby of UGA’s Tate Student Center. Satisfied that the dog—who ate extra strength Sudafed—is getting the proper care, Hooper encourages the group to act quickly if a dog eats something inappropriate. “Time is our big enemy,” says Hooper, a student at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Hooper is the area coordinator— the leader—of this group. She’s well qualified; she raised her first guide dog at 16. Mica is her 9th dog, so she has a wealth of experience to draw on. “Alex, do you want to take Mica?” Hooper asks. Junior Alex Sigmund is one of the latest applicants to become a puppy walker at UGA, a group that started after Hooper enrolled. By the time she was raising her third dog, she was working with the Guide Dog Foundation and Deana Izzo, GDF’s Athens-based Southern field representative. The two wanted to expand, so Hooper began advertising. In five years, the group has grown to include more than 100. They are the largest group with GDF and the only one focused around a college campus. “The greatest form of advertising is to carry a puppy around the campus,” Izzo says. “The more puppies we had on campus, the more they were seen, the more applications we got.” Sophomore Alison Bridges stands outside Chuck E. Cheese with Izzy, a 6-month-old collie, on another Sunday in January. Hooper’s puppy walkers are taking turns walking their dogs through the restaurant—a test of the dogs’ ability to function despite loud noises, bright lights and overstimulated kids— but they’ve decided Izzy is not ready.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

“The greatest form of advertising is to carry a puppy around the campus.” — Deana Izzo

ROBERT NEWCOMB

Senior Kristen Wilson and Jinx attend a chemistry class. German shepherd Jinx is the third guide dog in training that Wilson has raised.

CASSIE WRIGHT

“That’ll be our Everest,” Bridges says. Puppy walkers are constantly working to expose their dogs to new people, places and situations without overwhelming them. Although the dogs will receive extensive training at GDF, their first year of life strongly influences their success. Expose a dog to too much, and it may develop a phobia that prevents it from being an effective working dog. Expose a dog to too little, and it may not function well in the variety of environments and situations needed. “Our puppy walkers can make or break a working dog,” Izzo says. The life of a student is perfect for guide dog training. The puppies are exposed to a large number of people and places on a daily basis—the kind of exposure that would take a month in a non-student household. The dogs are constantly reacting to new stimuli, and each exposure is an opportunity for training. “Since the dog accompanies you, you’re working on it constantly,” Hooper says. “So you’re doing it as you’re doing your daily activities.”

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Junior Alex Sigmund, an applicant to become a puppy walker, works with Yukon at a meeting in January.

Senior Kristen Wilson vividly remembers when her first dog, Tibby, threw up—a lot—during class. “I was mortified,” she says. Wilson is now raising her third dog, Jinx, and she’s accustomed to dealing with accidents. But she’s sensitive to how her dog’s presence might affect others. “Some people get distracted by the slightest jingle on their collar, so we have to be mindful that this is a campus where there are other students paying the same amount of money that we’re paying to go to class and take tests and learn,” Wilson says. Puppy walkers need to be prepared for any eventuality, so they tend to carry an assortment of items: toys, poop bags, paper towels, Chlorox wipes, carpet wipes and hand sanitizer. Occasionally, they’re caught unprepared. “Can everybody show me a bag?” Hooper asks during the January meeting at Tate. Roughly half of the puppy walkers can’t, and Hooper emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good public image. Although guide dogs in training are protected by a Georgia law allowing them access to public places, she wants to make sure access is given willingly, not grudgingly.

Puppy walkers practice crossing the street in downtown Athens during a monthly meeting. ROBERT NEWCOMB

The same applies to the UGA campus, where administrators have adopted a policy that complies with existing laws but outlines a few limits. The dogs can go in classrooms and residence halls, but not other places like food preparation areas and research labs. The puppy walkers must clean up after the animals and remove them from campus if they become unruly. On UGA’s large campus, it can be difficult to distinguish between a guide dog in training and someone’s pet. Guide dogs in training can be identified by their yellow coat with the Guide Dog Foundation logo; a GDF identification tag on the collar; an ear tattoo of their GDF ID number; and the puppy walker’s ID card that includes their name, the dog’s name and a GDF signature.

Judy Presley has retinitis pigmentosa. She began losing her vision during childhood, and by 1992 she was blind and frustrated with trying to manage using a cane. Four years later an encounter with a guide dog user changed her life. Presley now works with Katie, a 5-year-old Labrador/golden retriever. “When I get ready to go to the grocery store here in Helen, I just put on her harness and off we go,” she says. “I don’t have to ask somebody to take me, I don’t have to ask somebody to let me hold their arm—it’s just me and my dog. It’s just exhilarating, that freedom and independence.” Puppy walkers—who are volunteers—usually have little contact with guide dog users before they join the program. Meeting one can have a significant impact.

“It made me realize how much independence these dogs were giving,” Wilson says. “It got me to see what my dog was going to become one day and what she was going to do. So it made giving them up a little bit easier.” There are a variety of reasons why puppy walkers get involved, but realizing that they’re helping someone keeps them involved, Hooper says. “I would say probably 85 percent, 90 percent are doing it because they want to help somebody.” GET MORE Visit www.photo.alumni.uga.edu/multimedia/guidedogs for a multimedia presentation on guide dogs in training at UGA. Guide Dog Foundation www.guidedog.org

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Clockwise from top left: Park peers through a viewfinder from the North Korea demilitarized zone; Park shakes hands with Selig S. Harrison, director of the Asia program in the Center for International Policy; Park with South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung; the North Korean delegation during a visit to UGA in 2003; and Park shakes hands with Jo Sung Ju, head of American Affairs at the Institute of Disarmament and Peace (IDP). 20 GEORGIA MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ www.uga.edu/gm

The

Peacemaker Professor Han Park helps keep peace between the U.S. and North Korea and helps UGA students better understand global issues

by Lori Johnston

PHOTOS BY UGA PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF AND SPECIAL TO THE GEORGIA MAGAZINE.

During the 2006 Willson Center for Humanities and Arts International Symposium: Globalization and the Two Koreas, Park (far left) shares the stage with (left to right) Professor Bruce Cummings, University of Chicago; Professor Kyung-Ae Park, University of British Columbia; Selig Harrison, Center for International Policy, Washington, D.C.; and Professor Alexander Zhebin, Institute of Eastern Studies, Moscow, Russia.

an Park closes his eyes and sees the dead bodies piled in the streets where he grew up in war-torn China and Korea. Innocent civilians killed at close range. Others dying of opium addiction. Children starving to death. The bloodshed and gruesome scenes from those early years set the stage for what Park describes as a lifelong passion for peacemaking. “From the time of my birth I have been subjected to anything but peace,” he says. “So in my boyhood, I was fed up with the killing and wars and self destruction.” Decades and a world away from the killing fields, Park, a UGA political science professor, has committed his life to help North Korea find peace. In the past 25 years he has traveled there more than 50 times, serving as an unofficial ambassador between it and the rest of the world. “It is a deeply rooted, obsessive commitment to peace building,” he says. JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Over the years Park has worked on behalf of former President Jimmy Carter during his trips, including a peace mission this spring in which Carter met with Kim Jong-il to discuss the country’s nuclear program and its food shortages. His first effort secured a controversial 1994 trip to meet former North Korean dictator Kim Il-Sung in the capital of Pyongyang, a meeting that some believe averted war between the U.S. and North Korea. Park’s focus has been on creating trust between the U.S. and North Korea, as well as North Korea and South Korea. As six-party talks reached a stalemate in 2003, Park organized an informal diplomatic seminar that included high-level North Korean and U.S. government officials, which paved the way for talks to resume in 2004. The most recent high-profile event involving Park was the 2009 release of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were detained by North Korean border guards while reporting on a story about the plight of women who cross the border from

“

North Korea into China to escape starvation, only to fall prey to human traffickers. Ling and Lee were sentenced by a North Korean court to 12 years hard labor for “hostile acts.” Park visited North Korea three times to negotiate specific terms that would allow former President Bill Clinton to travel to the country to win their freedom. In April, Lee and Ling were awarded the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. While Park is often approached to be a go-between, he’s selective about his opportunities. It’s not his job to be a missionary, he says, but a scholar and a humanitarian, with other trips focused on providing food or housing for North Koreans. Park, whose standing invitation to visit North Korea commands a rare respect, also serves as director of UGA’s Center for the Study of Global Issues, known as Globis. Research-related and educational trips to Japan, Ecuador, Italy and South Africa thrust students

into learning how political, economic and sociocultural trends can impact public policy. In 2010, Morehouse College awarded him the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Prize, which recognizes individuals who have a legacy of creating peace. The historically black, all-male Atlanta college, which counts Martin Luther King Jr. among its alumni, has presented the award to eight Nobel Peace Prize recipients since it began in 2001. “He’s one of the very few people in this country at this point who truly has earned the trust and the respect of the North Korean officials,” says Habitat of Humanity co-founder Don Mosley, who, with Park’s help, took volunteers to North Korea this spring to build homes. “He has done that by his dogged persistence, his year after year, his decade after decade of humanitarian work and straight speaking. They might not always like what Han Park says, but they know that he is very much committed to being a peacemaker.”

There are very few people that have devoted much of their professional activity over an entire lifetime to a particular problem and country, and that’s Han Park.

—Gary Bertsch, founding director of UGA’s Center for International Trade and Security

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Seeking Peace Out of Suffering For three long years, Park, who was born in China and moved to Korea when he was 9, lived in the middle of the Korean War, surrounded by deadly confrontations and the gruesome aftermath of air strikes. He had enough. “I was so disturbed by what appeared to be human nature,” Park says. As a middle and high school student, Park was disappointed by the politicians and decision makers, which propelled him to study political science. His purpose was not to become a politician, but to do something about the “real politics behind the war games,” he says. His parents were Buddhists, but Park met Christian missionaries and teachers who came from the U.S. to serve in North Korea. He was determined to work for peace and love, which he saw as the essence of Christianity. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1963 from Seoul National University and then came to the U.S. with his fiancée, Sungwon, in 1965, earning his master’s from American University in 1967 and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1971. Park, who arrived at UGA to teach in 1970, received his first invitation to Pyongyang in 1981 to join a group of U.S. scholars visiting the country. During the 1980s, much of his work was with Uniting Families, an organization Park founded that decade with the late Dean Rusk. Armed with a camcorder—and well before the explosion of social media and virtual chatting—Park took video messages from displaced Koreans living in China to reunite family members over the airwaves. He spent the ’90s involved in efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis that developed in North Korea. Over the years, he’s also sought to promote the U.S.-North Korea relationship by bringing media and academic scholars to North Korea and bringing North Koreans to America. “There are very few people that have devoted much of their professional activity over an entire lifetime to a particular problem and country, and that’s Han Park,” says Gary Bertsch, founding director of UGA’s Center

From top: Park with Jimmy Carter not long after Carter lost his 1980 re-election campaign; Park with Carter in 2007 at the Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century Conference held at UGA; and Park with UGA videographer Bill Evelyn while preparing for a live video conference about Korea on CNN in 2003.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

(clockwise from top left) During their 2003 visit to UGA, Park confers with members of the North Korean delegation. WUGA radio reporter May Kay Mitchell interviews Park following his closing remarks to the delegation. Park with (left to right) Han Song-Ryol, ambassador to the United Nations; Curt Weldon, vice chairman of the U.S. House Arms Service Committee; Kim Myong Gil, senior researcher at the Institute of Disarmament and Peace; Jo Sung Ju, IDP head of American Affairs; Sim Il Gwang, IDP researcher; and an unidentified man during the delegation’s visit.

for International Trade and Security. “His name is widely recognized in this country and abroad as being a man of careful, deep thought and experience and of good judgment.” The relationship that Park has achieved with North Korea is unusual—and took years to build. “We look at it today and say, how did this happen? The answer is it happened over multiple decades,” says Thomas Lauth, dean of the School of Public and International Affairs. “It’s in part because he’s Korean. It’s in part because he has expertise in Asian government and Asian politics. It’s in part because of trust built up.” Park wades through his downtown Athens office, his desk covered by papers including his contract renewal with ABC News, which employs him as a political consultant. After a few minutes, he locates a Korean publication in which he was recently featured, his photo on the cover reflecting his prominence overseas. Park believes he has shown his sincere support for peace while on their turf, although not always in a calm manner. He remembers a trip to an orphan24 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

age in North Korea in the mid-’90s, when he witnessed babies dying of hunger. “There are many, many sad tragic scenes in the world, but nothing beats that—a baby dying, not over illness, not of accident, or even war, but of starvation. It’s unthinkable. So I showed my emotion. I assaulted the government officials physically. I became insane. I lost my composure,” he recalls. “So that really prompted their assessing this little man. So ironically, it really helped me win their trust. Because I am genuinely interested in helping North Korea in a humanitarian manner.” Park, who views North Koreans as innocent victims of a system plagued by deplorable policies, speaks strongly about the impact governing bodies around the world have on the population. “International sanctions they may deserve, but the consequences of hurting people, it’s not something that we should implement. We are not hurting the regime at all. We are hurting the people.”

The Relationship Builder Han Park’s religion is serving as a peacemaker, says Mosley, who served as a Peace Corps director in South Korea in the late ’60s. Park opened the door for a spring trip to North Korea by volunteers with the Fuller Center for Housing (founded by the late Millard Fuller, Habitat co-founder), which seeks to build homes in North Korea alongside locals. The ability to have Americans and North Koreans spend time together, eating lunch and working on homes is a way to make peace, Park says. The seven team members planned to spend time with Koreans and build the first of 50 houses in a community between Pyongyang and Sunan International Airport, says David Snell, director of the Fuller Center for Housing. “It’s really groundbreaking,” he says. “For 60 years, we really haven’t had much to do with each other in a friendly way. To my knowledge, no one is doing the kind of grassroots, on-theground initiative that we’re involved with. He saw this as an opportunity to take a little different approach.” Park sees himself representing the U.S. as a system of diversity and accomplishment, and he seeks to change North Koreans’ perceptions of Americans. While he recognizes that others have tried to do what he has been doing for 40-plus years, many of them have their own agendas, whether to further Christianity or to increase their self-esteem, he says. While Park holds U.S. citizenship, Bertsch says he doesn’t shy away from making comments that may rub Americans and the State Department the wrong way because they are not in line with U.S. policy. “The important thing is that Han Park is his own man. He doesn’t take orders or he doesn’t try to please anyone but his own good judgment about what will be best for the broader humanity or the broader group of people that is involved,” Bertsch says. “I know that governments are often unhappy with it.” At 72, Park plans to continue teaching in some capacity, but can now envision retirement, which he will spend attempting to reconnect with lost family members in China and the Koreas. But some folks, like Bertsch, believe that Park’s best years are ahead of him. His knowledge, wisdom and trust will be crucial to help ease the tense relationship between the U.S. and North Korea. “To have somebody of the understanding and experience and values of Han Park assisting the leaders of the countries involved in dealing with these issues is the thing that we need most,” Bertsch says. “I think that his contributions in this area of public diplomacy and strategic and informal communication will be of continuing value for the rest of his life. Therefore, I think he has much to do and probably becomes of greater value to our country and to all of the countries involved in the world over year by year.” GM —Lori Johnston is a writer living in Watkinsville. JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

From left: Senior public relations and womens’ studies major Paula Bryant of Watkinsville, junior advertising and psychology major Katelyn Fish of Alpharetta and senior public relations major Ashely Biondich of Alpharetta use Skype to consult with client Shannon Short about a public relations strategy for Short’s business, Girls Get Real. 26 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

Getting A

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

Chick-fil-A in a college town should have no problem attracting nugget-craving students, right? So when the Chick-fil-A franchise in east Athens—a mere two miles from campus—realized that most students were satisfying their chicken sandwich urges on the other side of town, they were eager to work with a team of smart, young professionals to improve their student-oriented promotions. And what better public relations consultants than UGA students, the demographic they’re working to attract? The team of students researched how college students like to be contacted (Facebook is king) and promoted events geared toward college students, such as 1 a.m. breakfasts during final exams and college nights, where entrees are buy one get one free. Wrenn Hoover, marketing and public relations director at the eastside Chick-fil-A, says she has noticed more student customers since the team began working with them as well as an increase in overall exposure—they even brought TV news crews to some events. A special “Spice and Shake” college night to benefit UGA philanthropies brought in more than any other previous college night event. “They blew our record number in sales by $800, which is incredible,” Hoover says. “They blew us out of the water with their event.” This team is part of Creative Consultants, an organization offered through the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication,

which provides public relations students an opportunity to do real work with real clients while in school. The clients, including local businesses and nonprofit organizations, get marketing research and public relations campaigns that would cost thousands of dollars if done by professional consultants. Now more than a decade old, Creative Consultants operates under the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at UGA. Students run the “agency” as a professional business, working in teams of staffers and reporting to an executive director. Currently there are 100 staffers that work with 14 clients—ranging

actice

Grady College public relations students get hands-on experience through a student-run agency by Meg Twomey (ABJ ’11)

from national companies like Chickfil-A to student organizations such as the women’s ultimate Frisbee team. Each client has an account executive, a junior account executive and four to six staffers on their team. This internal structure, part of an overall restructuring that executive director Lauren Hughes spearheaded last summer, has increased the accountability of staffers and encourages communication among members. Ashley Biondich, a senior public relations major, is the account executive for Girls Get Real, an organization founded by Shannon Short (BBA ’86)

PETER FREY

Creative Consultants team members Hannah Berle and Megan Beavers work the t-shirt color voting station at Chick-fil-A’s Surf N’ Shirt college night as UGA students Chase Duff and Austin Bentley (left to right) place their votes. College nights allow students to buy one entrée and get one free with their student ID and have attracted more students to the Barnett Shoals location.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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“We got a great amount of support from our clients,

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which I think says a lot about what they think of our

program and what they think of our students.”

- Lauren Hughes, executive director

to help college women realize their opportunities and feel empowered to defy stereotypical roles. “I think the key to our success is communication, making sure that we align what the team knows they’re doing with what Shannon wants us to be doing,” Biondich says. Short came to Creative Consultants for help getting her message out. “When I came in, it was really all about getting exposure,” she says. She began working with the Creative Consultants team, led by Biondich and junior account executive Katelyn Fish, in the fall of 2010 to rebrand the group and herself, update the website and get firsthand feedback

from college women—her target demographic. “We decided the first thing we needed to do was research—it’s the foundation of any PR campaign,” Biondich says. “We looked at and defined our target audience, our objective, and then decided that we wanted to conduct a focus group.” Although none of the staffers had experience with focus groups, they reviewed textbooks, researched online, developed a detailed plan and hosted a focus group of 10 young women in October. Afterward, they reviewed the findings and used them to map out a plan of action, which they presented to Short as well as the Creative

PETER FREY

Chick-fil-A’s campus relations director Lauren Locher (ABJ ’11) and Haley Cartey, 10, take time out from eating “mor chikin” to have a hula-hoop contest, as Creative Consultants team members Katie Sykes and Hannah Berle look on. 28 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

Consultants directors. During the second semester, the team worked with Short and a web designer to create a website that college-aged women would find appealing, understandable and legitimate. Forging a positive relationship like that with the client is just one skill that Hughes believes Creative Consultants teaches its staffers. “They really learn a lot—like really invaluable stuff—that you would just not get in any other experience,” says Hughes, a senior communication studies major. “There’s more to it than just an internship where you have some interaction with people, you don’t really have ownership over a lot. But with this, they own all of it. And at the end of the day, their name is stamped on it.” That ownership also gives students something to discuss and show potential employers in an increasingly competitive job market. “We can pull that [website] up…and say, ‘We did this. We designed this.’ That is a product that you can see that we produced,” Biondich says. They’re also producing tangible results for their clients. Rent the Runway, a national website that allows people to rent designer dresses for special events, has seen a spike in business from UGA since they sponsored fashion shows and an Academy Awards viewing party in Athens—suggestions from its Creative Consultants team. UGA is consistently one of the top campuses in terms of rentals, and numbers of rentals have increased

Team members Hannah Berle, Megan Beavers and Katie Sykes (clockwise from upper left) help some of the younger college night visitors cast their votes for the next color of Chick-fil-A shirt.

significantly since the Creative Consultants team began to represent them. In fact, UGA students have rented more than 1,000 dresses in the past year, according to A.J. Nicholas, director of public relations at Rent the Runway. Initially the students had to solicit clients who needed marketing and public relations assistance. Now clients come to them. They even received a query from MARTA, the Atlanta area public transportation system. They had to decline the client, because Hughes says they don’t have the budget or staff right now to produce a full campaign for such a large company.

They also have seen contributions to the program increase as their success becomes better known. While the organization asks clients for a $25 donation, most give at least $100, Hughes says. “We got a great amount of support from our clients, which I think says a lot about what they think of our program and what they think of our students,” she says, “and what they think of the work we’re putting out.” GET MORE To learn more about Creative Consultants go to www.ugacreativeconsultants.com.

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PETER FREY

“They really

learn a lot that you would just not

”

get in any other experience.”

- Hughes

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Looking

30 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

for life Alumnus Roger Hunter oversees NASA’s quest for life outside our solar system by Kelly Simmons (MPA ’10)

s there life on a planet other than Earth? Roger Hunter (BS ’78) believes so and as manager of the NASA Kepler project, his mission is to find out. “We believe there is intelligent life out there somewhere,” Hunter says without reservation. “We’re not the only solar system in the galaxy. There are others out there.”

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

Roger Hunter returned to Athens in March to give a public talk at the UGA observatory and to speak to physics students at North Oconee High School.

Dot Paul

Launched on March 6, 2009, the Kepler Space Telescope is a NASA mission to identify and study other solar systems and planets beyond our own. The primary objective is to determine the frequency of Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of sunlike stars in our galaxy. Just four months into the project, Hunter’s team had identified more than 1,200 planet candidates, among them a handful that exist in a habitable zone, a region where liquid water could exist on the planet’s surface. They had confirmed 15 planets as of early May. Astronomers, physicists and stargazers have long sought clues about life on other planets. In 1995, scientists began finding planets beyond our solar system. But until recently the technology was not available to 32 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

explore other galaxies. The Kepler telescope changed that. With a .95-meter diameter photometer, or light meter, Kepler has a large field of view, 105 square degrees. In comparison, the field of view for most telescopes is less than one square degree. Hunter puts that in terms a layperson can understand. If the telescope was turned around and pointed at Earth, he says, “I could tell you if your porch light was on from 20 million miles.” “It is the most sensitive telescope we’ve ever built.” And the largest ever launched into deep space beyond Earth’s orbit. In a March presentation to physics students at North Oconee High School, Hunter described some of the planets the mission has identified. The students sat silently, riveted to photographs Hunter presented showing Kepler 7b, a planet

The Kepler Space Telescope

Kepler’s field of vision.

Prior to Kepler, scientists had identified only five planets beyond our solar system.

In its first four months of operation the Kepler telescope identified more than 1,200 planet candidates.

50 percent larger than Jupiter but only half as massive, making it the least dense planet they’ve found. It is the density of Styrofoam, Hunter tells the class. Kepler 10b is the smallest planet identified, about 1.4 times the size of Earth. The first rocky planet to be found, it is very hot, registering about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, which is hotter than the lava flows on Earth, Hunter says. Because of that the mission scientists nicknamed it “Planet Vulcan,” after the god of fire in Roman mythology. It is about 560 light years from our solar system. Hunter puts that in perspective as well. There are 6,000 trillion miles in a light year, he says. Therefore, the light that is reaching us now from the stars around which these planets orbit was emitted when the first Europeans were leaving their continent to look for America. For Hunter, who grew up in Moultrie, the offer to head the Kepler mission was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at UGA, and his participation in ROTC during his college years led him into the U.S. Air Force upon graduation. His focus in the military was in global positioning systems, and he spent two years working on satellite communications in the Australian Outback. His training and experience led to jobs at the U.S. Department of Defense and with Boeing before he was tapped for the Kepler project. As project manager, Hunter oversees a staff based at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. But there are several NASA facilities around the world that support the Kepler mission. Data from the telescope are transmitted via a network with satellite dishes in Canberra, Madrid and Goldstone, Calif.. They are collected at the Mission Operations Center in Boulder, Colo. Students from the University of Colorado at Boulder are involved in the data collection there, Hunter says. The information then goes to the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and then on to the Ames Research Center, where it is processed and prepared for distribution to the public. Findings from the first 134 days JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

“Major technological hurdles would have to be overcome to venture beyond the solar system. I think the sky’s the limit.”

Kepler made a splash in the media when it was first introduced with magazines touting the possibility of aliens and other worlds.

DOT PAUL

(right) Hunter presented Kepler’s findings through slides and video to a captivated North Oconee High School audience.

34 GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

of observation were announced in February which was earlier than the team had planned. The next big data release is scheduled for summer 2012, but that too may happen earlier. The project got a lot of attention when it was first announced. The December 2009 National Geographic sported a cover that read, “Are we alone?” Popular Science magazine dubbed the telescope the “Alien hunter.” It became fodder for comedians like Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” in March 2009 when William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for space operations, appeared by satellite on the show. “Folks, it is crucial that America leads the way in finding habitable planets,” Colbert told the audience. “Personally, I cannot wait to taste Ewok.” Hunter says his team has joked about their search as well, wondering what kind of life may exist out there or, worse, what if nothing is found. But he believes that it’s out there and as technology continues to advance, we may one day have the means to go to it.

“In the 1300s and 1400s people thought the Earth was flat, they thought we would never fly, that we would never land on the moon,” he says. “Major technological hurdles would have to be overcome to venture beyond the solar system. I think the sky’s the limit.” The new findings will reshape the way students learn astronomy, says UGA Assistant Astronomy Professor Inseok Song, who won the 2009 Advancing Science Serving Society’s Newcomb Cleveland Prize for his paper in Science that reported the discovery of the first extra-solar planetary system outside our solar system. Song’s course, “Finding Life,” always fills during preregistration. “The possibility of life in other places beyond the Earth keeps the students quite interested,” he says. GM GET MORE To learn more about the Kepler project go to http://kepler.nasa.gov.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

NOTES

Take the lead

Former Bulldog and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (BSFCS ’98) traded football for the foxtrot this spring when he became a contestant on season 12 of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Ward and his partner, pro dancer Kym Johnson, competed against rivals including actress Kirstie Alley and boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard. Halfway through the competition, Ward showed strength in both ballroom and Latin dances and earned praise from the judges for his musicality and hip action. Contestants advance based on a combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes; at press time, Ward was one of five celebrities still vying for the show’s mirrorball trophy.

CLASS

ABC/BOB D’AMICO

CLASS NOTES

Compiled by Grace Morris and Meg Twomey

1930-1934

Charles Bowen (AB ’34, MA ’39) was inducted into the Junior Achievement Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame, which honors leaders who have made a lasting impact on the community. Bowen is a former teacher, principal and superintendent of Dalton City Schools, and he still works with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boy Scouts of America.

1935-1939

Ralph Ewell Carlisle (AB ’37) earned a degree from Atlanta Law School, where he was valedictorian. In 1976 he was elected judge of the State Court of Dekalb. He lives in Athens.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

1950-1954

Bob Heck (BSEd ’51) of Decatur stepped down after his 24th season as Georgia State’s head softball coach. He earned a No. 700 career win and was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Softball Hall of Fame.

1960-1964

Lawrence “Doc” Cohen (BSPH ’61, JD ’64) was inducted into the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame. He is the founder and CEO of Houston-based Cookie Associates, a global franchise group that includes the Great American Cookies® and Pretzelmaker®. George B. Watts (ABJ ’63) received the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association at the 2011 International Poultry Expo.

1965-1969

Norman Arey (AB ’65) is a weekly sports columnist at the Rome NewsTribune. Andy Ghertner (BBA ’65) of Atlanta received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Terry College of Business. He is the executive vice president of Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia. Brian Johnstone (ABJ ’68) was appointed vice chairman of the USO Council of Georgia. He is also the government relations director for Lockheed Martin in Marietta.

1970-1974

Maxine Clark (ABJ ’71) and her husband received the 2011 Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service Award, given to couples that have enhanced the St. Louis region. Clark is chief executive of Build-A-Bear Workshop and serves on the Teach for America national and regional boards. Richard E. Cristol

ALUMNI PROFILE (MBA ’71) is president of the Association Management Company Institute, the trade association that represents the AMC industry. He is the former president of Kellen Company. Stephen S. Green (BBA ’71) is chair-elect of the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce. Frank Barron (BBA ’73) received the Crystal Phoenix Award from Newnan’s local board of realtors. Ansley B. Saville (AB ’73) was appointed to the Capitol Arts Standards Commission by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. Elton Maddox (BSAE ’74) was named secretary of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association. He is currently president and CEO of Wayne Farms in Oakwood, Ga.

1975-1979

Steve Beverly (ABJ ’76) was named Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Communication Association. He is an associate professor of communication arts at Union University. Stephanie Armistead (BSEd ’77) of Atlanta was named one of the 2011 Notable Georgians in Georgia Trend magazine for her work in corporate sustainability. She is the general manager of GreenBusiness WORKS. Kevin B. Marsh (BBA ’77) of Irmo, S.C., is the president and chief executive of SCANA Corporation. Dennis McEntire (BBA ’77) received the Golden Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America Flint River Council. Audraine Jackson (ABJ ’79) won the grand prize in MARTA’s Dump the Pump video competition for her video “Evolution.”

1980-1984

Ray Goff (BSEd ’80) was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Goff played quarterback at Georgia, winning an SEC championship in 1976. He returned to Georgia to coach under Vince Dooley and in 1989 was named head coach, a position he held until 1995. Alice R. Pruitt (BSEd ’80) was selected to have her artwork displayed on a billboard in Athens as part of the Athens-Clarke Leisure Services’ Art in the Air contest. Roger Strauss (ABJ ’80) received the John Holliman Jr.

Home on the range A former Bulldog standout is raising awareness about organic cattle farming by Grace Morris Tennessee Titans’ middle linebacker Will Witherspoon doesn’t just defend yards from opposing teams. He defends animals from poor treatment and people from processed food. “We always had animals in the house growing up,” Witherspoon (BS ’07) says, “and I was the kid that brought everything home when I found it outdoors.” SPECIAL A three-year starter on the UGA football team in the early 2000s, Witherspoon has played professional ball since 2002, first with the Carolina Panthers and then the St. Louis Rams, where he was named team MVP in 2006. He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and signed last year with the Tennessee Titans. But away from the gridiron, Witherspoon is making his mark in another field—organic agriculture. On his 500-acre farm, Shire Gate in Owensville, Mo., Witherspoon raises cattle naturally as an Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) producer. The designation means that his cattle are grass-fed from birth, and his farm must pass random check-ups by the AWA to ensure the cattle are treated humanely on a pasture or range. His training also equips him to teach other farmers about grass-fed livestock and the problems with processed food. “I’m in a job where I have to be very conscious of what I put in my body, and I don’t trust what’s on the market shelves,” Witherspoon says. “I started asking, ‘Why shouldn’t I start giving everybody knowledge about eating healthy?’” Witherspoon bought the farm, then 185 acres, in 2002 as a home for his two Shire horses. “I was tired of paying for someone to keep my horses, and I wasn’t happy with the way they were being treated,” Witherspoon says. He soon added 15 cows and about 100 goats to help him clean up the pasture. In the future, Witherspoon plans to add poultry, pigs and perhaps lamb to his farm. When he’s not playing football, Witherspoon travels to observe other farms and encourages AWA-approved animal treatment. “It’s really sad how animals are treated sometimes, and it’s sad what big agriculture has done,” he says. “I want Shire Gate to be a beacon of light where people can go to understand.”

GET MORE For more information, go to www.shiregatefarm.com.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES

I just returned from a visit to the UGA campus in Costa Rica, and I am still in awe of this impressive facility—especially the beauty of the setting, the positive impact we’re having on the region and the dedication of the students and staff. This exceptional setting offers unique research opportunities for UGA students as well as those from other institutions. For example, I met a professor from another university who has been bringing his students to our Central American campus for the last decade (prior to UGA ownership). This incredible resource is on the verge of earning acclaim well beyond its original dream. Vic Sullivan Amazingly, the Costa Rica property is only one of several foreign locations that UGA calls home. Our highly acclaimed Oxford, England and Cortona, Italy, programs are popular choices for students seeking to enrich their academic opportunities. With these and other destinations available, it’s no surprise UGA enjoys a high ranking for study abroad experiences. I used to think I knew a good bit about UGA, but over the past two years that I’ve been honored to serve as president of your Alumni Association, it seems every day I learn of a new program, professor, outreach or a new impact that UGA has on our world. The research of our students and faculty, such as marine science Professor Samantha Joye’s work following the Gulf oil crisis, puts UGA in the forefront of global opportunities. Other UGA scientists are measuring the environmental impact of our growing populations and helping feed the world. None of this would be possible without the financial support of our alumni. This will be my last column in the Georgia Magazine; I’m excited for the association as next month Judge Steve Jones (BBA ’78, JD ’87) assumes the presidency. The ride I’ve enjoyed with the Association, including seeing both my children become UGA graduates, has been beyond my dreams. My amazement at what it means to be a Georgia Bulldog has grown each day. Wherever you go around the world, there’s a good chance you’ll see our famous “G” and feel the influence of the University of Georgia. Thank you for joining me in the continued support of our alma mater. —Vic Sullivan (BBA ’80), president UGA Alumni Association

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Deborah Dietzler, Executive Director ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Vic Sullivan BBA ’80 President, Albany Steve Jones BBA ’78, JD ’87 Vice President, Athens Tim Keadle BBA ’78 Treasurer, Lilburn Ruth Bartlett BBA ’76 Asst. Treasurer, Atlanta Harriette Bohannon BSFCS ’74 Secretary, Augusta Trey Paris BBA ’84, MBA ’85 Immediate Past President, Gainesville

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WEBSITE www.uga.edu/alumni 800/606-8786 or 706/542-2251 To receive a monthly e-newsletter, enroll at: www.uga.edu/alumni ADDRESS CHANGES E-mail records@uga.edu or call 888/268-5442

Lifetime Achievement award from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication for his work in telecommunications. Strauss is currently a senior director at CNN. Martha Barksdale (ABJ ’81) is managing editor of Fayette Newspapers Inc. She has been a reporter there for two years. Krysta Harden (ABJ ’81) is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s new chief of staff. Previously she served as the USDA’s assistant secretary for congressional relations. Bill Douglas (BBA ’83) of Atlanta received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Terry College of Business. He is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Jeff Jowdy (ABJ ’83) is a trustee of the Phi Kappa Theta national foundation. Jowdy is also president and founder of the Lighthouse Counsel and a seasoned nonprofit leader. Arthur F. Roche III (BFA ’83) of Atlanta wrote and developed Animal Jam, a web-based National Geographic game for kids. Carolyn Brault Seefer (BBA ’84) of Washington D.C. was selected as one of 24 VIPs who represented America at a CNBC town hall meeting with President Obama. She also published a college business English textbook. Lisa Spain Short (M ’84) was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. She was the first female player to receive a tennis scholarship and won the NCAA national women’s singles championship in 1984.

1985-1989

Walter Daniels (BSA ’85) of Macon was inducted into the 2011 class of SEC Basketball Legends. Todd Markle (AB ’86) is Gov. Nathan Deal’s executive counsel. Peter Persons (BSEd ’86) of Macon was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. He is a former Georgia amateur, junior champion and PGA Tour winner. He was also an All-American and AllSEC performer at UGA. Bryan Salas (ABJ ’87) received the Henry W. Grady Mid-Career Alumni Award from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication for his public relations work with the U.S. Marine Corps. Salas is currently the director of Marine

Lifelong Learning for Mature Adults

ALUMNI calendar June 2, July 7, Aug. 4 6 p.m. Boston Chapter Bulldogs After Business Hours

Join fellow UGA alumni and friends the first Thursday of every month. This is a great way to meet other Boston area Bulldogs. June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 12:15 p.m. Charlotte Chapter Second Tuesday Monthly Luncheons

Join fellow UGA alumni and friends in the Charlotte area for networking, food and fun. We will meet at the Brixx Pizza Uptown. June 16 5 p.m. Tallahassee Chapter Bulldogs After Business Hours

Join fellow UGA alumni and friends for good food and great times. We will meet at Finnegan’s Wake.

      

Exciting non-credit classes No tests, no papers Varied topics

JOI

Dynamic instructors

NU S!

Lunch and Learn sessions Travel/Study opportunities Special Interest Groups

Having the time of our lives with OLLI@UGA!

www.olli.uga.edu 706-542-7715 e-mail: olli@uga.edu

June 17 - June 18 Boston Chapter Relay for Life

We are continuing UGA’s strong history with this event by forming Team UGA right here in Boston. For information on joining the team or donating, contact us at bostondawgs@gmail.com. June 23 UGA Day in Denver

Join Denver area UGA alumni and friends for a special event dedicated to all things UGA. Get the inside scoop on the Georgia Bulldogs’ upcoming seasons, hear the latest news from the University and learn more about Denver’s UGA Alumni chapter.

Serving

GEORGIA For more information: Athens area events: Wanda Darden at wdarden@uga.edu or (706) 542-2251 Student programs: Julie Cheney at jcheney@uga.edu or (706) 542-2251 Atlanta programs: Meredith Carr at mcarr@uga.edu or (404) 814-8820

nourishment with culinary spirit

Chapters and clubs: Tami Gardner at tgardner@uga.edu or (706) 542-2251 Parents and Families: Diane Johnson at dfjohn@uga.edu or (706) 542-2251 73 NATIONAL AWARDS

To learn more about the UGA Alumni Association or find a chapter or club in your area, go to www.uga.edu/alumni.

University of Georgia Food Services www.uga.edu/foodservice (706) 542-1256 JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

WHY give

Corps Public Affairs in the Pentagon’s Marine Corps headquarters. Richard Costigan (AB ’88) is the California State Personnel Board’s representative to the California Public Employee’s Retirement System board of administration. Stephen L. Penley (M ’88) was appointed to the Capitol Arts Standards Commission by Gov. Nathan Deal. Eleanor Sams (BFA ’88) is a member of the creative team at Jackson Spalding’s Athens office. Kristi Smith Atkins (AB ’89) was a 2011 Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient in the annual revenues of up to $5 million category. She is a CEO at a|i|m Marketing Solutions, a sports and entertainment marketing agency. Ann Dickerson Zack (ABJ ’89) and her husband Bill started Legends of the Game Cookie Company and partnered with John Smoltz as the brand’s ambassador. The company sells sugar cookies iced with images of famous athletes.

“Our decision to give back to UGA was an easy one. The UGA School of Law provided the springboard to Robert’s legal career, which began at King and Spalding in Atlanta. Our oldest son, Robert IV, graduated in December with his history degree and starts his career in insurance next month at Marsh. Our son, Taylor, is working on his business degree.” —English Ball, who with her husband Robert served as chairs of the UGA Parents and Families Leadership Council for the 2010-11 academic year. English Ball was one of two parents to serve on the UGA Emergency Preparedness and Communications Committee, which reviewed the university’s emergency response protocols and made recommendations to improve the system.

1990-1994

SPECIAL

From left: Robert Ball IV (AB ’10); English Ball; Taylor Ball; Caroline Ball; and Robert Ball III (JD ’86).

Robert Owen Ball III (JD ’86) and his wife English Ball created the Robert Ball Law School Scholarship with a $100,000 gift to the university. They also support the UGA Parents and Families Council with an annual gift of $2,500. Want to give? Go to www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/os/makegift.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

Deron R. Hicks (BFA ’90) was appointed to the position of state inspector general for the state of Georgia. John A. Moreland III (BBA ’90, MEd ’92) is the vice president of marketing at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. Tim Worley (M ’90) was inducted into the Robeson Country Sports Hall of Fame in Robeson County, N.C. Worley played football at UGA and was a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. Greg Griffeth (BS ’92) of St. Simons Island is head of school for Frederica Academy. Kendal Dunson (BBA ’93) is president of the Montgomery County Bar Association in Alabama. Sherri Green (BSFCS ’93) was elected president of the D.C. Ad Club, the Washington D.C. chapter of the American Advertising Federation. She is the director of new business development at LM&O Advertising in Arlington, Va. Will Ronning (BBA ’93) is vice president and general counsel for Coastal Medical Billing

2011 UGA Alumni Association Awards Mary Frances Early (MEd ’62, EdD ’67)), Professor Han S. Park, H. Perk Robins and the family of Charles S. Sanford Jr. (AB ’58) were honored by the UGA Alumni Association in April for their continuing support of the university. Alumni Merit Award

Mary Frances Early was the first African American to graduate from UGA, earning a Master of Music Education and Specialist in Education degrees. She taught music in Atlanta public schools, winning the Teacher of the Year Award twice and receiving the Star Teacher of the Year award. She later became coordinator of music for the Atlanta Public School system as well as the first African American to be named president of the Georgia Music Educators Association. After retiring from Atlanta public schools in 1994, Early continued her career in education by serving as an adjunct professor of music at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. In 1997, she became chair of the Music Department at Clark Atlanta University. She retired in 2005. At UGA, an annual lecture and a professorship have been named in her honor.

Faculty Service Award

Han S. Park is a professor of public and international affairs and the founding director of UGA’s Center for the Mary Frances Early Study of Global Issues (Globis). During his 40 years of service to UGA he has worked as an educator, a peacemaker and a humanitarian. Over the years Park has worked passionately to promote peace in a divided Korea. As a humanitarian, he has single-handedly helped hundreds of separated families to locate and reunite with their long-lost family members. Through Globis he has helped expand the global awareness and literacy of American students through study abroad programs in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Under his leadership, Globis has also developed interdisciplinary certificate programs in global studies to prepare students to meet challenges of the emergent global era.

Friend of UGA Award

H. Perk Robins came to UGA in 1973 as vice presiHan S. Park dent for development and university relations. Hired by President Fred C. Davison, Robins helped develop UGA’s first real development initiative. Prior to UGA, Robins was director of development at Ball State University in Indiana and later executive vice president of the Ball State University Foundation. In 1987, Robins was tapped by President Charles B. Knapp to head UGA’s Third Century Campaign. He left Athens in 1988 to initiate development at Georgia Southern University. He retired from Georgia Southern in 2005.

Alumni Family of the Year Award

The Charles Sanford Jr. family history at UGA goes back more than 100 years. Charles Sanford Jr.’s grandfather, S.V. Sanford, came to UGA in 1903 to teach English H. Perk Robins and was later named president of the university. He was responsible for moving the football field from Herty Field to where it stands today and was instrumental in raising funds to build the stadium that was later named in his honor. Charles’ father, Charles Sanford Sr., graduated from the University in 1921. Charles and his wife, Mary McRitchie (BS ’59), both graduated from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. In 1991, they established the Charles S. Sanford Sr. Chair in Business to honor Charles’ father. In 1993, they pledged a lead gift of more than $1 million to build the Business Student Center at the Terry College. In 1997, Sanford Hall was completed and named in honor of the Sanfords’ contributions to Terry College and UGA.

Charles Sanford Jr.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES 1.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Murder, he wrote Alumnus transitions from ad copy to crime fiction by Kelly Simmons (MPA ’10) The hero in Michael Craven’s first book, Body Copy, is a former surfing legend named Donald Tremaine. Tremaine, now retired from the sport, lives in southern California in a trailer with his elderly dog Lyle and works as a private investigator. His latest case involves the unsolved murder of a popular, successful advertising executive. Craven (BA ’92) is a former ad agency executive. And he surfs. But there, he maintains, is where the similarities end. “I love crime fiction,” Craven says, Michael Craven relaxing in the lobby of the St. Julien Hotel in downtown Boulder, Colo. “I began to develop the story around some of the things I knew.” “The characters are meant to feel real but all are composites and creations of my imagination.” Craven, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., has had an almost 20-year career in advertising, his last three and a half years spent as a senior copy writer and creative director at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, an international advertising firm with offices in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Craven’s work with CP+B includes ad campaigns for Microsoft (remember those ads featuring Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld?) and Burger King. “I always wanted to be a writer of some kind,” says Craven, whose undergraduate degree from UGA was in English. After graduating he moved to New York to look for a job. He wound up working as an assistant to the creative director for Grey Entertainment, a firm that promotes entertainment events. Craven admits he knew nothing about advertising when he took the job, but after watching the process for a while decided to try his hand at copy writing. “I just asked,” Craven says of his jump from assistant to copy writer. “You have to ask for it and so often people say yes.” Following that, Craven worked for MTV’s in-house advertising agency and then to TBWA/Chiat/Day in Playa Del Ray, Calif., where he worked with more general clients outside the entertainment industry. He joined Crispin’s Boulder office in 2007, first as a senior writer and then as associate creative director, and then as a vice-president and creative director. Craven resigned from Crispin in February to focus his attention on a second novel. “I realized that if I wanted to write my next book, I had to take the time and just do it,” he says. He won’t say much about the new book, just that like his first, it will be a crime novel. “I never like to talk too much about a work in progress,” he says. “Hopefully it will be an evolution of my style and of the genre.”

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

SPECIAL

in Savannah. Allison P. Wilson-Maher (ABJ ’93) is senior vice president and leader of Jones Lang LaSalle’s healthcare initiative in Philadelphia. Wilson-Maher, who previously served as vice president at Duke Realty Corporation, will deal with all healthcare-related service lines including development services, facility management and capital asset strategy. Robin Hirsch Everhart (AB ’94) was named Career Woman of Achievement by the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. Everhart is the chief compliance officer and vice president of government affairs and corporate communications at Cintas. Matthew Grabenstein (AB ’94) was appointed to the Cuyahoga County board of revision. He is also a real estate analyst and appraiser for Charles M. Ritley Associates LLC in Ohio. Melinda Nicholson Lewis (BSEd ’94) of Monroe was named 2010 Georgia Outstanding Social Studies Educator of the Year by the Georgia Council for Social Studies. She is the Gwinnett County school district’s social studies content assessment specialist.

1995-1999

Meg Nivens (BSEd ’95) is the executive director of Vision 2030, a program initiated by the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce to meet citizens’

long-term goals for where the county should be in 2030. Davis White (BBA ’95) received the Gainesville, Ga., Jaycees Young Man of the Year Award for his nonprofit community involvement. Rachel Harper Fox (ABJ ’97) is the publicity director for The Walt Disney Company’s Disney Channel. She lives in South Pasadena, Calif., with her husband and three children. Dan M. Smith (BFA ’97, MEd ’02) was selected to have his artwork displayed on a billboard in Athens as part of the Athens-Clarke Leisure Services’ Art in the Air contest. Larry “Bo” Benton Jr. (BSA ’98) was appointed to the Auctioneers Commission by Gov. Nathan Deal. Elizabeth “Monty” Philpot (AB ’98) is director of government relations at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia). V. Sharri Edenfield (AB ’99) of Statesboro received the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Signature Service Award for her leadership and commitment to the organization. James Heitner (BS ’99) of Atlanta was named 2011 Emerging Leader of the Year by Georgia Bio. He is the founder and president of Ripple Management.

2000-2004

Courtney Atkinson (AB ’00) is a shareholder at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. She has been with the firm’s Greenville office since 2003 and focuses on employment law and commercial defense litigation. Julie Varozza DeFabrique (BSFCS ’00) was inducted into the Los Gatos High School Athletic Hall of Fame for two of her swimming records that remain unbroken. Jason Everett Voyles (BA ’00, JD ’03) and wife Jessica Ebeling Voyles (BFA ’01) welcomed their second child, Aderyn Jane, on July 19. Mark Reeves (AB ’01) was elected to serve as president of the Young Lawyers of Augusta. Reeves focuses his practice on Native American affairs and litigation involving the protection of tribal land resources. India Rows (BSEd ’01) and her mother, Mary Dozier, were featured in the April issue of Southern Living magazine in an article titled “Mother

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Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy The University of Georgia • College of Education www.coe.uga.edu/leap/academic-programs/adult-education/m-ed/adult-educators-online/

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NEWBOOKS Not Dead Yet Thomas Dunne (2011) By Phil Southerland (BSA ’05) and John Hanc When Phil Southerland was 7 months old, he lost 10 pounds in a week and his breathing slowed to what his mother called a “death rattle.” Phil was diagnosed with the youngest case of diabetes on record in the world at that time. Blindness, kidney failure and death were all predicted for him by age 25. Now 29, Phil is alive and well and founder of a championship cycling group. This book is his account of his relationship with his mother and her struggle to keep him alive, how he learned at the age of 6 to give himself injections, and of how he fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional athlete and inspire thousands using his team and the bike as a platform. Georgia Magazine ran an article on Phil in December ’09. Read the story online at http://uga.edu/gm/ee/index.php?/ single/2009/12/673 Write More Good Three Rivers Press (2011) By The Bureau Chiefs, including Josh Krach (ABJ ’95, MFA ’99) This “Absolutely Phony Guide” by The Bureau Chiefs, the creators of the Fake AP Stylebook Twitter feed, throws grammar and writing style out the window in favor of laughs. It provides “advice” on writing about everything from entertainment—taut and tense are the only words that should be used to describe a thriller movie—to science—they recommend avoiding predictive statements about robots. Called to Coach Howard Books (2010) By Bobby Bowden and Mark Schlabach (ABJ ’96) This bestselling book highlights Bowden’s path to success, his spiritual journey through his 55year career and how that shaped his coaching and program, and the impact he had as patriarch of one of football’s most famous coaching families.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

Quick-Fix Southern: Homemade Hospitality in 30 Minutes or Less Andrews McNeel (2011) By Rebecca Lang (ABJ ’99) Lang, contributing editor for Southern Living, provides cooks of any experience level with a collection of 115 traditional Southern recipes. The recipes are accompanied by cooking tips and bits of Southern history and grouped by themes like “Busy Weeknight Suppers” and “Tailgates and Gatherings.” Dishes such as “Real Fast Pralines” prove that Southern cooking doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Miracles of Book and Body University of California Press (2011) By Charlotte Eubanks (AB ’93) A book that explores the intersection of two key genres of sacred literature in medieval Japan: sutras, or sacred Buddhist texts, and setsuwa, or explanatory tales, used in sermons and collected in written compilations. Eubanks’ approach to understanding Buddhist textuality focuses on the sensual aspects of religious experience and also looks beyond Japan to explore pre-modern book history, practices of preaching and miracles of reading. Echoes of a Whisper CBH Products (2010) By Carlton Brown Harvey (BS ’05) A collection of works concerning the origin, purpose and destination of love, souls and life. The book consists of two short stories, a collection of poetry and prose, one essay and a collection of quotes from the most revered spiritual scriptures history has ever known. The pieces were not originally composed with the intent of designing a book, but the repeated praise Harvey received for his writings inspired him to pursue publishing his literature so that it may be shared with a greater audience than just family and friends.

Shifting Loyalties: The Union Occupation of Eastern North Carolina University of North Carolina Press By Judkin Browning (PhD ’06) In the spring of 1862, Union forces marched into southeastern North Carolina, marking the beginning of an occupation that would continue for the rest of the war. Focusing on a wartime community with divided allegiances—there was a strong streak of prewar Unionism in the area—Browning offers new insights into the effects of war on Southerners and the nature of civil-military relations under long-term occupation, especially coastal residents’ negotiations with their occupiers and each other as they forged new social, cultural and political identities. Sebastian and the Afterlife The Writer’s Coffee House (2011) By William J. Barry (BS ’07) Sebastian is an average 17-year-old boy, with one exception… he has just died. He awakes in a mystical realm, somewhere between the living and the dead, where unspeakable dangers lurk. The Grim Reaper and his loyal agents work to maintain the law, as the threat of soul pirates (the wicked harvesters of spirit energy) has been on the rise. Sebastian finds himself longing for his lost love Sarah, who is still alive in the mortal world, but some things are forbidden; some lines cannot be crossed—or can they? Fiesta of Sunset: The Peace Corps, Guatemala and a Search for Truth iUniverse, 2011 By Taylor Dibbert (AB ’05) Some of the mysterious and romantic stereotypes of the Peace Corps are set to rest in this engaging example of one young American’s experience as a Peace Corps member in Guatemala and how, while there, he began to learn how mistakes often pave the path to understanding.

Aldric & Annelise 4RV Publishing By Harry E. Gilleland Jr. (BS ’66, MS ’68, PhD ’73) A historical fiction, action/adventure, love story that takes place in Eastern Europe during the sixth century. Aldric & Anneliese is a tale of nation building, kings, knights, fair ladies, battles won and lost, triumph, betrayal, tragedy, revenge, redemption and great loves. It is a story for the ages. No Fences CreateSpace (2010) By Ray Davis (BSPh ’67) The Regents, a powerful, old-money South Georgia family, are involved in the lucrative naval stores turpentine industry, as well as being a major player in the financial world in the South in 1925. However, when a rattlesnake bite kills a key turpentine worker and leaves his daughter orphaned, the lives of Reginald and Naomi Regent will forever be changed. A mix of romance, intrigue, mystery, friendships, history and politics surrounding the plight of the mustang. Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting Quality Deer Management Association, 2010 Edited by Lindsay Thomas Jr. (ABJ ’92, MEd ’94) Contributors include Mickey Hellickson (PhD ’02) This book teaches hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts how to use remote infrared-triggered cameras to gather scientifically valid estimates of deer population characteristics. Using estimates of deer density, adult sex ratios and fawn survival rates, wildlife managers can balance deer numbers with habitat carrying capacity, as well as social carrying capacity in suburban settings. Includes more than 300 color images of deer and other wildlife taken by remote cameras.

In the Shadow of the Jade Dragon: Adventures in Asia CreateSpace (2010) By L.L. Gaddy (PhD ’85) L.L. Gaddy originally went to China to study rare plants along the eastern Himalayan front. This book details his travels through China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia from 1989 to 2004. Little Known Stories of the Black Sheep Squadron on the USS Sicily Amazon Digital Services (2011) By W. Dalton Harris Jr. (ABJ ’57) This book details the author’s experiences while serving in the Navy with the famous Black Sheep Squadron and how they were rescued from the Choisin Reservoir. Investing in What Matters: Linking Employees to Business Output Society for Human Resource Management (2009) By Scott Mondore (MS ’01, PhD ’02) and Shane Douthitt (MS ’99, PhD ’00) The book offers a plan HR can use to get buy-in from management and provide data that demonstrates HR’s impact. With detailed examples, the book illustrates how data becomes a tool allowing HR to analyze and help change employees’ behaviors in areas including increasing sales revenue, improving productivity and reducing turnover. Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the Seven Lies Women Tell Themselves Revell (2011) By Saundra Dalton-Smith (BS ’95) This book shows women how to break free from seven mental ties that hold them back, including striving for perfection, comparing themselves to others, all-or-nothing attitudes and more. Through case studies and inspirational writing, she encourages women to embrace spontaneity, be transparent, nurture their bodies and cultivate a balanced life.

Bear’s Mountain Trip Publish America (2010) By Nathan Fite (BS ’87) Bear is a small Pomeranian dog that has lived at the beach all his life. He takes a trip to the mountains for the first time and is surprised at all the new experiences. As he explores the yard and hills around the cabin he is visiting, he makes a new friend with a woodpecker. They talk about the differences in each of their homes, but also find many similarities. Aging Parents and Options in Care: A Simple Handbook, Making the Best Decisions for Loved Ones During Stressful Times iUniverse (2008) By Hillary Abrams (ABJ ’80) An easy-to-use guide that addresses all aspects of caring for elderly parents, from medication to financial assessments to how to confront them when things need to change. Creativity, Mental Illness and Crime Kendall Hunt (2008) By Russell Eisenman (MS ’63, PhD ’66) A book by psychology professor Eisenman about his experiences working in a prison and about his research on creativity. Spiders of the Carolinas Kollath Stensaas (2009) By L.L. Gaddy (PhD ’85) A 208-page color field guide to the identification of the spiders of the Carolinas. ONLINE Find more books by UGA graduates at www.uga.edu/gm SUBMISSIONS Submit new books written by UGA alumni to simmonsk@uga.edu. Please include a brief description of the book and a hi-res pdf or tiff of its cover.

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI PROFILE

They know stuff Down-to-earth style and wacky content add up to a top-ranked podcast by Grace Morris Have you ever wondered how mummies work or if you should eat gluten? Josh Clark (M ’95) and Chuck Bryant (AB ’98) have, and they’ve found the answers to these and many more questions. In 2008 the duo started a podcast called “Stuff You Should Know,” and since then they have been answering such mind-bending questions as, “What sorceror creates zombies in the religion of Voodoo?” (a bokor), “Which country measures its success in terms of gross national happiness?” (Bhutan) and “What are the names of Chuck’s cats?” (The Wizard and LaRon). “All sorts of people listen to it,” Bryant says. “It’s people who are inclined to have MP3s or be connected to the Internet, but we have listeners from all over the world. That’s one of the differences from being on the radio.” “Stuff You Should Know” began as an experiment from the creators of HowStuffWorks.com, a website owned by Discovery Communications. The website explains a wide range of subjects in engaging ways, and podcasts offered a promising new way to inform readers. “I had never listened to a podcast before we started,” Clark says. “We started out doing 5-minute podcasts. Since then we’ve let the topic inform how long we speak for, so the time has increased exponentially.” “Stuff You Should Know” has also increased in popularity. It has consistently been ranked in the top-5 iTunes podcasts and has even reached No. 1. In response to such high approval ratings, Bryant and Clark have done live shows and hosted trivia events in Atlanta and New York. “I guess the podcast has been successful because of the way we interact,” Clark says. “We’ve had lots of people tell us that they like our chemistry together or that we remind them of their friends from college.” Bryant and Clark set the casual tone of “Stuff You Should Know” by chatting like old friends at a bar. They joke. They laugh. They stumble over words. The difference is their conversation centers on thorough research rather than idle small talk. “There are not a lot of places you can go to learn something and have a good laugh,” Bryant says. “Those things don’t tend to go hand in hand.” While the pair speaks in everyday language, they address scientific topics like lobotomy and delve into news stories like

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

Josh Clark (left) and Chuck Bryant

SPECIAL

the Gulf oil spill. “We’re presenting complex ideas in an approachable way so that people aren’t intimidated,” Clark says. “We try not to think too hard about it or second guess our jokes and tangents. We just go with it.” Bryant and Clark usually record two podcasts a week, ranging in length from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the topic. Most of their topics come from articles published on HowStuffWorks.com, but they also take requests and draw from events in the news. Each podcast concludes with “Listener Mail,” a segment where people call in with more questions inspired by Bryant’s and Clark’s dialogue. In addition to live audience feedback, they receive more than 350 pieces of mail every week. Listeners write in with questions, but many also praise their down-to-earth approach. “We don’t come off as experts, because we’re not,” Clark says. “We’re just professional researchers.”

GET MORE For more on “Stuff You Should Know” and to take Bryant’s and Clark’s quiz go to www.HowStuffWorks.com.

UGA Official rugs Daughter Style Finds.” Rows’ jewelry company, The Pearl Girls, was also mentioned. Erin Lovell Hames (BSEd ’02) is Gov. Nathan Deal’s deputy chief of staff for policy. Taylor Rice (BBA ’02) is a partner at Boling Rice LLC. He is also on the United Way board of directors and is treasurer and president-elect of the Forsyth County Rotary Club. Susan Chase Greene (AB ’03) opened Showpony, a women’s clothing boutique, in downtown Athens. Erin Posey Hutchins (BLA ’04) and her husband Ryan welcomed daughter Caroline Joyce on Oct. 12. Erin is a nurse in Raleigh, N.C.

2005-2009

Mai-Lise Nguyen (BBA ’05) received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the Terry College of Business. She is the group manager in healthcare practice at Weber Shandwick, a leading global public relations agency in New York. Kelly Hornbuckle (BS ’06, ABJ ’06) received the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s John

E. Drewry Young Alumni Award, which honors a graduate of the last decade who has had a successful early career. Hornbuckle is director of marketing of the Georgia Restaurant Association. Matt Scofield (ABJ ’06) joined Jackson Spalding, an Atlanta-based public relations and marketing firm, after serving as senior account executive at Hope-Beckham Inc.

2010

Christie Haynes (AB ’10) is the president of the Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce.

GRAD NOTES Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Joshua W. Campbell (PhD ’05) is an assistant professor of biology in the Department of Biology at High Point University. Arts and Sciences Dr. H. Frank Farmer Jr. (MA ’66, PhD

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JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES

’70) is Florida’s surgeon general. He has served as a surgeon in the Florida National Guard, the Air Force and as commander of the 919 Special Operations Medical Group. He also has a distinguished civilian medical career. Dianne McFarlane (MS ’85) was named to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine list of “Heroes in Medicine.” She is an associate professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma

State University. A. Jamie Cuticchia (PhD ’92) of Cary, N.C., has authored or edited five books and her most recent book, Genetics: A Handbook for Lawyers, was the No. 1 best seller on the American Bar Association Publishing list. Hunter Baker (MPA ’94) received the 2011 Novak Award from the Acton Institute. The award recognizes new research by scholars early in their careers who demonstrate outstanding intellectual

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merit in advancing the understanding of theology’s connection to human dignity, religious liberty and economic freedom. Business Jerry Trapnell (PhD ’77) received the 2011 Federation of Schools of Accountancy Joseph A. Silvoso Faculty Merit Award. This honors an outstanding contribution by a faculty member in a post-baccalaureate professional program of an FSA member school. Tracy Pierce (BBA ’83, MAcc ’86) is the vice president and COO for Precision Concrete Construction in Alpharetta. Richard Becker (MBA ’97) is president of Target Analytics, a company that offers solutions for donor acquisition, prospect research, benchmarking and custom modeling to more than 6,000 nonprofits. Derik Farrar (MBA ’01) and wife Amity Hough Farrar (JD ’01) of London welcomed twins, Andrew Brooks and Annabel Virginia, on Feb. 17. Education William M. Barr (MEd ’66, EdD ’71) of McDonough received the 2010 University Council of Educational Administration Excellence in Educational Leadership Award for his career-long achievements as an educator and administrator. Mark Whitlock (BSEd ’78, MEd ’79) is CEO of the Central Education Center and the director of public policy for the Coweta County school system. Elizabeth “Betsy” Bernard Bockman (MEd ’84, EdS ’92) received the UGA College of Education’s Alumni Award after a parent nominated her for her work in Atlanta’s Grady cluster of public schools. She is the principal of Inman Middle School. Beth Williams Tatum (BSEd ’85, MEd ’90, EdS ’95) is the 2010 Clarke County school district’s Teacher of the Year. She is a 26-year veteran of Cedar Shoals High School. Susan Opferman (MEd ’92, EdS ’03) received the 2011 Middle School Principal of the Year Award from the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. She is the principal at Creekland Middle School in Gwinnett County. Willie L. Banks Jr. (MEd ’95, PhD ’08)

Cooking with friends

When the dinner bell rings, the guests stop talking and look toward the kitchen. What’s the next culinary delight headed their way? Trotters? Gravlax? Whelk? It all depends on what was fresh from the market that day and what creative spin The Four Coursemen put on it. “You never know what you’re going to eat,” says Nancy Lind, the sommelier for the quartet of cooks, who come together twice a month to experiment with food and enthrall their guests. “And you never know what you’re going to drink. It’s the whole experience. ” For about three hours Lind, along with Damien Schaefer (BFA ’02), Randy Dudley (AB ’97), SPECIAL Patrick Stubbers, Eddie Russell, and Matt PalmerRandy Dudley, Patrick Stubbers, Eddie Russell, Matt Palmerlee, lee, walk diners through a feast of fresh vegetaDamien Schaefer and Nancy Lind strike a pose on the front porch of bles, seafood, pork, beef, fruit and pastry. They’ve the Pulaski Street home where they serve their meals. spent the past day shopping for ingredients and figuring out how best to prepare them for the five-course meal. Lind pairs each dish with a beverage that best complements its flavor. The underground supper club began a few years ago when Schaefer and Dudley, designers who met at UGA, began cooking together as a hobby at Schaefer ’s house. Over time they were joined by Stubbers, from The Grit; Russell, from Five & Ten; Palmerlee, from Farm 255; and Lind, a local wine distributor and former wine buyer for Five Points Bottle Shop. When a friend offered to rent them a shotgun house on Pulaski Street to hold the meals, they opened the dinners to the public. The group lost its secrecy last November when it was featured in an hour-long show on the Cooking Channel. In March the show was nominated for a James Beard Award in the Broadcast Media Award category for best television special or documentary.

*excludes consignment items

JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES ALUMNI PROFILE CLASS NOTES

Compiled by Meg Twomey and Grace

Persistence pays off

1930–1934

Charlie Bowen (AB ’34, MA ’39) was Alumna’s passion for bird watching earns her top honored at the Conasauga District Patron lunch for his service to the Boy spot Scouts. is the mortgage director of Coastal Bank by John W. English in Savannah. David Hundley (BSFR ’78) was appointed the head of NAFTA inforKrista Gridley grew up knowing the feeder birds mation systems portfolio and sup in her backyard. But not until she took an ornithology course at UGA was she hooked on bird watching. Obituaries can class be found online at “That (taught by genetics Professor John www.uga.edu/gm Avise) taught me about bird habitats, feeding habits and migration patterns,” says Gridley (AB ’79, MLA ’05). “After that, I always carried binoculars.” Gridley’s passion for bird watching was recognized last year when she reported sighting the most species of birds in Georgia. Gridley’s count, 322 different species, was recorded on the eBird.org Web site at Cornell University’s ornithology lab. Gridley says she developed a strategy to sight as many birds as possible early in the year, recognizing that some would only be in the state during certain seasons. “Part of the fun is figuring out where birds are going to be and getting there to see them,” she says. Her bird watching took her across the state and she met many new friends and fellow bird watchers along the way. Some would meet her places to help her spot certain birds. “You don’t do a big year by yourself,” she says. “I went on some awesome field trips to the barrier islands, saw places I’ve never seen before and met people who helped me by phoning or e-mailing when they saw some rare species.” Gridley posts her sightings on Georgia Birders Online as well as on eBird.org at Cornell and uses the Georgia Field Checklist to keep track of her own sightings. Bird watching is a quiet activity that requires patience. “You sit and wait for birds to show up,” she says. “It’s also good physical exercise since I hike to where the birds are likely to be, and it’s good exercise in observation because I have to pick up subtle differences such as size, color, beak shape, habits, from a distance. Sunrise is prime time for seeing birds, so I get up early to be on location for a sighting.” Gridley, a land-use planner for Oconee County, says she went to some extraordinary lengths to see unusual species. “I was headed to the Georgia coast one time, but

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

hospital. Anna B. Mullins (DVM ’08) is a deputy commander in the U.S. Army currently stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

CHRISTOPHER FISHER

Krista Gridley, Georgia’s 2010 Top eBirder, went on a 10-day birding tour in Trinidad during February. This photo was taken in the town of Speyside on the Island of Tobago.

first drove up toward Chattanooga to see an Evening Grosbeak,” she recalls. Luck, timing and perseverance are factors in sightings. She was on Cumberland Island for the annual Christmas bird count and spotted a rare Iceland Gull as well as Long-tailed Ducks. “I had almost given up watching when a pair of ducks showed up. It was a moment of excitement and celebration.” “The variety of birds in Georgia shows evolution at its best. I can see all the connectedness by being out there.” —John W. English, a professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Georgia, is a frequent contributor to GM.

was elected to the board of trustees of the Association of College Unions International. He is also the associate dean of students for UGA’s department of intercultural affairs. Marc Guy (AB ’89, MPA ’91, EdS ’98) is the assistant superintendent of administrative services for the Coweta County school system. Sue Snow (EdS ’98, EdD ’02) of Sarasota, Fla., received the Johnnye V. Cox Award to cap off a nearly 40-year career as an educator and administrator. Brian Culp (BSEd ’99, EdD ’05) was selected by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards to serve on the committee that will revise national physical education standards for K-12 students. Culp is an assistant professor of physical education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Journalism and Mass Communication

Hanna Horwitz Norton (ABJ ’94, MMC ’98, PhD ’01) is head of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Speech, Theatre and Journalism. Law Carl Cannon (JD ’70) was included in the 2010 Georgia Super Lawyers publication. He is a partner at Brooks & Smith LLP. William L. Rogers Jr. (JD ’71) is commissioner of the Georgia Real Estate Commission. John Thompson (JD ’78) was named a Georgia Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers for his work with employment and labor law. He works at Fisher & Phillips in Atlanta. D. Albert Brannen (MBA ’82, JD ’82) was named a Georgia Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers for his work with employment and labor law. He works at Fisher & Phillips in Atlanta. John J. Ellington (BBA ’82,

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JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE

CLASSNOTES

Go-Go and I just kind of came in and took it from there,” Thrasher says. “We figured it out as we went along.” The film includes eight by Grace Morris episodes in which the musicians reflect on their song writing processes Jason Thrasher (BFA ’99) and their time spent in the recently filmed “The Go-Go JESSICA SCHRAMM recording studio. Thrasher Boots Episodes,” a companEddie Whelan (BFA ’09), Jason Thrasher (BFA ’99), Patterson Hood interspersed the episodes ion piece for the Drive-By with black-and-white live Truckers’ new album, performances as well as private acoustic sessions. “Go-Go Boots.” The record was released in February, but Over a period of 12 weeks, he filmed segments in the Thrasher posted the film online in a series of short segments musicians’ homes, their studio and the Farmington Depot a few months prior to the album release. Gallery. He teamed up with Hood and web designer Eddie “It’s more of a companion to the record than a docuWhelan (BFA ’09) to edit the footage, post episodes online mentary,” Thrasher says. “It’s not a story about the band; and compile it on a DVD for special album packages. it’s more of the band telling stories about their songs.” “The three of us hope to do more film stuff in the Thrasher and his wife run a local business called Thrashfuture,” Thrasher says. “We’re very pleased with the flow of er Photo & Design, and until now he has worked almost the DVD, and we all have a lot of ideas that came up while exclusively in photography. But when his friend and Drive-By filming.” Truckers lead singer Patterson Hood asked if Thrasher would To view the episodes go to http://www.drivebytruckers. be interested in a film, he immediately jumped on board. com/episodes.html. “He handed me the whole screenplay with all his ideas,

Drive-By Truckers film accompanies band’s latest album

GEORGIA MAGAZINE • www.uga.edu/gm

JD ’85) of Soperton was elected as the 25th Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. William C. Davis Jr. (MEd ’79, JD ’83) was recognized by America’s Best Lawyers as the 2011 Real Estate Lawyer of the Year for Reno and northern Nevada. He was also named in The Legal 500, Chambers USA and the mountain states edition of Super Lawyers. Linda Walker (JD ’89) was nominated by President Obama to fill one of the vacancies on the U.S. District Court bench in Atlanta. She has served as a U.S. magistrate in Atlanta since 2000. Edward J. Tarver (JD ’91) of Augusta received Augusta State University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for excellence in his chosen profession. He is the U.S. Attorney for the southern district of Georgia. Michael Jaconette (JD ’92) was elected to a six-year term as Calhoun County probate judge in Michigan. Peter Boehm (JD ’96) is the new assistant district attorney in Newton County. He has worked in the DA offices of Gwinnett, Fulton and DeKalb counties as well as privately at Stone and Boehm in Duluth. Enku Gelaye (JD ’97) is associate vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life and dean of students at the University of Massachusetts. She previously served as executive officer for the vice chancellor for student affairs at UCLA. Robert D. Alexander (JD ’99) was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal as judge for the State Court of Jackson County. Steven D. Henry (BBA ’95, JD ’01) of Atlanta was elected to the Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP partnership. Kevin J. McDonough (JD ’02) opened his own law firm, the Law Offices of Kevin J. McDonough PC. The firm represents clients throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. In 2009, McDonough was named a Rising Star in Super Lawyers magazine. Jason Alloy (JD ’03) is a partner at RobbinsFreed in Atlanta. His practice focuses on business litigation. Josh Belinfante (JD ’03) is a partner at RobbinsFreed. His practice includes commercial litigation and advising governmental and health care law matters. He joined the firm after serving as former Gov. Sonny Perdue’s

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executive counsel. Kevin Woolf (JD ’03) is a partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Atlanta. Susannah Rogers Pedigo (JD ’04) is a partner at Inglesby Falligant, a Savannah law firm. She focuses on family law. Florian Stamm (JD ’04) of Atlanta is the partnership executive of Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP. Kira Fonteneau (JD ’05) is a member of Class 7 of the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum. Terri Stewart (BBA ’03, JD ’06) was named a Rising Star by Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers for her work as an up-and-coming employment and labor law attorney. She works at Fisher & Phillips in Atlanta. Vanessa Volz (JD ’06) is executive director of the Sojourner House, a domestic violence agency serving Providence and northern Rhode Island. Catherine Lawler Jackson (JD ’08) and Patrick Jackson (JD ’09) welcomed their son, Henry Augustus, on Dec. 5. Judson Bryant (BBA ’07, JD ’10) earned a master of laws in taxation degree at Northwestern University. He won first place in the American Bar Association Section of Taxation’s Tax Challenge. Russell Edwards (JD ’10) is the treasurer of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Maggie Hastings (JD ’10) is the assistant district attorney prosecuting drug cases for the Mountain Judicial Circuit in South Carolina. Public and International Affairs Bert Brantley (ABJ ’97, MPA ’05) is head of McRae’s Public Affairs and Issue Management Practice Group. McRae is

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an Atlanta-based integrated marketing agency. Veterinary Medicine Edwin T. Still (DVM ’59) was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Association of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Still was responsible for oversight of animal care at the nation’s major research facilities and was also known for his research on the effects of radiation exposure on humans. Edward L. Roberson (DVM ’61, PhD ’72) was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association. He retired from the UGA faculty in 1996, after 34 years as an educator. Now he coordinates events for the college’s retiree committee. Philip Fidler (DVM ’67) was named 2010 Veterinarian of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, and the South Carolina House of Representatives commended him for more than four decades of service as a state veterinarian. Jack J. Broadhurst (BS ’64, DVM ’70) was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Association of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Broadhurst, who now lives in Pinehurst, N.C., was recognized for his contributions to veterinary science and veterinary laboratories. Walter C. Robinson III (DVM ’73) was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Association of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Robinson owns a veterinary clinic in Greenville, S.C.

Dolores J. Kunze (BSA ’72, DVM ’76) of Boiling Springs, S.C., was named a Distinguished Alumna by the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association. She served on the alumni association board for two terms and was instrumental in its evaluation of UGA’s veterinary teaching hospital. Doris Miller-Liebl (DVM ’76, MS ’79, PhD ’81) received the E.P. Pope Memorial Award from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians for her work to advance veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine. Quinn Waller (DVM ’96) of Lexington, N.C., opened Village Vet Animal Hospital and serves as its veterinarian. Brett Levzitke (DVM ’00) received the Young Achiever Award from the Alumni Association of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Levzitke, who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., founded the borough’s first and only emergency and specialty veterinary

SEND US YOUR NOTES! Help UGA and your classmates keep up with what’s happening in your life—both personally and professionally—by sending Class Notes items to one of the addresses listed below. And please include your hometown to help us keep our alumni database up to date. If you send a photo, please make sure it is a resolution of 300 dpi. Due to the volume of submissions we are not able to confirm that we have received your note. Please be patient. It can sometimes take a few months for a note to appear in the magazine after it has been submitted. Quickest way to send us Class Notes E-mail: GMeditor@uga.edu Fax: 706/583-0368 website: www.uga.edu/gm UGA Alumni Association Send e-mail to: btaylor@uga.edu website: www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni Or send a letter to: Georgia Magazine 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-1999

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Give Every Year. Make a Difference Every Day. The GeorgiaFund for the Alumni Association www.givingtouga.com All Georgia Fund donors receive the award-winning Georgia Magazine. JUNE 2011 • GEORGIA MAGAZINE 55

BACK

PAGE “I always wanted to work in a campaign so that was really my goal, to actually be someone who went out there and worked in the field with my public relations major and political science minor. I thought I would go in and develop some of those ads and campaigns and do some of the survey work — just all of it. Then once I started to get involved in campaigns I realized I didn’t have thick skin and the hours were terrible and some of the people, well, they were really passionate. And I found I was passionate, but I was a bit more analytical and a bit more oriented toward understanding the why and the how and the creative part and not so much going to steal the yard signs of the opponent.” — Audrey Haynes, on how her interest in politics, piqued by political science courses at UGA as an undergraduate, led her to an academic career studying candidates’ communication strategies and the way the news media cover elections.

Audrey Haynes Associate professor of political science Graduate coordinator, Department of Political Science ABJ, public relations, University of Georgia M.A., political science, University of Georgia Ph.D., political science, The Ohio State University School of Public and International Affairs Teaching Award, 2010 Senior Teaching Fellow, 2009 Richard B. Russell Award for Undergraduate Teaching, 2006 Photo shot on location at Baldwin Hall by Peter Frey

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Shiloh Farms

In-Town Convenience - Rural Seclusion • Frontage on the North Oconee River • 10-Acre Homesteads • Sites suitable for Horses • Underground Utilities • Protective Covenants

Shiloh Farms is a quiet country enclave located in the very heart of Athens-Clarke County. We are only 10 minutes from Sanford Stadium’s gameday excitement and the heart of downtown Athens. Shiloh Farms offers the most convenient 10-acre home sites in Athens. Our wonderful location enables us to enjoy the beauty of a country lifestyle and also actively participate in all the exciting and enriching activities which Athens provides.

A Unique Lifestyle Opportunity Several Homesteads Are Still Available. Owner Financing at Below Market Interest Rates.

1690 South Lumpkin Street Athens, GA 30606 706-543-3800

Additional information available: Martha Henderson 706-540-6764 www.MarthaHenderson.com

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID University of Georgia

286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 Change Service Requested