Rod Guajardo has been named assistant to University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead. Guajardo, who currently serves as senior director for integrated media communications in UGA’s Division of Marketing and Communications, will assume the role Nov. 6.
“Rod will be an excellent addition to the Office of the President,” Morehead said. “He has a diverse array of experiences in and outside of higher education that have prepared him well for this important role. Rod will be a strong partner to key stakeholders throughout our campus and the local community, and I look forward to working with him.”
As assistant to the president, Guajardo’s primary responsibilities will be focused on student affairs, inclusive excellence, community relations and executive communications. He will serve as the president’s liaison to the Staff Council, Retirees Association and Student Government Association, while representing the President’s Office in the planning of Staff Appreciation Day, the Holmes-Hunter Lecture and the Mary Frances Early Lecture, among other campus events. In addition, he will oversee the awarding of grants through the President’s Venture Fund and have responsibility for numerous communications projects within the Office of the President.
Guajardo joined UGA in 2021. In his current role, Guajardo manages media relations efforts across the institution, oversees UGA’s quarterly magazine, Georgia Magazine, and leads a team devoted to highlighting the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff across a variety of channels and platforms.
Two University of Georgia programs were recognized recently by a national awards program honoring outstanding economic development initiatives, research or accomplishments.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, was awarded top honors in the Place category at the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Awards of Excellence for its Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership (PROPEL) program.
The UGA and Truist Community Innovation Initiative, a multifaceted effort to enhance collaborative spaces and develop new programming and support for aspiring entrepreneurs in Athens-Clarke County, was named a finalist in the Innovation category.
The two UGA programs were among 16 finalists for the Awards of Excellence. Winners were selected by leaders in higher education and economic development at the annual UEDA Summit, held Oct. 8-10 in Salt Lake City. The projects were recognized for their economic impact on communities. They represent the top university-based economic development initiatives in the country, as judged by their peers.
A partnership between the University of Georgia and an Athens nonprofit is helping elementary and middle school kids learn about healthy eating, urban agriculture and working in the food industry.
The work between the UGA School of Social Work and Farm to Neighborhood is one of five local projects selected for 2023 to receive a total of nearly $40,000 in awards from the Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award program facilitated by UGA Public Service and Outreach.
The endowment established by Sahm, an Athens native and UGA alumna, helps UGA make an impact in the Athens-Clarke County community by partnering with local organizations to help address local challenges. The fund, held by the UGA Foundation, benefits Athens-Clarke County residents by supporting university faculty and student programs focused on community service and outreach. Inspired by the gift and the local impact it will have, UGA President Jere W. Morehead directed a $100,000 contribution to this fund using discretionary funds provided to him by the UGA Athletic Association.
Farm to Neighborhood was founded by Rashe Malcolm, owner of Rashe’s Cuisine, to help Athens-Clarke County residents with limited incomes overcome food insecurity. She started the HEALTHYouth program to help elementary and middle school youth develop healthy eating habits and learn about the food industry. Meeting weekly, participants learn about nutrition, healthy meal planning and budgeting tips. The most recent class completed its eight-week session in August.
The University of Georgia has earned national recognition for its commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence for the 10th consecutive year.
The Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity is the only national recognition honoring colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding efforts and success in promoting diversity and inclusion. UGA is one of 109 institutions nationwide to receive a 2023 HEED Award.
“The University of Georgia is honored to receive the HEED Award once again,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Receiving this national recognition each year since 2014 reflects our strong and steadfast commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment across our campus.”
The HEED Award process consists of a rigorous review of universities’ recruitment and retention of students and employees, leadership support for diversity, and campus culture and climate, among other criteria.
“As an institution, the University of Georgia has been intentional about creating an environment where students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds feel they can learn, grow and thrive,” said Alton M. Standifer, the university’s vice provost for inclusive excellence. “I appreciate each and every member of the Bulldog family who helps us in this important effort.”
The University of Georgia has joined a national initiative committed to financial aid transparency. Along with the other 25 schools in the University System of Georgia, UGA is among more than 360 higher education institutions that have joined the College Cost Transparency Initiative.
This initiative will standardize the language used in financial aid offers, so all costs, terms and conditions are easily comprehensible. This way, prospective undergraduate students and their families will have an easier time understanding the components of each offer they receive and be able to compare those offers side by side.
“The University of Georgia has always prided itself in its financial aid transparency,” said Nancy Ferguson, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “During this initiative’s development phase, we were honored that our financial aid offer letters were submitted as examples from schools that are already meeting the initiative’s goals. It is important to us that students are financially informed and assured as they take the next step of their education, and our commitment to transparency will continue as a member of this initiative.”
The College Cost Transparency Initiative and its standards were created by a task force of 10 leaders of higher education associations that represent college presidents, financial aid offices, and admissions and school counselors.
A new home for the University of Georgia’s next generation of poultry scientists and industry leaders officially opened its doors on Oct. 6 as the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences dedicated its new Poultry Science Building.
“The University of Georgia is a land-grant institution that serves our entire state through teaching, research and service, and UGA’s strong relationship with the poultry industry exemplifies this land-grant mission,” President Jere W. Morehead said. “The new Poultry Science Building that we are dedicating today represents what is possible when private donors and government, industry and university leaders all work together to advance agriculture and higher education in our state.”
State and university funds as well as private donations supported the construction of the $54.1 million facility.
The new home for the department of poultry science will give faculty, staff and students access to modern labs, collaborative meeting spaces and classrooms with the latest technology. During the ceremony, Morehead announced one of those spaces would be dubbed the “Abit Massey Classroom,” named after the UGA alumnus and president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation.
The expanded resources found throughout the 70,000-square-foot facility will enhance students’ experiences and strengthen the poultry science department’s abundant learning and development opportunities, said senior poultry science major Sage Barlow.
The University of Georgia School of Law was recently named the nation’s best value in legal education. Notably, this is the fourth time in the last six years that the school has occupied the top spot in the National Jurist ranking, including a historic three-peat at the No. 1 position from 2018 to 2020.
“The School of Law is redefining what it means to be a great national public law school by providing the best return on investment in legal education – one that offers world-class, hands-on, purpose-driven educational experiences with a pioneering commitment to affordability and accessibility,” said School of Law Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge.
Recent metrics that contribute to this recognition include:
Almost 95% employment rate for full-time, long-term, bar-pass required jobs within 10 months of graduation.
Nearly 99% Ultimate Bar Passage Rate for Class of 2020.
School of Law student borrowing has declined by more than 50% over the past 10 years. For 2021-22, 87% of students received scholarships. Additionally, 100% of first-generation college graduates and veterans receive aid.
Extremely competitive tuition and fees (the lowest among the top 20 law schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report).
Nathan Moore has been appointed as deputy chief of staff to UGA President Jere W. Morehead effective Oct. 1. Moore succeeds Alton Standifer, who has assumed a new role as vice provost for inclusive excellence and chief of staff to the provost.
“Dr. Moore’s experience in the President’s Office has prepared him well to assume this increased level of responsibility,” said Morehead. “I appreciate his deep commitment to the University of Georgia and to the Office of the President, and I congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion. I look forward to working with Dr. Moore in his expanded role as deputy chief of staff.”
Moore joined the President’s Office as a graduate research assistant in 2018 and has built a steadily increasing portfolio of responsibility focusing primarily on executive communications, strategic planning and special initiatives. Upon earning his doctorate from the McBee Institute of Higher Education in 2020, Moore was elevated to postdoctoral fellow, and in August 2021, he became an assistant to the president.
Over the past five years, Moore has helped to establish the Innovation District; worked on UGA’s decennial reaffirmation of accreditation by SACSCOC; collaborated on the development and implementation of the 2025 Strategic Plan; and served as the president’s liaison to the Office of Research, while supporting his ongoing work as co-chair of the University Leadership Forum, a national initiative of the Council on Competitiveness aimed at accelerating university-based economic development.
The University of Georgia currently has one of the largest fleets of electric buses in American higher education. Now, a $7.2 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will enable UGA’s Transportation & Parking Services to acquire up to eight additional all-electric buses.
Secured in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the grant marks another leap forward in UGA’s commitment to operational sustainability and efficiency in campus transit. The expansion of its electric bus fleet will improve campus mobility, reduce the university’s environmental impact, and offer more reliable and modern transportation options.
Introducing additional electric buses will help UGA continue to make strides toward a greener future. The new buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to improved air quality on campus and reduced greenhouse gases. They also provide dependable service, making it easier for the university community to navigate campus efficiently, and offer a quiet, comfortable ride while further encouraging the use of sustainable transportation options and reducing traffic congestion.
TPS’s commitment to sustainable transportation aligns with the university’s broader goal of fostering a campus that prioritizes environmental stewardship. This grant not only exemplifies UGA’s dedication to creating a cleaner and more sustainable campus environment but also positions the institution as a model for others to follow.
Celebrating the outstanding work of a University of Georgia leader known for his commitment to the university and its students, the UGA community gathered for a dedication ceremony Sept. 27 to celebrate the naming of the Victor K. Wilson Ballroom at Memorial Hall.
Wilson is a two-time UGA graduate and continues to give back as vice president for student affairs. He retires on Sept. 30 after a decade in this role and more than 40 years of service to UGA.
The ballroom is a frequent gathering place for student groups and university events, serving as a symbol of coming together—a space that is fitting to highlight Wilson’s support of students throughout his tenure.
University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead expressed his appreciation for the ballroom itself, as well as for Vice President Wilson’s legacy of student support and engagement.
“He has devoted 10 years of his life and career to the vitally important position of vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia,” said Morehead, “but he has dedicated more than four decades overall to the success and well-being of students in higher education. It is no coincidence that UGA has gained a national reputation for excellence in student services and the student experience while Victor has served as vice president.”
