The University of Georgia Archway Partnership congratulates the city of Hartwell for winning Outstanding Community Transformation/Downtown of the Year at this year’s Georgia Downtown Association conference.

The award is the result of the efforts of multiple partners and community leaders who have worked for years to improve the area. Businesses like Southern Hart Brewing that opened in 2018 and has served as an anchor for the downtown square. Nonprofits like TORCH of Hartwell that are committed to the transformation and revitalization of Hart County and have built Railroad Street Park up from nothing but a gravel railroad bed. And the Downtown Development Authority, which has been so critical in the planning for the area and helping businesses capitalize on the variety of programs available to historic downtowns through its Main Street program.

UGA’s Archway Partnership is proud to be one of these partners. Hart County has been an Archway community since 2008 and, through Archway, University of Georgia students and faculty have worked on more than 50 projects that have had a significant impact on downtown, from workforce development efforts to park designs. Last fiscal year, the Hart County Archway Partnership had a return on investment of more than $4.8 million, with $4.4 million worth of community improvement grants in partnership with Archway.

No one has had a front row seat to the downtown transformation in Hartwell more than Jason Ford, the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. “It’s an honor to receive this award on behalf of Hartwell and all the dedicated residents and leaders who have made a difference for many years in bringing about this transformation,” Ford said. He points to three groups of UGA Archway projects that specifically have made a big difference for downtown Hartwell: landscape architecture, engineering and murals.

Julianna Russ of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, a third-year student at the University of Georgia, is one of 100 college students from across the nation to be selected for the second cohort of the Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service.

Established in 2021 by the Obama Foundation and Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, the Voyager Scholarship is a two-year program for students in their junior and senior years of college from across the U.S. who are committed to pursuing careers that serve the public and their communities. The second cohort of 100 Voyager recipients represents 33 states and territories and 74 colleges and universities. Russ is UGA’s second Voyager Scholarship recipient.

“The Voyager Scholarship is the perfect fit for Julianna as she puts service and research into action,” said Meg Amstutz, dean of the Morehead Honors College. “We are so proud of her and look forward to seeing how her involvement on the global stage influences changes for the better.”

An Honors student and Foundation Fellow in the Morehead Honors College, Russ is majoring in journalism in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, international affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs, and comparative literature and intercultural studies in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She is minoring in African languages and literature and working toward a certificate in sports media.

 Since 2001, the Summer Academy at the University of Georgia (SAUGA) has focused on introducing 14- to 17-year-olds to potential careers and creative pursuits. This year, thanks to generous grant funding from the Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award, SAUGA Jr., a STEAM-focused summer camp for elementary and early middle-schoolers, was added to the offerings.  

 Fourteen students from Alps Road Elementary and Clarke County Middle schools participated in the weeklong camp filled with STEAM activities at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel from July 10-14.

The Sahm award, which funded the camp so there was no cost to families, was established by UGA alumna and Athens native Bobbi Meeler Sahm. She started the award to support public service and outreach efforts conducted by partnerships between the University of Georgia and Athens organizations. UGA President Jere W. Morehead was inspired by such generosity and directed additional funds to this initiative. The Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach and an awards committee comprised of representatives from the university and the community oversee the distribution of these funds. This year, in addition to supporting SAUGA Jr., the award provided funds for partnerships between UGA and the Athens Area Parkinson’s Support Group, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, Downtown Ministries and Farm to Neighborhood.

The SAUGA Jr. concept was created in partnership with Alps Elementary to provide an environment for students to explore active learning in a profound and fun way while building critical writing, reading and social skills significantly deterred by the pandemic. 

University of Georgia professor J. Marshall Shepherd was recently named the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Environmental Achievement Award. This accolade is presented annually by the Environmental Law Institute to individuals or organizations that have made notable contributions to environmental protection, conservation and sustainability.

“Dr. Shepherd’s outstanding career and commitment to understanding and communicating about climate science and its implications for global environments and communities is truly remarkable,” said ELI President Jordan Diamond. “With a long-standing record of exceptional scientific research, thought leadership and public education on atmospheric sciences, he has been instrumental in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public discourse.”

As a professor, scientist, communicator and a former president of the American Meteorological Society, Shepherd has consistently emphasized the vital importance of scientifically informed decision-making in addressing environmental challenges. His commitment to factual and evidence-based dialogue has elevated public discussions on climate, weather extremes and environmental justice. This commitment is regularly on display as he hosts The Weather Channel’s award-winning “Weather Geeks,” publishes in the scholarly literature and engages as a public intellectual.

On August 26, more than 600 University of Georgia students participated in Dawg Day of Service, a periodic event that allows students to serve Athens-Clarke County and surrounding communities. The program is UGA’s largest annual day of student service and is celebrating its tenth year.

Coordinated by Serve UGA, Service Ambassadors and IMPACT Service Breaks, student-led groups in UGA Student Affairs’ department of Engagement, Leadership and Service, the students spread out across 36 sites throughout the morning, assisting with various tasks from cleaning spaces for people experiencing homelessness, to writing cards to memory care patients, to planting gardens.

Each year, the student leaders aim to grow the number of sites and diversity of service, along with the numbers of students serving, and this year’s participation set records for number of sites and students serving. Several student organizations participated, including ACM-W girls.code(), Black Affairs Council, Alpha Sigma Phi, ASL Dawgs, Filipino Student Association, Phi Beta Sigma, Phi Kappa Literary Society, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., RISE, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., University Union, UGA Homecoming, UGA NAACP, the Graduate Student Association, the Student Financial Planning Association, and the Black Felicity Student Association.

Several community leaders and members joined Hillels of Georgia for the grand opening of the new Orkin Hillel Center at UGA on Aug. 25.

“I want to thank all of you who have been a critical part of making today possible. Your generous support has helped make this happen,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “This facility will enable our Jewish community at the University of Georgia to make even greater connections and find their home at UGA.”

UGA Hillel renovated the former Baxter Street Bookstore. The new 10,000-square-foot building is a space for UGA’s Jewish community to focus on programming, fellowship and community development.

Renovations include larger kitchen space to prepare Shabbat dinners, conference rooms for community events, and open spaces for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike to gather. In particular, its proximity to residence halls that house first-year students gives those students an even more accessible way to connect with their faith.

UGA Hillel is the second largest Jewish student community in the state and offers programming such as a Jewish Learning Fellowship, Shabbat dinners, game day parking and events, yoga, community service, Onward Israel internships and Birthright trips to Israel to Jewish UGA students.

Hundreds of members of the university community gathered with friends, national colleagues, former students and family members on Aug. 25 in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall to celebrate the retirement of Vice President for Student Affairs Victor K. Wilson. Wilson will retire on Sept. 30, following 10 years as vice president and decades of service to UGA in roles such as director of new student orientation and assistant to the president.

Wilson’s leadership has forged numerous successes in student support, including major initiatives in student well-being and engagement, as well as advancements in communication with and outreach to students.

The program included presentation of a proclamation by President Jere W. Morehead, as well as remarks by Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum, Executive Director Emeritus of the University Health Center Jean Chin, and UGA alumnus Bart Newman. State Representative Houston Gaines concluded the presentations with an official resolution of the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Wilson for his contributions to the State of Georgia and its citizens.

To formally recognize Wilson’s contributions, Morehead announced a campaign to name the Memorial Hall Ballroom in his honor. Morehead also informed Wilson that the university will bestow the official title of Vice President for Student Affairs Emeritus upon his retirement on Sept. 30.

Four University of Georgia faculty members have been named Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program (SEC ALDP) Fellows for 2023-2024. The program provides an opportunity for academic administrators to enhance their leadership skills in a series of workshops, networking opportunities and campus activities.

UGA’s 2023-24 SEC ALDP Fellows are:

• Sonia Altizer, the Martha Odum Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Odum School of Ecology
• Brandy Burgess, interim assistant dean for clinical services and director of biosecurity and infection control, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and associate professor, department of population health
• Martin Kagel, A.G. Steer professor and associate provost for global engagement
• Paula Lemons, associate dean and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jeffrey L. Clark, deputy chief for engagement, training, and standards for the University of Georgia Police Department, has been named chief of police following the conclusion of a national search. Clark’s appointment comes on the heels of former chief Dan Silk’s promotion to UGA’s associate vice president for public safety earlier this year.

Clark’s distinguished career in law enforcement spans an impressive 26 years between the UGAPD and the Athens-Clark County Police Department. While at the ACCPD, he held multiple leadership positions, including lieutenant for the special victims unit family protection center, robbery, homicide and forensics units, and deputy chief of police. Clark has also led the ACCPD Criminal Investigation Division, among other high-profile units, and has directly overseen as many as 200 sworn officers at a time. Before joining the ACCPD, he was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity with UGAPD,” said Clark, who began in his new position Aug. 1. “We have some of the finest officers in the state of Georgia and in the country. I want to continue building a police department with 21st century policing values in mind. And what I mean by that is I want an agency that focuses on building trust with our community and campus partners, an agency that addresses health and wellness with the officers and an agency that seeks innovative training and technology ideas.”

GradFIRST, a one-credit seminar for incoming University of Georgia graduate students, has had a successful inaugural year. Launched in fall semester 2022, this new program helps students transition to graduate school and supports their professional development.

The program ensures that regardless of background or academic discipline, students have access to the resources and information to support their success at UGA and beyond. More than 1,300 newly enrolled graduate students attended more than 125 GradFIRST seminar courses offered in fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters.

The GradFIRST program leverages national best practices and campus expertise on how to help students thrive in their graduate studies and careers. The seminars are taught in small classes by UGA graduate program faculty and address a range of topics, from career roadmaps and mentoring relationships to mental health and well-being.  Faculty develop additional seminar content based on their expertise on topics such as academic writing, data visualization, science communication and more. 

“The University of Georgia is committed to creating a world-class experience for our graduate and professional students,” said S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “GradFIRST is an excellent example of the steps we continue to take to elevate our graduate and professional programs, including additional funding, more robust support and expanded professional development opportunities.”