March 29, 2024
Just this week, we received the welcome news that Jenna Jambeck was named the 2024 SEC Professor of the Year. A Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering, Regents’ Professor and recipient of the MacArthur “Genius Grant,” Jambeck is internationally renowned for her groundbreaking and highly cited research as a plastic pollution expert and her dedication to empowering communities through citizen science. She is the third UGA faculty member in the last 12 years to receive this honor, joining Marshall Shepherd in 2022 and Loch Johnson in 2012. UGA is the first SEC institution with three recipients of this prestigious award.
In the past month, we filled several key leadership positions at the University of Georgia. Shelley Nuss was named the founding dean of the University of Georgia School of Medicine. She has served as campus dean of the AU/UGA Medical Partnership since 2016 and brings a wealth of insight and expertise to her new role.
We will also welcome UGA alumnus J. Todd Petty back to campus as the next dean of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Petty comes to us from Clemson University with a distinguished record of research and academic leadership. Additionally, Erik Ness was appointed as the next director of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. Ness has been part of the McBee Institute’s faculty since 2009, and I am confident that he will continue to further the institute’s excellent reputation.
Earlier in March, UGA’s efforts to advance active learning received national attention in a feature story by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Since 2018, we have seen significant progress in our Active Learning Initiative. More than 120 faculty members have completed the Active Learning Summer Institute and have redesigned 138 courses that have impacted more than 78,000 students. These advances and more were highlighted at the second annual Active Learning Summit in February.
Next month begins with a time of celebration on campus for Honors Week 2024 from April 1-5. As we give out prestigious teaching, research and service awards, it is a time to recognize the outstanding faculty, staff and students who make up our world-class institution.
I am grateful to each of you for your continued efforts to advance excellence at UGA and further our legacy as the birthplace of public higher education in America.
Sincerely,
