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McBEE INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2023

 

Dear Graduates and Friends,

As impressive as this past year has been, it's hard not to gaze ahead to the promises of 2024 when the McBee Institute community celebrates its 60th anniversary and looks to welcome a new director.

 

Whether you graduated decades ago or you walked across the dais on Friday, thank you for continuing to write the Institute's story and being part of its legacy. Through your gifts, activities, publications, talks, mentorship, and emails, our students know that they are part of an impressive, dynamic, and supportive community.

 

Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season and joining you in hopes for peace throughout the world.

 

With gratitude,
Suzanne Graham,

Administrative Manager

 

Hearn's Distinguished Career Recognized

Interim director Jim Hearn received the prestigious Howard R. Bowen Award in recognition of his career devoted to the improvement of higher education through scholarship, leadership, and service.

The Association for the Study of Higher Education celebrated Jim at a special ceremony during the organization's annual conference in November. During the event, a colleague described Jim as approaching all aspects of his work with "care, compassion, and rigor." His commitment to higher education has made a difference in our field, and many of us have been the beneficiaries of his caring, compassionate, and rigorous mentorship.

Read more about Jim's career 
Tell Jim "congratulations!"

 

GCAC Advisers Improve College Access

College Advising Corps advisers at UGA make an impact locally and nationally. Gabriel Smallwood, Adanna Onwuka, and Preciosa Bulauan presented at the annual CAC Summit in San Diego earlier this month.

Back at home, the advisers are busy encouraging high school students and their families to complete the FASF while the program staff are laying the groundwork for a successful fall, too. They have hosted several adviser recruitment events since November.

If you know of any recent or May 2024 graduates who have a passion for college access work, kindly direct them to the website for more details on the ways that advisers make an impact.

Follow GCAC on Facebook

 

Summer and Fall 2023 Graduates

The Faculty of the McBee Institute proudly announces our newest graduates.

  • Annalee Ashley  (EdD)
  • Jordan Brooks (EdD)
  • Robert Clark (PhD)
  • Nick Everage  (EdD)
  • Saeedah Hickman (EdD)
  • Juawn Jackson (EdD)
  • Stan Jackson  (PhD)
  • Ronald Johnson  (EdD)
  • Lalita Kaligotla  (EdD)
  • Sherontae Maxwell  (EdD)
  • Brian Mitchell  (EdD)
  • Jillian Morn (PhD)
  • Lesley Netter-Snowden  (EdD)
  • Marissa Pace (EdD)
  • Melissa Rapp  (EdD)
  • Scott Rembold  (EdD)
  • Ale Sosa Pieroni  (EdD)
  • Lindsey Taylor (EdD)

Read more about our current students

 

New Symposium Series Launched

The McBee Institute will host its first Momentum & Barriers symposium this February. 

We invite participants with research portfolios, program experience or policy and advocacy work to join colleagues to share insights on ways to improve college access and success.

 

February 8-9, 2023
University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel
Athens, GA


Opening panels will introduce areas of momentum and key barriers in college access programs in high schools, in success programs in postsecondary institutions, and in financial aid and support initiatives.

 

President Marion Ross Fedrick, Albany State University, will deliver the keynote address. Fedrick (EdD, 2020) recently was named to GeorgiaTrends 500 Most Influential Georgians list for 2023. Under her leadership, ASU has grown to the largest HBCU in the state, in part through its access and success initiatives.

 

Read more and register for the symposium

 

The McBee Community On the Move

Chuck Ambrose (EdD 1998) is a senior education consulting at Husch Blackwell

Alexa Arndt (PhD 2023) joined the Appalachian College Association as the project director of an NSF ADVANCE Partnership project

Sean Baser (PhD candidate) was named a senior policy analyst at SHEEO

Blake Bedsole (EdD 2013) will head enrollment management at Troy University

John Fuchko III (EdD 2019) was appointed president of Dalton State College (had served as interim)

Rod Guajardo (PhD student) became the special assistant to the UGA president for student affairs, inclusive excellence, community relations, and executive communications

Claire Major (PhD 1998) leads the new teaching center at the University of Alabama, the UA Teaching Academy

Nathan Moore (PhD 2020) became deputy chief of staff at UGA

Dominique Quarles' (PhD 2019) portfolio at Georgia Southern University expands to associate vice president for organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and inclusive excellence 

Greg Wolniak (Professor) transitions to Mathematica Policy Research, a research and data consultancy in January

 

Recent Publications by McBee Faculty, Students, and Graduates

  •  Chuck Ambrose (EdD 1989) has a new book on financial exigency, available now for pre-order

  •  Alexa Arndt (PhD 2023) researched messaging in college student government campaigns

  •  Pearson Brown (PhD student) produced a SHEEO report on lottery funding for higher education

  •  Denisa Gandara (PhD 2016) studied policy engagement among faculty of color
  • Caleb Keith (PhD 2017) co-edited a book on higher education assessment trends

  • Erik Ness (Professor) co-edited comparative higher education policy book

  • Michael Tidwell (PhD student) investigated student support in the graduate admissions pipeline

  • William Walker (PhD student) was featured in a Chronicle article on the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in college admissions

    If we missed any news, please let us know. We love sharing your successes!

    Catch up on other research news
 

60 for 60

If you aren't already a supporter of the McBee Institute students and programs, our 60th anniversary is a great time to join your peers.

A recurring gift of $50 each month grows to $600 a year. Call or email if you have questions about our funds or would like to explore creating new possibilities at the McBee Institute.

Your gift is important to us and helps support important opportunities for students and faculty alike, including seminars, travel support, and events that augment the classroom experience. 

Support 
McBee Funds
 

Please share news and updates with newsletter editor, Suzanne Graham.
We have shipped our 2023 McBee Report!
Email us if you haven't received.

Electronic version of the McBee Report. 

 

The University of Georgia Foundation is registered to solicit in every state and provides state specific registration information at http://www.ugafoundation.org/charity.

 

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