It’s hard to believe we are halfway through this fiscal year - time really does fly when you’re having fun! Thank you for DARing to Level Up this year and for modeling our pillars of leadership, collaboration and impact. Winter break is approaching, and I hope everyone has an opportunity to relax before returning in January. I know we'll achieve so much more in the New Year. Until then, happy holidays to all of you! |
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Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the UGA Foundation |
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What You'll Find in This Month's Pulse |
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📈 Fundraising Update
- Upcoming DAR Meetings 📆
- 🎉 Events for Target Audiences
- 🥼 School of Medicine Update
- UGA Mentor Program Update 🤝
- Bulldog 100 💯
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HEALTH CARE vs. HEALTHCARE
- Dawg Day of Giving Workshops 💻
- 🎓 2025 Senior Signature Update
- Calendar Year-End Closing 📆
- 📨 CAPTCHA + Listservs
- Advancing the Arch Leadership Conference 💼
- 🔧 Marketing Toolkits
- DAR Season of Giving 🎁
- DAR in the News 📰
- DAR Headshot Schedule 📸
- 🔔 Ring the Bell: DAR Success Stories
- Open DAR Positions 🎉
- 👨💼 Staff Announcements
- 🌟 DAR Stars: Libby Shepherd, Pansy Bond, Michelle Rotondo, Logan Lewis
- Pets of DAR 🐕 🐈🐖 🐍 🦜
- 🥳 Just for Fun: Jingle Jam
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Here is where we stand in fundraising as of Dec. 18. Questions? Email Danielle Free. |
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The DAR Meetings page has been updated to better serve as a reference for DAR meetings. If you have an adjustment or would like something added, please email Elizabeth Elmore.
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Nutrition in the New Year w/Brad Averill, ACC FACS Agent
January 16 | 11 AM-Noon Zoom *hosted by DAR's Employee Experience Committee |
Discover DAR: TBD Topic
January 24 Coverdell Room 175 |
Dawg Day of Giving Ideas Roundtable January 24 | 10-11 AM Coverdell Room 175 *Following January's Discover DAR |
Winter Alumni Board Meeting January 31 Athens, GA |
Winter Development Meeting February 3 Tate Grand Hall |
Dawg Day of Giving Workshop (#1 of 2)
February 7 | 10-11 AM Zoom |
| UGAF Board of Trustees Meeting
February 20-21 Athens, GA |
Discover DAR: TBD Topic February 28 Athens, GA |
Dawg Day of Giving Workshop (#2 of 2)
March 10 | 9-10 AM Zoom |
DAR Town Hall March 24 Athens, GA |
Discover DAR: TBD Topic
March 28 Athens, GA |
Discover DAR: TBD Topic April 25 Athens, GA |
Spring Development Meeting
May 12 Tate Grand Hall |
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Events for Target Audiences |
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2025 Founders Day Luncheon January 24 | 11:30-1PM Athens, GA |
Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award Deadline January 25 |
SAC Founders Day Celebration January 27 | 10:30-2:30 PM Tate Plaza |
Women of UGA Mentorship Monday
January 27, 2025 | Noon-1:30 PM Zoom |
Dawg Day of Giving Solicitation Hiatus
March 3-30 Questions? Contact Ashley Crain. |
Spring PLC Weekend February 7-8 Athens, GA |
2025 Bulldog 100 Celebration
February 21 | 6PM West End Zone, Sanford Stadium |
Women in the Workplace Mentoring Dinner w/the UGA Mentor Program March 14 | 6PM Tate Grand Hall |
| Women of UGA Mentorship Monday March 17 Zoom |
Georgia Women Give Signature Event
March 20-21 Athens, GA |
Dawg Day of Giving March 27 |
Honors Week March 31-April 4 Miscellaneous Events |
Alumni Awards Luncheon
April 4 |
Advancing the Arch May 2-3 Athens, GA |
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School of Medicine Update |
GAIL Prefix
Please use the MED prefix for all DMEs tied to the School of Medicine in GAIL. This will allow for easier identification on the GAIL planning calendar and allow DAR to handle queries a bit easier. This will set us all up for success as communications and solicitations grow in that space in the coming year. Questions? Email Heather Duiser.
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UGA Mentor Program Update |
As of Dec. 10, we are pleased to report: - # of Mentors - 5,816 (456 new registrations since July 1)
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# of Mentees - 5,275 (1,204 new registrations since July 1)
- Current Matches - 782 (includes 16 week/quick chats/circles)
National Mentoring Month
Check out the National Mentoring Month Calendar. DAR staff are invited to join the program for its Welcome Back tabling event; simply sign up online. Questions? Email Bethany Bagwell. |
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Meet the 2025 Bulldog 100 |
Thank you to those colleagues who have already begun to celebrate the alumni whose businesses made the 2025 Bulldog list, which was revealed Dec. 11. Let's continue to engage with and recognize these successful Dawgs using the digital marketing toolkit.
The 2025 Bulldog 100 Celebration will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 in the West End Zone in Sanford Stadium. The reception begins at 6 p.m. with the program at 7 p.m. (when the rankings will be revealed).
Questions about this year's list or the event on Feb. 21? Please email b100@uga.edu. |
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Need Something in the Pulse? |
The easiest way to share information with your colleagues is to send a concise update using the button at the bottom of this email. Elizabeth Elmore will follow up for any clarifying information as she crafts the email. |
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Health Care: Mind the Gap! |
One small but important thing to note: UGA’s writing style calls for “health care” to be written as two separate words. This is the format used by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Associated Press and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well. So, if you’re ever writing about health care on UGA business, make sure you help us stay consistent and write it out as two words! Questions? Hit up Clarke Schwabe.
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Dawg Day of Giving Workshop Dates |
Please join the Dawg Day of Giving planning team for the following opportunities to collaborate and brainstorm ahead of the 2025 Dawg Day of Giving on March 27. Question or need Zoom links? Email Ashley Crain or Sherry Abrams.
DDOG Ideas Roundtable Friday, January 24 | 10-11 a.m. Coverdell 175 (same location as Discover DAR right before this) Do you want to get started on some early planning? Is this your first DDOG? Want to chat all things DDOG? Join in for an informal roundtable discussion. DDOG Workshop #1 Friday, February 7 | 10-11:00 a.m. You’ll learn about DDOG, campaign phases, how you and your area can participate, digital toolkit, next steps and Q&A time. DDOG Workshop #2 Monday, March 10 | 9-10 a.m. We’ll cover additional direct marketing plans and solicitation items. • Solicitation Hiatus: March 3 to March 30 • Custom Challenge Commitment Deadline: Monday, February 10 |
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Gear up for Senior Signature |
The Senior Signature deadline for any student earning a degree in May-December 2025 is March 31. The campaign is underway with a goal of 3,250 student donors. Please use this digital marketing toolkit to promote this giving campaign in your area's student-facing channels. That page also includes the email marketing schedule for 2025. Questions? Email Terrance Smith.
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Calendar Year-End Closing Information |
An email was sent to the division with information regarding the UGA Foundation's year-end gift processing deadlines. Please be sure to review the update.
A UGAF representative will be available at (706) 542-6677 to assist donors, friends, and employees with year-end giving questions from December 26-27, 30-31 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Questions? Contact Gift Accounting at gifts@uga.edu or (706) 542-4438. Please ensure your OOO email replies include the following:
The University of Georgia is closed for the holidays beginning December 25 through January 1. If you need assistance regarding a year-end gift, a representative from the UGA Foundation will be available at (706) 542-6677 to assist on December 26, 27, 30, and 31, between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Otherwise, I will respond to your message when I return on January 2, 2025.
If you are inquiring about making a gift to the University of Georgia, a convenient and reliable way to give over the holiday break is by credit card at give.uga.edu/commit. If you would like to make a gift via check, please make payable to the UGA Foundation and mail to: UGA Foundation Attn: Gift Accounting 1 Press Place, Suite 101 Athens, GA 30601
Happy Holidays and thank you for your continued support of the University of Georgia. |
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CAPTCHA Implementation for Listervs |
Effective Feb. 3, 2025, EITS will introduce a CAPTCHA feature for Listserv logins to enhance security and protect against botnet attacks. Users will experience a minor change in the Listserv login interface, specifically the addition of a basic "Are you a robot" checkbox CAPTCHA. There is no impact to sending and receiving Listserv emails. CAPTCHA is a security tool used to verify that a user is human and not an automated program (bot). Questions? Email Ashley Henry.
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Advancing the Arch Leadership Conference |
Advancing the Arch will be hosted on campus from May 2-3 and will leverage DAR's collaborative spirit to implement a new volunteer leadership conference to educate and train volunteer leaders across the division. Advancing the Arch will be similar to the former Alumni Leadership Assembly, but will now be extended to volunteers serving in schools, colleges, or units, as well. We hope this enhancement will strengthen the collective efforts of our DAR volunteer leaders and that they walk away well-equipped to share UGA's philanthropic mission with their networks and communities. During the two-day conference, attendees will learn from experts in the field as well as each other about how they can best support the university's priorities and goals.
The Alumni Relations team is seeking campus partners to serve on the planning committee to provide input and assist with logistics, and welcomes volunteers from schools, colleges and units. If you are interested in serving, please reach out to Kate Lantz by January 10. |
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Reminder: Marketing Toolkits |
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Our division's Toys for Tots drive was a wonderful success. Collectively, we donated 83 toys, six stocking stuffers, and three books that will surely bring smiles to many children's faces this season. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this worthy cause -- and to the Employee Experience Committee for spearheading this opportunity to give back. |
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Here are a few recent bits of news from around campus: |
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📸 DAR Headshot Schedule 📸 |
Have you scheduled a headshot with Edwin Hammond? Fill out a scheduling form below; headshots are taken in front of One Press Place. |
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The 1,000th Gift
In November, the 1,000th need-based scholarship at UGA was established, a milestone that took incredible collaboration and provided President Morehead the opportunity to announce this achievement during the annual Presidents Club Reception in Tate Grand Hall. Congratulations and thank you to Elizabeth Carlson, Laura Bayne, Megan Jenkins, and Graff Wilson
for their work in securing this final commitment to help us reach 1,000!
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Open Position Postings in DAR
We encourage anyone interested in applying to do so. All UGA HR policies and procedures apply. If you know of a potential candidate who may be a good fit for an opportunity, contact Michelle Carter.
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- Congrats to Libby Shepherd, named Director of Prospect Management, Research & Prospect Management
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Best wishes to Doug McAcy, leaving Alumni Relations
- Best wishes to Evan Christian, leaving Annual Giving
- Best wishes to Rose Scoggins, leaving Communications
Have a change for the DAR online directory? Email Abbie Jones with your change(s). |
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Libby Shepherd
Libby was recently promoted to director of prospect management. She enjoys Stacy Willingham's books and went to hear her speak at the library; the first time she's gone to a book signing! |
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Pansy Bond Pansy is a senior budget analyst for the division. She has been married to her husband, Steve, for 45 years and they have two beautiful granddaughters, Maisy and Winnie. |
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Michelle Rotondo A Michigan native, this senior regional director now resides in ATL, helping to build new relationships. She loves when colleagues stop by the office! |
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Logan Lewis Logan is a digital strategist in DARCOMM, and previously worked in esports for the University of Akron and as an All-American Flag Football Referee. |
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Name: Bonnie
Owner: Abby Bryant (Vet Med)
Fun Fact: Bonnie loves sticks, the trash man/truck, bobbing for apple slices in her water bowl, and hanging with her cousin, Teddy (see photo below)! |
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Name: Teddy Owner: Sean McGarity (Engineering) Fun Fact: Teddy was just born in October and when he's not being stinkin' cute, he's hanging with his cousin, Bonnie (see photo below)! |
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2024 Jingle Jam
Fun times were had by all who attended Jingle Jam at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on Dec. 11. We feasted on a scrumptious meal, connected with colleague friends new and old, and hosted an Ugly Sweater Contest. Will Lewis won the Ugly Sweater Contest with runners-up Mike Cook, Joey Lynn, Katie Snipes
, and Heather Pearson. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. We hope you enjoyed celebrating the end of the calendar year together and know how appreciated you are throughout the year.
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Do you have information or a suggestion for an upcoming edition of the Pulse? |
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