May 2021

Riding a High

 

Giving Week was a big success! Senior Signature set a record! We are approaching the end of the fiscal year with fantastic momentum. Look at what we have accomplished—together—in the midst of a pandemic. It’s incredible.  

 

I am very excited by the news that the UGA Honors Program is to become Morehead Honors College! It's a tremendous honor to President Morehead and represents a remarkable fundraising effort led by the UGAF emeritus trustees, from whom the idea to name the college for President Morehead originated, and supported by the current UGA Foundation trustees.

 

As you know, the Pulse and our website are two important ways we share information to the entire Division in between our Division meetings. We want to make sure that we are doing this in a timely, efficient way, and what we are sharing is useful to you. Please take the time to answer this survey. Answer honestly. Don’t give us what you think we want to hear. We are not fishing for praise. We would appreciate your truthful responses.

 

I hope everyone is clear on the plan to return to the office—A/B schedule beginning June 1, fully back in August. Talk to your supervisor, if you have questions. As we get ready to return to campus and the promise of in-person events this fall, please review the COVID-19 information below and continue doing your part to keep us Georgia Strong. Dawg Strong.  

 

Thank you for all you do. I am grateful for this amazing team!

 

SIC ‘EM,

The Fight Against COVID-19 Continues 

Thank you for supporting the health and safety instructions issued over the last year. Please remain vigilant and safe in your summer endeavors as we look forward to the hope of a more normal fall semester. 

 

Vaccinate!  
The University Health Center is vaccinating any member of the UGA community who wants to be vaccinated. Vaccines are by appointment only via this online portal. We will abide by CDC and GDPH guidelines until everyone who wants a vaccine gets a vaccine. To learn more, visit the UHC’s FAQs. 

 

Surveillance 

Surveillance testing will continue this summer and will be relocated from Legion Field to the University Health Center on  May 17.  For the safety of other, please get tested prior to gatherings and vacations if you are not fully vaccinated. Book your testing appointment via the Vet View site. 

 

DawgCheck 

Also on May 17, the daily DawgCheck email reminder will be discontinued. However, please stay at home if you become ill or until you have excluded COVID-19 as the cause of symptoms. UGA requires adherence to CDC quarantine and isolation guidance. If you receive a positive test for COVID-19, you must continue to report it through the DawgCheck Test Reporting Survey. 

Upcoming Development and Division Meetings

Development Meeting 

May 24 | 10 a.m. 

Frontline fundraisers and support staff who manage portfolios, plan to stay for a Portfolio Planning Workshop from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

Division meeting

Nov. 15 | 10 a.m.

Learn from Experts Down the Hall

Continue sending your DAR site blog posts to any DARCOMM communications team member!  

DAR Kudos

Georgia Giving Week is a Success! 

Georgia Giving Week (April 17 - 23) raised over $2 million dollars from over 4,000 donors in support of all areas of campus. These numbers represent substantial increases from our previous Giving Weeks. In addition to the $2 million raised, over 1,000 donors had their gift matched by the UGA Foundation to the tune of $145,000. Donors representing 9 countries, 50 states, and 120 Georgia counties contributed. Included among the week’s successes were over 250 donors to DEI initiatives on campus. Together, these donors unlocked an additional $15,000 to the Black Alumni Scholarship Fund. Thank you to our incredible partners across campus and DAR who made this week a success! 

 

Congrats to Advisor of the Year – Destiny Loyd 

Destiny, program coordinator for the UGA Mentor Program Ambassadors, was one of two Advisors of the Year in this year’s H. Gordon and Francis S. Davis Student Organization Achievement and Recognition Awards. 

 

Senior Signature Sets Record for Fifth Consecutive Year 

Congrats to the Alumni Relations Student Engagement team and the Student Alumni Council as the Class of 2021 set a Senior Signature participation record with 3,009 students. Many schools and colleges achieved participation rates above 40%. This year, student donors are voting on a student organization to receive a grant from the Senior Signature endowed fund. The hope is that this new initiative will build a “philanthropic cycle” in which students donate, direct and receive funds—fostering an understanding among students and young alumni of the power of private support at universities like UGA. 

Diversity and Inclusion 

May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

This month, we celebrate the contributions of individuals like Vice President Kamala Harris, journalist Lisa Ling and Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis. Here is an excerpt from the White House’s proclamation on these vibrant community members: “There is no single story of the AANHPI experience, but rather a diversity of contributions that enrich America’s culture and society and strengthen the United States’ role as a global leader.” Read stories of other notable AANHPIs. 

 

MICHELLE N. CARTER

Chief Diversity Officer 

Recent Events

Top 75 Student Employee of the Year Awards 

Each April—during National Student Employment Week—the UGA Career Center presents the Student Employee of the Year awards. UGA honored the top 75 students this year with an award certificate, and the top three students with plaques. This year also included a team award presented to a group of students who work closely together. 

Corporate Relations hosts Johnson & Johnson 

On April 23, the Corporate Relations team hosted representatives from Johnson & Johnson at the Innovation Hub. Speaking to 30 students from the Women in Science student organization, panelists shared their perspective on career development, the importance of women in STEM, mentorship and career opportunities with J&J. Ian Biggs discussed innovation at UGA and how UGA partners with industry for research, programming and special projects. 

 

ICYMI – Peter Dale (ABJ ’99) Cooking Class 

The Young Alumni Leadership Council hosted a virtual cooking class with Peter Dale (ABJ ’99), a past 40 Under 40 honoree. This blog post details the event and the funds raised for Campus Kitchen. You can also download the recipes Peter presented.

Mark Your Calendars

Collaboration Station  

Twice a month, colleagues share fundraising priorities and opportunities for collaboration via Zoom. Watch the Honors presentation using passcode k6k5g#Fk, Mary Frances Early College of Education’s using passcode LK$39168 and Odum School of Ecology’s using passcode fE14^f7d.

Coming Up … 

Friday Mornings | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. ET

Zoom Meeting ID:  979 2321 3764 | Passcode:  929938  

• May 14 – Georgia Museum of Art  
• May 28 – College of Public Health 
• June 11 – School of Social Work  

Registration not required. Use the same Zoom Link for each meeting. Sessions are recorded for playback.   

 

Mentorship Monday with Maria Taylor (ABJ ’09, MBA ’13) 

May 17 | Noon-1:30 p.m. Register 

Women of UGA will host the final Mentorship Monday of the spring with ESPN Sports Broadcaster Maria Taylor. 

  

PLC Insider Series: A Closer Look at UGA Admissions 

May 25 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. 

The Parent Giving Team provides a “closer look” at both undergraduate and graduate admissions at UGA. Designed with PLC members in mind, this event will feature Amanda Sale from Undergraduate Admissions, and Cheri Bliss and Dr. Lisa Sperling from Graduate Admissions. If you have a parent prospect interested in joining PLC, invite them to attend. Email Kate Lovin for a recording of past PLC Insider Series events, or with questions.

 

Young Alumni Trivia Night 

June 3 | 7:30 p.m. Register 

This virtual  alumni event is hosted by the Young Alumni Leadership Council. Attendees compete as individuals and all participants will receive a UGA Bookstore discount code, a chance to win prizes throughout the evening, and the top three finishers win prizes from the UGA Bookstore.  

 

UGA Foundation Spring Board Meeting

June 10-11 | Ritz Carlton-Reynolds, Lake Oconee 

 

2nd Annual Attack the Day Virtual 5K 

June 12 | Register  

This virtual 5K is open to all UGA alumni, family, and friends and can be completed any time on June 12. Registration is $15 ($10 goes to the Georgia Fund). All registrants will receive a branded Attack the Day headband, a pack of super G temporary face tattoos, a virtual runner’s bib and certificate of participation, as well as a chance to win a pair of Air Pods 2nd Generation and a branded super G case. 

Announcements

Charitable Giving Opportunities at the UGA Bookstore 

DAR partners with the UGA Bookstore to offer several retail items that include a charitable gift component to UGA. Currently, a pair of UGA-branded face coverings includes a $10 donation to the Student Emergency Fund. Customers also have the opportunity to include an outright gift as part of any online purchase. These can be found like any other item in the bookstore’s online catalog (see image above) and will be suggested additions as shoppers fill their carts. Gifts to the Unrestricted Georgia Fund and Black Alumni Scholarship Fund are current options.  

 

Returning to the Office 

Remember when we first started working from home and were sharing lists of tips, tricks and best practices? Thanks to each other’s guidance and grace, many of us became comfortable working remotely. Now, as we're returning to the office full-time, you may find it helpful to review a few Office Tips as Teleworking Decreases, compliments of our friends in DARCOMM.

 

New Format for UGA Board of Visitors 

The UGA Board of Visitors (BOV) is a group of volunteers that advances UGA in the identification and cultivation of prospective donor relationships, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. Board of Visitors members serve as ambassadors, informing members of their communities about events and news at UGA. 

  

Beginning on July 1, the BOV will have a new format. Each year, up to eight members will be elected to serve a three-year term on the board for a total of no more than 24 members. The board will be governed by a five-member executive board and the board chair will be a current member of the UGAF Board of Trustees with ties to the Foundation’s Development Committee. BOV members will be invited to attend two programs each year in Athens. Once a board member’s three-year term is complete and upon exemplary service, they can be elected to receive Emeritus Board of Visitor status. The current BOV class will be notified of the changes and asked if they are interested in serving on the new board. No new members will be added for FY22. Contact Karin Usry with questions. 

Gift and Estate Planning

Now is the Time for a Charitable Lead Trust 

The Gift & Estate Planning team is always tracking changes relevant to charitable giving. The AFR rate remains historically low, making Charitable Lead Trusts an attractive option for high-capacity donors. See an email sent last week that was sent to a small group of high-capacity donors. Questions? Contact Mike Cook.

Donor Relations and Stewardship

Personalizing Interactions and Providing Special Moments 

The George Woodruff Scholarship has been awarded to deserving Honors students for 30+ years. Donor Relations and Stewardship hosts an annual luncheon with George Woodruff’s granddaughter, Missie Woodruff Pierce, who has continued his legacy. The lunch is typically at the Georgia Center with strawberry ice cream pie as dessert –Missie’s favorite. This year, Lauren Schelsinger coordinated pie deliveries with the scholars and Missie so that everyone was able to enjoy a slice of pie together—even while the lunch was on Zoom.  

 

Crawford Scholars Virtual Meetings 

Lauren Schlesinger arranged Zoom meetings between 11 Crawford Scholars and their donors, John and Cathie Crawford. Email Lauren Schelsinger to learn about best practices when coordinating meetings with donors and students.

Alumni Relations

UGA License Plates in Other States 

A campaign to secure a UGA specialty license plate in Florida is underway. 4,000 vouchers for plates must be sold by October 2022 for this to happen. At the same time, conversations are taking place to renew a volunteer-driven campaign in Tennessee relating to license plates. Questions? Email Sarah Sonenberg.

 

Red, Black, and Green: Earth Day Roundtable Hosted by Chicago Dawgs 

This virtual Earth Day program focused on sustainability efforts at UGA and featured experts and alumni working to create a healthier environment in the Chicago area, such as Kevin Kirsche (MLA ’08), director of sustainability at UGA, Jen Fisher (PHD ’07), assistant professor in the biology department at Indiana University Northwest, and Rebeccah Sanders (MA ’05), the chief field and strategy officer for the National Audubon Society. 

Advancement Services

Re-Opt in for Emails 

Advancement Services is making it easy for constituents who previously opted out of emails from the UGA Alumni Association to opt back in. Simply submit the form at alumni.uga.edu/reconnect. For questions, email Greg Harmelink. 

 

Schedule a Group GAIL Refresher for your Team 

Client Services is scheduling GAIL Team Refresher Trainings. To schedule a refresher in any of our courses for your team, email askit@uga.edu. 

Communications

Attention Frontline Fundraisers

If you have an interesting graduate or donor who'd make a good alumni profile or donor story in Georgia Magazine, please add their name(s) to the form in the Frontline Fundraisers channel in Teams for consideration on a quarterly basis. Questions? Email Elizabeth Elmore.

 

Class of ’21 Update Info Campaign 

DARCOMM is encouraging graduating seniors to update their email and mailing addresses at alumni.uga.edu/gradupdate. While all seniors will receive a UGA Alumni gift this summer, we are using the gift to entice students to complete the form by May 21. Please help by including the form link in any communications to seniors (and their parents!). Questions? Email Elizabeth Elmore. 

 

Fall Project Planning with DARCOMM 

DARCOMM continues to meet with DAR units about projects from June - Dec 2021. Thanks to units for reviewing project lists critically ahead of these meetings and coming prepared with strategic guidance on goals for FY22. Email Elizabeth Elmore with questions about the DARCOMM planning process. 

Career Center

Mentor Program Participant Updates 

-Total Number of Mentors: 2700+

-Total Number of Mentees: 3400+

-Current mentoring pairs: 465

-Mentoring pairs to date: 2,600+

 

Real Talk: A UGA Mentor Program Podcast  

Ep. 5 – Imposter Syndrome with UGA alumni mentor Cat Hendrick (ABJ ’20) and UGA Mentor Program Ambassador Bella Sci (’22). Subscribe to Real Talk: A UGA Mentor Program Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.  

College of Pharmacy

New Online Magazine: UGA Script 

Please read the Spring 2021 issue of Pharmacy’s new digital magazine that features highlights, updates, and news from the UGA College of Pharmacy. 

State Botanical Garden

Summer Camp Registration Open

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia education department offers six week-long summer camps for ages 5-10. Each week focuses on a different outdoor theme to inspire fun and connect with nature.

Regional Programs

The Regional team will be traveling to the following cities in May and June. (As the Regional Team is ramping their travel back to a normal cycle, dates and cities are subject to change.)

Human Resources

Open Positions 

This is to make you aware of current position postings in the Development & Alumni Relations division. We encourage anyone interested in applying to do so. All UGA HR policies and procedures will apply. If you know of any potential candidates who may be a good fit for an opportunity, please contact Michelle Carter. 

 

DAR – Annual Giving and Advancement Services 

Working Title:  Executive Director of Annual Giving and Advancement Services 

Posting:  S05989P 

 

DAR – Advancement Services 

Working Title:  Business Systems Analyst 

Posting:  S05995P 

 

DAR – Foundation Relations 

Working Title:  Director of Foundation Relations 

Posting:  S05993P 

 

DAR – Alumni Chapters 

Working Title:  Associate Director of Alumni Chapters 

Posting:  S06007P 

 

DAR – Regional Programs 

Working Title:  Regional Director of Development 

Posting:  S06017P 

 

DAR – College Relations – Performing Arts Center 

Working Title:  Development Coordinator  

Posting:  S06008P 

 

DAR – Corporate Relations

Working Title:  Executive Director of Business Engagement and Innovation

Posting:  S06072P

Transitions

• Lindsey Copus is now Associate Director of Special Events (Promotion) 

Do you have information that you'd like included in the June or July edition of the Pulse? Send it to Emily Munnell.

 

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