You see firsthand the impact UGA is having across the state
A group of 30 faculty members from the University of Georgia spent four days getting to know each other and the state they will now call home while traveling through Georgia on the 2024 UGA New Faculty Tour.
Faculty members received an introduction to the state’s economic, geographic, social and cultural diversity and learned what sets UGA apart from other public universities in terms of community engagement.
Faculty gained a better understanding of how UGA is working to make Georgia a better place to live by creating jobs, training leaders, and addressing the state’s most pressing needs through UGA Public Service and Outreach and UGA Extension.
Participants disembark the bus for a stop in Macon. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)
“Every day, the University of Georgia’s expertise and knowledge are translated into thousands of applications that benefit the citizens of Georgia – work that generates millions of dollars for the state’s economy each year,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “On this tour, faculty members sense the immense pride the people of Georgia have in their flagship university and recognize the strong bond that exists between UGA and the citizens of this state.”
UGA’s Land and Sea Grant mission focuses on providing critical research and technical services in support of Georgia. Because faculty members play a key role in this mission, understanding the dynamics of the state helps them seek out and conduct research that can benefit the state and its citizens.
“As a state-run land and maritime rights institution, the University of Georgia is committed to improving the quality of life for the people of Georgia. The New Faculty Tour provides an opportunity for faculty to engage in communities and seek collaborations and partnerships that benefit the people of Georgia,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for public services and outreach.
Matt Bishop, assistant vice president for public services and outreach, reports on partnerships with UGA in Columbus. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)
George Mois, a first-year assistant professor in the College of Public Health’s Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, was impressed by UGA’s community involvement.
“As a new faculty member, it is inspiring and gratifying to see how the University of Georgia is leveraging its resources across Georgia,” said Mois, who grew up in Gwinnett County and earned his doctorate from UGA in 2021. “There really is a strong connection between the university and the state.”
The tour left Athens on August 5, stopping in nine cities and traveling through 28 countries before returning.
Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, speaks to the group in Cleveland about the importance of innovation. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)
The tour stopped at the Archway Partnership community of Covington (Newton County) and Macon on the first day. In Covington, teachers learned how UGA uses the award-winning community engagement model of the Archway Partnership, a unit of PSO. Through Archway, Covington-Newton County partners with UGA faculty, staff and students to address their community’s most pressing challenges.
Attendees also saw how UGA helps communities plan for and address growth and environmental challenges. In Columbus, they learned how the Carl Vinson Institute of Government is using the River Valley Community Compatible Development Plan to create vibrant downtowns, invest in infrastructure and promote outdoor activities in the rural communities surrounding Columbus and Fort Moore.
In Gainesville, teachers learned how the city used the Institute of Government’s Renaissance Strategic Visioning Plan to attract hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment for downtown and community development.
Participants on the New Faculty Tour learn about agritourism and small business at Yonah Mountain Vineyards. (Photo by Mary Grace Feldman)
“What impressed me most was the reach that UGA has across the state,” said Luan Oliveira, assistant professor and precision agriculture specialist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “UGA is making an impact in so many ways.”
Other stops on the trip included the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the Georgia Experience Center in Atlanta, the Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland and the Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville. Due to Hurricane Debby, the tour had to deviate from its original route.
The New Faculty Tour is coordinated by the Office of the Vice President for Public Services and Outreach and the JW Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. The tour is made possible through the generous support of the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Provost, and the Office of the Vice President for Public Services and Outreach. Additional sponsors include numerous other UGA units and supporters of the university.
This is the 38th UGA New Faculty Tour since its inception in 1977. Nearly 1,600 UGA faculty members have participated in the tour since its inception.
