Ian Hardin (Professor, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors) has been named to the Georgia Power Company Professorship in Textile Sciences.

Hardin, an expert in the use of enzymes as substitutes for conventional chemical processing as well as in the development of enzymes for unique treatments of fibers and fabrics, served as department head for more than 10 years before returning to the faculty in 2004. Prior to joining UGA he served on the faculty of Auburn University for 22 years.

“Dr. Hardin is an exemplary researcher, who is both meticulous and inquisitive,” according to Dean Sharon Y. Nickols, who nominated Hardin for the position.

Hardin said he plans to continue his research in areas such as exploring the causes of aquatic toxicity as it relates to the effluents from textile mills.

“It is easy to demonstrate these problems, but determining unequivocally what causes them is very difficult,” he said. “What we’ve discovered is that if you look only at the impact of individual substances, they can be rather small, but if you look at what happens when you put certain substances together, the interactions can be an order of magnitude greater in terms of toxicity. This work helps both industry and the public by providing information that can solve rather than delay a problem.”

Hardin will continue to teach undergraduate and graduate classes. The professorship was created through a gift from the Georgia Power Co. in 2000.

Caree Jackson (MS ’04, Foods and Nutrition; Ph.D. Student, Foods and Nutrition) has received a $35,000 grant from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation to present “Lil’ Red Ridin’ Thru Da ’Hood” to several Atlanta area elementary schools in the fall. She also received the first place award at the 2005 National Black Graduate Student Conference in the category of education paper/presentation for her research on nutrition theater for African-American children.“Lil’ Red” was written by Jackson as a part of her master’s thesis.

The play uses live theater, hip-hop music, dance steps and audience participation to teach important lessons about nutrition and exercise and is performed by members of the UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble. As a part of her research, Jackson has determined that the play is an effective way to educate children about nutrition.

She will present her research this summer at the Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences for which Jackson received a Graduate School Travel Award. She also received a scholarship this year from the Northeast Georgia Dietetic Association. As she begins her doctoral studies, Jackson is developing plans to teach nutrition education to adolescents by helping them develop their own skits.
 

A generous donation from Edna Ellard, wife of the late Glenn Wilson “Jack” Ellard, has allowed for the endowment of the Legislative Aide Program.

To celebrate, Mrs. Ellard and more than 30 friends and family joined FACS students, faculty and state legislators at this year’s FACS Day at the Capitol in February.

Ellard was clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives for 33 years, serving as custodian of all bills, resolutions, records and other official documents of the state House. Speakers included state Rep. Jane Kidd (D-Athens) whose father, the late Gov. Ernest Vandiver, originally appointed Ellard as clerk. Also speaking were, Cathy Cox, Georgia secretary of state, and Roy Lambert, a former representative and senator in the Georgia General Assembly.

The endowment, which enhances a previous endowment from the estate of Dr. Jessie Mize, a long-time FACS faculty member, provides funding for stipends to students chosen as legislative aides. These students live in Atlanta during each year’s Georgia General Assembly, serving as aides to legislators from Athens area districts and the Women’s Caucus. In addition to the experiences they gain working with legislators, the students also receive three hours of course credit.

The Legislative Aide Program began 22 years ago as a way to provide students the opportunity to learn about the development of public policy.