FACS Facts
A Challenge to Reconnect
In July, I was sitting in a pew at Athens First Baptist Church to pay tribute to my college advisor, mentor, and friend – a woman who asked me at the young age of 18, “Who are you now and who do you want to be?” I didn’t know the answer then – I just wanted to change my major!
Nonetheless, Dr. Jane Rhoden saw something special in me and the other students majoring in home economics and journalism. She knew with a little time and effort, we would answer her question.
I heard classmates across campus talk about visiting their advisor once a quarter with appointments lasting 10 minutes or less. I visited Dr. Rhoden at least twice weekly and every advising appointment lasted at least an hour. She didn’t just tell us what classes to take. She got to know us – our hopes – our dreams for the future. She encouraged us to apply for scholarships, internships, and student leadership positions. Dr. Rhoden opened her home and made us feel special – we were family. She knew we were some of the best students on campus, and she challenged us to use and share our talents.
Over the past several years, I would see Dr. Rhoden occasionally around Athens. Within a few minutes, I would feel like I was 18 again, sitting in her office, planning my courses and life at UGA.
Who am I now, Dr. Rhoden? I am a wife, mother, UGA staff member, president of the FACS Alumni Association, and community volunteer. Who do I want to be, Dr. Rhoden? I want to be like you – seeing the potential in others and striving to motivate and support them to become productive and successful human beings.
As your alumni association president, I challenge you to reconnect with your college and increase your involvement. Let’s work to make our students feel welcome, special, and important. Each of us can be a Dr. Jane Rhoden in a student’s life.
Tammy Tate Gilland 2007-08
FACS Alumni President
East West Bistro
Over thirty FACS students, faculty, and alumni gathered at East West Bistro in Athens for a reception and dinner to network and learn about the latest news in the Department of Foods and Nutrition. FDN alumnae Meredith Barrs Potter, (BSFCS ’04, Consumer Foods and Dietetics), Elise Emrath, (BSFCS ’04, Dietetics), and Heather Bowen, (BSFCS ’00 Dietetics, MS ’02, Foods and Nutrition) were among those reconnecting.
Save the Date
November 13, 2007
Designing Dawgs in Atlanta
November 15, 2007
Donor-Scholar Recognition
Reception – 6:30 p.m.
Day Chapel, State Botanical Garden
November 29, 2007
Shaping the Silhouette: A Glimpse into 20th Century Fashion
6–8 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art
March 8, 2008
31st Annual FACS Alumni Awards Lunch & Silent Auction
11:30 a.m. Registration;
Noon Lunch
Athens Country Club
For the latest information on all alumni events, please see our online calendar.
Silent Auction Needs Your Donations!
We are currently accepting donations of unique items to be in an auction at the 31st Annual FACS Awards Luncheon. Your name/company name will be placed on each bid sheet with an item description and estimated value. Vacation home packages, autographed memorabilia, sports regalia, and jewelry are all popular items from previous silent auctions. We will also have a special table highlighting products created by FACS alumni! The silent auction has raised thousands of dollars in the past to support the FACS alumni programming including our two scholarships for students.
For more information, or if you would like to donate an item to the silent auction, contact Suzanne Griffeth at suzanne@fcs.uga.edu or 706-542-4881.
FACS Alumni Board
(Front Row L-R:) Kristi Osborn Greer, (BSFCS ’00, Human Development and Family Science; MEd ’05, Adult Education), vice president-programs; Associate Dean Jan M. Hathcote, (BSHE ’74, Home Economics Education); Tammy Tate Gilland, (BSHE ’88, Home Economics and Journalism), president; Harrileen Jones Conner, (BSHE ’83, MEd ’91, Home Economics Education), secretary; and Pam Braden McAbee, (BSHE ’80, Fashion Merchandising), TMI representative. Middle Row: Director of Alumni Relations Suzanne Griffeth, (BSFCS ’99, Consumer Economics); Don Bower, (Department Head, Human Development and Family Science); Director of Development Katrina L. Bowers, (BSHE ’84, Consumer Economics); and Emily Blalock, (MS ’06, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors), TMI departmental liaison. (Back Row: L-R) Katy O’Neal Arrowood, (BSFCS ’94, Human Development and Family Science), past president; Lisa Gipson, (BSFCS ’95, Consumer Journalism, MEd ’01, Adult Education), vice president-development; Judy Herrin, (BSHE ’72, Clothing and Textiles), out-of-state representative; Elizabeth Bagarrozi Hutcheson, (BSFCS ’94, Furnishings and Interiors), TMI representative; Jennifer Barker Townsend, (BSFCS ’91, Home Economics and Journalism), HACE representative; and Gail Fulford Sims, (BSHE ’81, MEd ’82, EDS, Home Economics Education), FACS-Education representative.
Not Pictured: Cherie Cole Brock, (BSFCS ’91, Consumer Economics and Home Management), FACS-Education representative; Caree Joli Jackson, (MS ’04, Foods and Nutrition), graduate degree representative; Julie Till Patterson, (BSFCS ’00, Human Development and Family Science/Early Childhood Education – PreK; MEd ’05, English Education), CFD representative; Meredith Barrs Potter, (BSFCS ’04, Consumer Foods and Dietetics), FDN reptresentative; Kishia Shooks, (BSFCS ’00, Fashion Merchandising), president-elect; Tamara Starling, (BSFCS ’96, Dietetics), FDN representative; Jennifer White, (BSFCS ’04, Human Development and Family Science), CFD representative; and Jonathan Dixon Wilson, (BSFCS ’96, Consumer Economics), HACE representative.
Total Knowledge – FACS Summer College
The 30 family and consumer sciences teachers attending FACS Summer College in June practiced their fashion skills as part of a workshop designed to help students learn how to match clothing styles to body types. The program was just one of several featured during the two-day workshop. The teachers also updated their knowledge about early brain development, managing their workplace image, money management, adolescent relationships and anger management strategies.
