August 14, 2024
Contact: Anisa Zvonkovic  | 706-542-4879  | More about Anisa
Message from Dean Zvonkovic 
Welcome back to fall semester! This “special edition” of the College Update is to welcome you to a new school year. We will resume our regular features and schedule on September 1.  
The Search for the Associate Dean for Research is up and running! In conjunction with the UGA Search Group, the Search Committee was charged, and the posting will be available within a few days. Associate Dean Allisen Penn is chairing the committee. We are eager to get a robust pool of candidates. Please feel free to let your colleagues across the country and beyond know. Visits are planned for the finalists at the end of this semester.  
Speaking of research, the search for a Grants Coordinator (as Michael McGough is leaving UGA) is under way and hopefully interviews will happen in the next few weeks. I am grateful to Michael for helping with the transition and for raising the bar on grants and external funding coming to the college. I also want to remind those of you who are working on grant proposals about the new policy for tuition remission of graduate student positions written into grants.  
We are saddened to report that Jim Pasztor, lecturer in Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, passed away this summer. He had been hired full-time into the college last year but was well known and well-regarded long before that for his expertise and friendliness. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. 
There are several other staff positions for which we are actively recruiting, and I look forward to introducing these new staff to you in the next few months. 
We also want to welcome new faculty and staff to the college, as well as folks in new roles: 
  • Candy Beers, Lecturer, HDFS 
  • Sharon Kane, Assistant Professor, FHCE  
  • Deborah Lacey, Lecturer, FHCE 
  • Romulo “Ronnie” Rama, Lecturer, TMI 
  • Meghan Dove, Limited-Term Lecturer, HDFS 
  • Megan Ford, Clinical Assistant Professor, FHCE 
  • Evin Winkelman Richardson, Assistant Research Scientist, HDFS 
  • Rebecca Cantrell, Radon Educator, FHCE 
  • Mercedes Robles, Administrative Associate, EFNEP 
  • Magaly Rios, Assistant Teacher, CDL 
  • Matthew Orsag, Academic Advisor, SSAC 
  • Kailani, Restrepo, Social Science Technician, HDFS 
  • Wendy Harper, Assistant Teacher, CDL 
  • Heatherly McGinnis, Business Manager, NUTR 
  • Stephanie Beardsley, Lead Teacher, CDL 
  • Emily Claussen, Assistant Teacher, CDL 
We are excited to welcome the 2024-2025 FACS Ambassadors. These amazing students have been selected by the college to represent us this upcoming academic school year. 
In addition to welcoming you all to a new academic year, I want to be sure we create a welcoming environment for students. The Center for Teaching and Learning has excellent resources for “The Relentless Welcome Challenge.” 
Please also check out the DeLTA Fall 2024 Teaching Evaluation Workshop Series. This series offers guidance on how to use three voices — student, instructor, and peer  —to better document teaching effectiveness and improve your teaching. All UGA faculty with teaching responsibilities are welcomed. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/Fall2024-TeachEval. 
You may have noticed the new BenQ Boards to enhance the teaching and learning experience in Dawson 202, 208, 306, and the Schwab Center classroom. If you are teaching in one of these rooms, please plan to attend one of the short (10-minute) training sessions so you can learn how to use this exciting new teaching tool!   
10-Minute Information Sessions on BenQ Boards: 
  • Room 306: Friday, Aug. 16 at 11:10—11:20 a.m. 
  • Room 202: Monday, Aug. 19 at 2:40—2:50 p.m. 
  • Room 208: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 3:50—4 p.m. 
These boards support active learning by enabling instructors to annotate directly on course materials, conduct real-time polls, and seamlessly display multimedia content. For students, the boards facilitate collaborative learning through wireless screen sharing for group presentations and interactive exploration of complex data in fields like financial planning and AI. The technology can help us create a more dynamic and engaging classroom environment that aligns with our Active Learning initiatives. 
We will host the 10th Anniversary of the SSAC (Student Success and Advising Center) event on Thursday, August 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Dawson Hall 216. Established in August of 2014, the SSAC was designed as a strategic effort to focus on student services all in a one-stop shop. Our center provides leadership or facilitation to almost every facet of the FACS undergraduate student experience including prospective student recruitment, academic advising, data reporting, student leadership and organizations, and experiential learning. (See the attachment for more details): 
Please check the upcoming events page for FACS events. Don’t forget to add your event! 
Sincerely,   
Anisa M. Zvonkovic 
Dean and Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Family and Consumer Sciences 
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