Goetz named Meigs Professor, university’s highest teaching honor

FACS faculty member Joseph Goetz is one of five faculty members at the University of Georgia to be awarded the institution’s highest teaching honor, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship.

In addition to Goetz, a professor in the department of financial planning, housing and consumer economics, the 2020-21 Meigs professors are:

John Mativo, associate professor of career and information studies in the Mary Frances Early College of Education

Lori A. Ringhand, J. Alton Hosch Professor of Law in the School of Law

Jo Smith, associate professor of small animal internal medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine

Zachary Wood, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

“This year’s Meigs Professorship honorees are exemplary educators who engage students at all levels through innovative instruction and experiential learning,” said S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “They are committed to positioning their students for success, not only in the classroom but throughout their lives.”

Goetz is widely recognized across the country as a pioneer in academic service-learning, problem-based learning and other forms of experiential learning in financial planning. Over the course of his career, he has created, developed and implemented a range of innovative clinics, centers, programs, courses, internships and companies to enhance student learning.

Goetz’s experience in financial planning consulting, namely through the wealth management firm he co-founded—Elwood & Goetz Wealth Advisory Group—has given him a valuable perspective and skillset, which has enhanced the educational experience of his students. He created a pro bono financial planning program and co-founded the UGA ASPIRE Clinic, a multidisciplinary teaching clinic for financial planning, family therapy and law students. He also co-founded the university’s master’s and doctoral program in financial planning and worked with the Graduate School to create a financial education program for graduate students.

He created the nation’s first financial planning clinical practicum course, the nation’s first course in financial therapy and is the co-founder of the college’s Schwab Financial Planning Center, which is designed to promote experiential learning. He also co-published his field’s first textbook on client communication to enhance students’ learning. Goetz has earned numerous honors, including the university’s Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award, Creative Teaching Award and Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

The Meigs Professorship was established to underscore the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching, the value placed on the learning experiences of students and the centrality of instruction to the university’s mission. The award includes a permanent salary increase of $6,000 and a one-time discretionary fund of $1,000.

More information about the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorships is at provost.uga.edu/resources/faculty-resources/professorships/josiah-meigs-distinguished-teaching-professorships/.

This article was adapted from the original news release published in the April 12, 2021 edition of Columns.