Three University of Georgia faculty members have been recognized by the Office of Service-Learning with 2025’s Service-Learning Excellence Awards. These awards recognize faculty for outstanding service-learning instruction and advancing service-learning scholarship. Since 2011, more than 35 UGA faculty have received these awards.
Melissa Kozak (Submitted photo)
Melissa Kozak, principal lecturer and undergraduate program director with the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, provides her students with collaborative experiences that directly benefit families across Georgia.
In Family Life Education Methodology Service-Learning, Kozak’s students connect with UGA Cooperative Extension specialists, local 4-H agents and other community stakeholders to address complex family issues, from health and relationship challenges to financial insecurity. Kozak’s students partner with Family Life Education professionals to understand the context of these issues, contribute to community projects and help develop resources that directly support families across Georgia.
A former student wrote: “This was one of the most challenging classes I have taken here at Georgia, but it is the class I am most proud of and feel like I gained the most from.”
Kerry Steinberg (Submitted photo)
Kerry Steinberg, lecturer of Spanish with the Department of Romance Languages in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, inspires her students by immersing them in the local Latinx community as well as through study-abroad service-learning programs.
Over the last 10 years, hundreds of UGA students have applied their Spanish knowledge to support tutoring and mentoring programs through Steinberg’s Spanish Practicum in Service-Learning, gaining a greater understanding of language and Latinx culture. In partnership with local schools and non-profits, her students gain first-hand experience communicating with and supporting people in the community.
One of Steinberg’s students recently commented in a class evaluation: “I loved this course and the opportunity it gave me to use my Spanish language skills in a real-world context. It was extremely beneficial in giving me the opportunity to volunteer with the Athens Latinx population and was great experience for my future career goals.”
Eric Zeemering (Submitted photo)
Eric Zeemering, MPA director and associate professor with the Department of Public Administration and Policy in the School of Public and International Affairs, provides his students with experience working on projects with local governments across Georgia.
In Zeemering’s Local Government Practicum, MPA students have the chance to work with city officials and assist with projects, developing skills in collecting and presenting data and submitting proposals to local governments. Zeemering connects with a new city to support pressing needs, and his students have gained professional experience while contributing to community projects in Valdosta, Lyons, Newnan and Waynesboro.
Following Zeemering’s class project in 2023, Hasco Craver, assistant city manager of the City of Newnan, wrote: “The City of Newnan is better-equipped and more aware of certain housing conditions and potential programmatic solutions because of the work of Dr. Zeemering and his students.”
