The Fanning Institute is being renamed to better communicate its mission under new leadership.
Effective Dec. 1, the unit’s name will be restored to the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. Matt Bishop, currently with UGA’s Archway Partnership, will become the institute’s new director. Fanning’s mission will focus on leadership development and specifically developing leaders who can implement sustainable solutions to community challenges.
The realignment of the Fanning Institute’s mission and Bishop’s appointment were announced at a Nov. 8 Leadership Georgia board meeting in Athens. The restoration of leadership development to the organization’s name signals a renewal of the Fanning Institute’s focus as the namesake of J.W. Fanning, UGA’s first vice president for services and founder of Leadership Georgia, said Jennifer Frum, vice president for public service and outreach.
“Clearly identifying Fanning as the go-to place for leadership -education, training and development will strengthen its contributions to the state and complement the missions and expertise of our seven other public service and outreach units,” Frum said. “We are excited about the potential.”
As the new director, Bishop will guide development of new goals and refocused programming to accomplish its mission. He is currently a public service associate and coordinator of operations for the Archway Partnership. His 10-year career with UGA includes serving as faculty with the Fanning Institute and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and faculty coordinator for UGA’s Initiative on Poverty and the Economy. His public service career has included serving on the governor’s Rural Development Council and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
