David H. Muia, who as director of alumni relations led the transformation of the UGA Alumni Society into the self-sustaining, dues-paying UGA Alumni Association, has announced his retirement effective Jan. 31.
“The University of Georgia, including its community of 220,000 alumni, is indebted to Dave Muia for the great energy and enthusiasm he brought to advancing his alma mater over his many years of service,” says President Michael F. Adams.
Muia received a bachelor’s degree from UGA in 1974 and a master’s in education in 1979. He began his UGA career in 1975 in the alumni relations office-and has worked in external affairs ever since.
“Dave is a valued colleague on whose judgment I rely, in alumni matters and concerning overall UGA external affairs,” says Steve W. Wrigley, senior vice president for external affairs.
Under Muia’s leadership, the Alumni Association has dramatically expanded its program offerings and reorganized into a worldwide organization with more than 31,000 dues-paying members. The former Alumni Society was succeeded by the Alumni Association in 1996 and opened an Atlanta Alumni Center in 2000. Under Muia’s direction, the size of the alumni staff doubled and the operating budget increased from under $100,000 in 1990, much of which was state-funded, to more than $1.5 million today, with no state dollars in the operating budget.
Although retiring from his current position, Muia will be retained to assist with special projects related to the capital campaign and other university initiatives.
Deborah Dietzler, associate director of alumni relations since 1997, will become interim director Feb. 1, Wrigley says, and a search for a permanent successor will be announced later this year.
