Laura Crawley has been named the new director for the UGA Gwinnett campus. Crawley, who has served as director of the Executive MBA Program in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University since 2009, will succeed Ruth Bettandorff, who retired in September.
Crawley will hold the title of assistant vice president for academic affairs and director of the UGA Gwinnett campus effective Nov. 1. She will report to Laura Jolly, vice president for instruction, who oversees UGA programs on the university’s extended campuses.
Crawley’s responsibilities will include handling day-to-day coordination of academic programs, working with UGA schools and colleges on the Athens campus to maintain and develop new graduate degree programs for the Gwinnett campus. UGA Gwinnett also houses the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and the Small Business Development Center, which offer noncredit courses for professional development.
“Dr. Crawley has a proven record of leadership with extended campus programs, a strong commitment to quality education experiences and to student success,” Jolly said. “I am confident that she will provide the leadership necessary to support our continuing programmatic excellence on the UGA Gwinnett campus.”
Crawley has lived in the Atlanta area for the last 22 years and held leadership positions in several community organizations, including the DeKalb Preparatory Academy, a public charter school in DeKalb County; St. John’s Lutheran Church; Thrivent Financial; and the Six Star Refugee Partnership Board.
“My commitment to educational innovation and community development influences every decision I’ve made,” Crawley said. “The UGA Gwinnett campus, located in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, provides unique opportunities for working adults who seek advanced degrees.
I look forward to partnering with the academic units in UGA’s schools and colleges to create new opportunities for success that extend beyond the boundaries of the campus.”
