Athens, Ga. – A long-term manager in the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources has been hired to lead UGA’s Environmental Safety Division. John McCollum of Watkinsville, a 15-year veteran of the EPD, will begin work as associate vice president for environmental safety on April 20.
Selected after an extensive national search, McCollum was most recently an environmental program manager in the EPD’s Northeast District Office. That office oversees the division’s regulatory, compliance and enforcement responsibilities in 41 counties in the Northeast Georgia area. Prior to his service with the EPD, he served for 10 years as a senior wildlife technician with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. McCollum holds a master’s degree in public administration from Valdosta State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from North Georgia College and State University.
“John distinguished himself in the interview process as the right person to lead Environmental Safety at this time,” said Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration. “Over the course of his 25-year career, he has developed a deep knowledge and mastery of environmental regulatory issues. Since the UGA campus has been under his jurisdiction, he also has developed an appreciation for the culture of the campus and an understanding of the growing needs of our expanding research enterprise. His reputation as a coalition-builder and problem-solver will serve us well in the future.”
At ESD, McCollum will be responsible for the management of the university’s environmental, health, safety and regulatory programs including environmental health, hazardous assessment response, hazardous waste and materials, chemical and laboratory safety, radiation safety, right to know, fire safety and outreach services.
“I look forward to serving with the highly skilled and experienced professionals within the Environmental Safety Division and with our many partners and customers across campus,” McCollum said. “My vision is for an ESD that works collaboratively with our partners to address and resolve issues and increase environmental, health and safety awareness with a renewed emphasis on customer service and support.”
The Environmental Safety Division has been led on an interim basis by Bill Favaloro, ESD’s manager of outlying facilities, since Dec. 1, when the former associate vice president, Wayne Dill, retired from UGA after more than 20 years of service.