Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia has established two endowed professorship as a result of a $2 million contribution from the UGA Athletic Association; one in infectious diseases and the other in mathematics and science education.
Arnett C. Mace Jr., senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, said that the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Education each will receive a $250,000 endowment for 2007.
In 2006, UGA Athletic Director Damon Evans announced the athletic association contribution to establish a $250,000 endowment for the Office of Institutional Diversity and seven $250,000 named professorships over a four-year period.
“We are grateful to Director Evans and the athletic board,” Mace said in letters to Sheila Allen, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Louis Castenell, dean of the College of Education. “I am confident that this [endowment] will enable you to recruit a promising scholar in this vital area.”
As part of its mission, the College of Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to safeguarding public health by studying emerging infectious diseases that affect both animal and human health. Most recently, the college opened the Animal Health Research Center to foster its efforts in this area.
“The College of Veterinary Medicine is building upon its existing strength in infectious disease research. This professorship will greatly assist our efforts in recruiting an exceptional scholar to join our outstanding team of investigators,” Allen said. “These scientists are dedicated to developing new strategies to prevent the spread of infectious disease among animals, and between animals and people. We are grateful to the athletic association for supporting this effort to promote the health and well-being of animals and people.”
The College of Education is recognized as a national research leader in mathematics and science education. The mathematics and science education program offers two undergraduate and 10 graduate degree programs and enrolls nearly 400 students.
“As the single most important source of teachers in the state and the Southeast, the College of Education is poised to take on a more eminent role in strengthening K-12 math and science achievement and the preparation of expert teachers in these subject areas,” Castenell said. “The math and science professorship will help take our program to the next level by attracting an internationally distinguished scholar whose research and program development have significantly benefited K-12 math and science education. We are deeply grateful for the athletic association’s demonstrated commitment to academics and to the provost for increasing our ability to attract and train a workforce of educators who are prepared to meet the difficult and emerging challenges facing math and science education.”
In announcing the funding last year, Evans said, “We are very pleased to be in a position to make this gift to the university through the Archway to Excellence campaign. It provides an opportunity to support the academic mission of the university, which should always be the top priority.”
For more information about the College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases, visit http://www.vet.uga.edu/ID/. For more information on the College of Education Mathematics and Science Education programs, visit http://www.coe.uga.edu/adresearch/publications/COE_Brochure/mse.pdf.