A University of Georgia pilot program launching this month involving faculty and staff will further the university’s efforts to foster a more welcoming and supportive campus community.
Based on recommendations issued by the Presidential Taskforce on Race, Ethnicity, and Community, a committee established by UGA President Jere W. Morehead in 2020, the university is implementing a pilot Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) training, beginning this year with two groups of UGA faculty and staff.
RSD builds the capacity of communities and organizations to engage, live and thrive despite their differences through a dialogue process that shifts the goal of conversation from problem solving to mutual understanding.
This pilot training is designed to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge to incorporate these dialogue skills into their respective units across campus.
Individuals selected for the pilot groups represent a cross-section of UGA’s various schools, colleges and units and were nominated by their respective deans and vice presidents.
Taking place in a virtual format over two days, the first group will complete the pilot program in April and the second will complete the program in May. Following completion of the training, UGA will conduct evaluations to assess how faculty and staff apply the principles and processes learned through this pilot program.
The UGA Office of the President is providing financial support for the pilot program, which will be conducted by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach.
The following UGA faculty and staff have been nominated to participate in this pilot program:
- Siara Abdulla, Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
- Lauren Anglin, College of Engineering
- Mollie Armour, Office of the Provost
- Casey Bassett, AU/UGA Medical Partnership
- Ellen Bauske, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Penny Benton, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Danielle Bostick, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Robert Bringolf, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
- Karen Bryant, Mary Frances Early College of Education
- Becki Bury, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Mary Carney, Office of the Provost
- Michelle Carter, Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
- Jermaine Durham, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Sarah Ehlers, School of Law
- Jennifer Elkins, School of Social Work
- Jessica Fernandez, College of Environment and Design
- Kathryn Flores, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Tamara Freeman, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Bryant Gantt, Athletics
- Melissa Garber, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Beth Gavrilles, Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology
- Courtney Gay, Athletics
- Robert Gogal, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Randy Groomes, Terry College of Business
- Aaron Hale, Office of the Vice President for Marketing and Communications
- Jeff Hammock, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Jamel Hodges, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Shelley Hooks, Office of the Vice President for Research
- Larry Hornak, Office of the Vice President for Research
- Angela Hurt, Office of the Vice President for Marketing and Communications
- Zoe Johnson, School of Social Work
- Jason Jones, College of Pharmacy
- Stacy Jones, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
- Bethany Hamilton-Jones, Mary Frances Early College of Education
- Jeff Jordan, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Amber Juncker, College of Engineering
- DeeDee Kane, Terry College of Business
- Laura Katz, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
- Chris King, Office of the Vice President for Research
- Paris Lawrence, Office of the Provost
- Eva Levi, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
- Jennifer Lewis, College of Environment and Design
- Sharon Liggett, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
- Catherine Logue, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Julia Butler-Mayes, Office of the Vice President for Instruction
- Carly McCallie, Office of the Vice President for Government Relations
- Alison McCullick, Office of the Vice President for Government Relations
- Samantha Meyer, Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Judy Milton, Graduate School
- Michelle Momany, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Megan Morgan, School of Public and International Affairs
- Naomi Norman, Office of the Vice President for Instruction
- Joe Phua, Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Aaron Redman, School of Public and International Affairs
- Amanda Rugenski, Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology
- Sarah Saint, College of Public Health
- Rochelle Sapp, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Tai Sherman, AU/UGA Medical Partnership
- Janine Sherrier, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Lisa Sperling, Graduate School
- Kristopher Stevens, Equal Opportunity Office
- Tori Tanner, Office of the Provost
- Janani Thapa, College of Public Health
- Morgan Tickerhoof, School of Law
- George Veeder, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology
- Nakia Wade, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Joshua Welch, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Keith Wenrich, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Jean Martin-Williams, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Jen Williams, Mary Frances Early College of Education
- Maurice Ynclan, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology
- Henry Young, College of Pharmacy