Athens, Ga. – Leara Rhodes, associate professor of journalism at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been recognized for her extensive work in the area of public service and outreach.
Rhodes recently received a University of Georgia Scholarship of Engagement Grant-International from the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach for work she plans to do in Tanzania this fall. The project, a Media Resource Computer Center, will enhance the interaction between Tanzanians and UGA students and strengthen the university’s collaboration in Tanzania.
Rhodes was also named by the Office of Service-Learning as one of nine 2007-08 Service-Learning Fellows. The Service-Learning Fellows Program provides an opportunity for selected faculty members to develop, implement, and integrate service-learning into their professional practice through a year-long faculty development program. Each fellow receives an award of $2,500 for developing a proposed project.
Rhodes’ project will be a 32-page color magazine produced by undergraduate students that will promote eco-tourism along the Chattahoochee River from Fort Gaines to the Florida state line. The magazine will provide students an opportunity to work with the community to encourage economic development. With fellowship monies, the students will visit the river area fall semester to interview and meet community leaders. The students will prepare a market analysis, analyze the target audience, create story ideas, write and edit the stories, and take photographs. Finally the students will design and layout the 32-page color magazine.
“We are pleased that Professor Rhodes is being recognized for her service-learning work. Her twice yearly production class has produced 24 magazines; many of them service-learning projects. She learned long ago that student involvement in analyzing audiences and working with community organizations results in excellent student learning and excellent publications,” said Kent Middleton, head of Grady’s department of journalism.
Established in 1915, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers seven undergraduate majors including advertising, broadcast news, magazines, newspapers, public relations, publication management and telecommunication arts. The college offers two graduate degrees, and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, visit www.grady.uga.edu.
