College in the time of Coronavirus

SPRING/SUMMER 2020

COLLEGE IN THE TIME OF

CORONAVIRUS THE NORTH GEORGIA WAY

An inside look at leadership development in the Corps of Cadets

FALL 2020 ELECTIONS: A UNG GUIDE

CYBER LEADERS BUILT HERE In-demand degree develops professionals based on industry needs

Leading when it counts.

Photo by Dr. Jon Mehlferber

UNG faculty, staff, students, and alumni collaborated on the design and 3D printing of face masks for medical professionals to aid against the spread of COVID-19.

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Spring/Summer 2020

University of North Georgia Magazine is published semi-annually by the University of North Georgia.

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Sylvia Carson, APR, editor Edie Rogers, writer J.K. Devine, writer Clark Leonard, writer Jill Johnson, contributor David Jones, designer Peggy Cozart, photographer Garrett Davis ’20, intern

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Features 28 Fall 2020 Elections:

Departments

A UNG Guide

From how to judge a debate to how media covers polls, faculty members share research you can use to make informed decisions this fall.

North Georgia Way 36 The An inside look at leadership development in UNG's Corps of Cadets. leaders built here 46 Cyber Cybersecurity needs continue to grow across all sectors of the economy, and demand exceeds the current number of cyber professionals. UNG is helping bridge that gap.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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COVID-19 RESPONSE

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AROUND UNG

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CORPS OF CADETS

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

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CLASS NOTES

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IN MEMORIAM

5 Ways to Lead.

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Leading with our values in uncertain times Just a few months ago, I could not have imagined the extraordinary and historic events that have defined 2020 thus far. In mid-March, UNG, and all other University System of Georgia institutions, suspended face-to-face courses and transitioned to an online-only instructional format to help stem the spread of COVID-19. Since then, the normal activities that draw us together—classes, work, research, student organizations, athletics, and alumni gatherings—have either taken place virtually or been put on hold, and words like unprecedented, flexible, adapt, and pivot have characterized our vocabulary.

More recently, the senseless killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, George Floyd in Minneapolis, and others across the country have incited understandable and widespread pain, anger and frustration about racism and violence against Black Americans. As educators, we know a diverse and inclusive educational experience helps prepare our students to lead in a complex, global society. That environment and experience require us to be allies against hate, racism and violence and to ensure that every member of our North Georgia community feels safe, respected and supported through meaningful actions.

In times of adversity, our values help guide us and underscore who we are and what we stand for. I am proud that through these critical events, UNG’s core values—excellence, student-focus, integrity, engagement, and service—have shone brightly throughout our community. I have seen these values demonstrated in the creativity and resiliency of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff; selfless commitment and service to those in need in our communities; and their love, respect and care for one another.

In times of adversity, our values help guide us and underscore who we are and what we stand for.

We continue to operate in uncharted territory and with a level of uncertainty about the future; however, I am ever grateful for the invaluable support and leadership from so many in our university community. As we prepare for employees and students to return to campus in the weeks ahead, we know there will be challenges. However, we are able to approach these challenges from a position of strength, and I am confident that our commitment to student success and our core values will define our actions and carry us forward.

Sincerely,

Bonita C. Jacobs President

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2020 REED SUMMIT

REGIONAL EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Join us for a unique one-day event focused on industry trends, educational pathways, career opportunities, and how the convergence of agriculture, technology, and education are growing north Georgia.

September 23, 2020 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

UNG CONVOCATION CENTER, DAHLONEGA CAMPUS To register visit go.ung.edu/reed-summit.

Gary Black,

Agriculture Commissioner

Event plans are subject to change.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

COVID-19 RESPONSE

UNG partners with community on 3D medical mask design, printing Dr. Jon Mehlferber created 3D-printed masks for medical professionals in UNG’s MakerBot Innovation Center.

UNG faculty, staff, students and alumni made innovative use of 3D printing to supply medical professionals with protective equipment in the fight against COVID-19.

Dr. Jon Mehlferber, a professor of visual arts, partnered with Enes Aganovic, assistant director of technology integration with Distance Education & Technology Integration (DETI) at UNG, Dr. Mark Causey, ’06, a Cumming orthodontist, and John Skorich, ’09, an engineering teacher at Dawson County High School, to produce medical masks for Northeast Georgia Health System and other organizations.

When Aganovic delivered the first masks to Robert Turner, executive 6

director of strategy and business development for Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), the health system official told Aganovic, "I wish I could hug you right now." That wasn't possible with social distancing measures in place due to COVID-19.

"Dr. Mehlferber, Enes and Dr. Causey have all gone above and beyond to help put NGHS in a better position to protect our employees. All it took was one group discussion, and then they made these masks a reality," Turner said. "As a community health system, we sometimes rely on other groups — especially in times of great need — for help. These gentlemen and UNG are the definition of true partners, and we

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deeply appreciate their support."

Mehlferber, Aganovic and Skorich updated Causey's initial design to ensure it worked on any 3D printer.

Mehlferber printed masks in UNG's MakerBot Innovation Center on the Dahlonega Campus and Aganovic worked in DETI. At one point, they printed about 100 masks per day.

Dr. Ted Forringer, assistant department head of physics and astronomy at UNG, and three students took the updated design and 3D-printed masks in the Digital Fabrication Laboratory on UNG's Gainesville Campus. Forrest Ables, Tyler White and Nicholas Schantz are the students who worked with Forringer.

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Patrol cars provide internet access during COVID-19 UNG Police Officer Dustin Singleton stands by his patrol car as a student uses it as a Wi-Fi hotspot on the Gainesville Campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 closure, UNG’s Public Safety Patrol Cars served as Wi-Fi hotspots. UNG students without access to reliable home internet could take advantage of the Wi-Fi for several hours each weekday on UNG’s Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses.

Greg Williams, associate director of emergency preparedness, worked

with the Division of Information Technology Services to add network connectivity into multiple patrol cars during the past year. When a recent survey showed some students lacked reliable internet needed for remote learning, Williams and Chris Adams, chief technology officer, discussed using the patrol cars to broadcast the

UNG Wi-Fi network.

“In a time when our students had to adjust quickly to an unprecedented situation, I am pleased that we were able to think outside the box to find a meaningful solution to help ensure the students’ success,” UNG Police Chief Justin Gaines said.

Library to document COVID-19 changes to daily life Window visits with elderly family members, children as "co-workers," Zoom meetings, and socially distant birthday celebrations mark a few of the ways life has changed since public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread in March.

These are the type of slice-of-life stories UNG’s Special Collections & Archives is seeking to compile from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members as part of its "Documenting COVID-19 in Northeast Georgia" effort. The campaign's goal is to form an exhibit while building a collection that can let future generations

know how COVID-19 changed life in the region.

Joy Bolt, dean of libraries, said part of the impetus for the project came when she and Allison Galloup, special collection and digital initiatives librarian, sought documents related to the 1918 flu pandemic.

"We were both surprised to find little in our collection on the subject," Bolt said. "This is one reason why we thought it was important for us to collect information about the experiences of our community for future scholars and researchers. It will be there when people want to look back on this time and see how things were for so many of us."

The library is seeking the types of stories, images and videos people are already sharing on social media. To submit a story email archives@ung.edu.

SHARE YOUR

COVID -19 EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTING

COVID-19 IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

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COVID-19 RESPONSE

Faculty member researches COVID-19 responses

$6.8M in CARES Act funding to aid students

The novel coronavirus, first discovered in China in late 2019, causes COVID-19.

Dr. Ali Mehran, assistant professor of Earth and geospatial science in UNG's Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis (IESA), developed a survey to understand how society’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts community resilience.

“In cases of extreme events in a society, there are always some topdown approaches, such as policies on using state reserves, regulations on evacuation, or quarantine to handle the situation,” Mehran said. “On the other hand, communities also have a bottom-up response to these situations, such as willingness to work at home or preparedness for home quarantine as soon as they feel they are vulnerable.”

To compare these two approaches, Mehran surveyed a wide variety of participants, including local, national and international. The COVID-19 survey was available in multiple languages and took less than five

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minutes to complete. By June 1, 623 participants worldwide responded with more than 400 from Georgia.

The anonymous survey asked whether the participant was infected, was prepared to be at home for two weeks, and was able and willing to work from home. The survey also asked, on a scale from one to five, “How scared are you?”

However, the key part of the survey was to identify the respondent’s location, an area of research for which IESA is uniquely equipped with tools and expertise.

“It was that exact geospatial aspect of the problem that was important because most surveys just collected data and didn’t look at location,” Mehran said.

“In this survey, location really mattered because it had an effect on how people feel, the regulations enacted and, of course, how the disease is spreading.”

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UNG is using $6.8 million it received as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to directly assist eligible students who are facing financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We understand how stressful and challenging this global crisis continues to be for our students and their families,” said UNG President Bonita Jacobs.

“We hope that the funds UNG is providing through the CARES Act and other resources will help reduce the burdens faced by our students.”

Eligible students received automatic grants of $100 to $500. Students who were facing specific hardships could apply for up to $700 in additional assistance through the UNG CARES Emergency Grant. The funds could be used for COVID-19related expenses and disruptions as allowable under the stipulations of the federal CARES Act (i.e., housing, utilities, food, technology, books, supplies, transportation, gas, and insurance).

COVID-19 RESPONSE

UNG adjusts to move to remote instruction

During the last two weeks of March, UNG students, faculty and staff experienced a flurry of activity to transition from face-to-face classes to a remote format. The process was meant to help students succeed in the digital environment for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester and the fully online summer semester.

UNG and the 25 other University System of Georgia institutions moved to remote delivery of instruction because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are many things about the current pandemic that were outside of our individual control,”

said Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Continuing to work toward their educational goals was something students could do that was a positive step for their futures.”

Dr. Eugene Van Sickle, assistant vice president of Strategic Student Success Initiatives, said faculty and staff worked diligently to transition.

“One of the reasons why UNG is successful is our faculty and staff are able to adapt and figure out a way to minimize the impact on students,” he said.

For students new to the online class environment, UNG officials provided tips and resources to help them be successful through the UNG Remote Life webpage.

“Students had already put in a significant amount of time and effort during the beginning of the semester that we didn’t want to see them lose,” Gille said. “We did everything we could to make it possible for them to complete the term and have the support they needed to continue their momentum.”

UNG part of USG efforts to provide medical supplies for COVID-19 fight UNG and the other 25 University System of Georgia institutions partnered with Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to redirect personal protective equipment and other critical medical supplies from the state’s public universities and colleges to healthcare workers fighting COVID-19.

From its inventory, UNG collected 2,580 sanitizing wipes, 692 boxes of protective gloves, 689 pairs of

safety goggles, 635 procedure masks, 256 surgical gowns, and 70 N95 masks. Faculty from the chemistry and biochemistry and biology departments and College of Health Sciences & Professions, Public Safety staff, and Student Health Services staff assisted in the effort.

Virtual events and services keep students connected In mid-March, about 42% of UNG’s student body had never taken an online class based on students who responded to a survey, said Dr. James Conneely, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at UNG. When students switched to online instruction, 100% of students were learning remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ease students’ stress levels, several UNG services adjusted their functions to aid students virtually.

The Student Money Management Center helped students dealing with a drop in income because of lost work.

Counselors worked with students on their budgets in one-on-one virtual appointments. Emergency funds were available to pay for rent, food, gas, and other essentials.

Student Disability Services helped students find resources to access from home, including Braille editions of texts.

Career Services also used digital methods to serve students, including weekly live chats and online mock interviews. In fact, the annual career fair was moved online in May. Diane Farrell, director of Career Services, noted the virtual experiences benefitted students tremendously.

Organizers of the Annual Research Conference transitioned online to provide students the opportunity to present their research posters and oral presentations.

“We wanted to honor and celebrate the hard work students put into preparing research presentations all year,” said Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement.

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UNG named top producer of Fulbright students for third time in a row For the third year in a row, UNG has been designated as a top-producing institution for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The honor was bestowed for the 2019-20 academic year. The highly competitive fellowship enables graduates to pursue research or teach overseas.

“This recognition indicates the excellent academic and leadership development opportunities that we provide our students, and for UNG to receive this honor for three consecutive years is a tribute to our talented students and the faculty who mentor them,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said.

UNG is the only university in Georgia to receive the recognition for the student program in the current academic year. Four other higher education institutions in Georgia were named to the top producer list on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, which is for faculty, administrators and other professional researchers.

UNG is on track to gain the award for the 2020-21 academic year, too.

Five alumni were named as Fulbright finalists while two were designated as alternates for the next academic year.

Finalists are Bernhard “Benny” Purk, Madelyn Beacham, Karley Mathews, Emile Phommavongsy, and Candace Seabolt. Alternates include Mark Millwood and Ashlynn Nash.

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Two faculty publish study exploring diversity Dr. Bryan Dawson, associate professor of psychological science, sought to shed light on an important topic through a published study on diversity climates at multi-campus universities.

“Diversity is a passion of mine in the research area,” he said during his keynote speech at Professional Development Day hosted by Student Affairs and Enrollment Management on UNG’s Gainesville Campus.

“Diversity needs to be a priority for every institution because it determines whether or not students will stay.”

Dawson published the work in the Studies in Higher Education journal in collaboration with

Dr. Bryan Dawson spoke about a recent study dealing with diversity climates at multi-campus universities.

Dr. Josh Cuevas, associate professor of middle grades, secondary and science education.

College of Education rated exemplary in Georgia’s teacher prep program assessment in 2019 UNG’s College of Education scored Level 4, or exemplary, in the new Preparation Program Effectiveness Measures (PPEM) developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, for 2018 and 2019. Fewer than a quarter of the state’s teacher education programs earned a 4.

The 2019 results mark the first year the state has used the PPEM to determine program effectiveness.

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The new measurement was formulated to hold teacher education programs accountable for the quality of educators they produce and provide transparency to the public, including the K-12 education community.

“The ultimate goal of the PPEM is to improve student learning in Georgia through raising the quality of the teachers and leaders responsible for their education,” said Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of the College of Education at UNG. “That goal is aligned with UNG’s College of Education, where our purpose is to ensure our students have the necessary knowledge and skill sets to perform the job of educator in the state school system at the time of graduation.”

The PPEM was formulated to hold teacher education programs accountable for the quality of educators they produce.

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Student Health Services opens clinic on Gainesville Campus

Online graduate programs earn national ranking

Students who pay a $65 health fee can visit the clinic on either the Dahlonega or Gainesville campuses for routine services.

A Student Health Services facility on UNG’s Gainesville Campus opened in January and provides a wide array of services to students.

For the $65 per semester health fee, a student can visit the Student Health Services clinic and expect no other out-of-pocket costs for the clinic’s routine services. The clinic handles acute medical issues such as a cold, flu, bronchitis, or asthma attack. In addition, the clinic has a self-care center that provides over-thecounter medicines such as allergy remedies and ibuprofen.

Dr. Richard Oates, vice president of UNG’s Gainesville Campus, is pleased that these new services are available to the campus.

“Providing comprehensive student health services on our Gainesville Campus is consistent with the university’s mission to provide the best educational experience possible for our students,” he said. “When our students feel better, their academic engagement and performance increases.”

UNG one of only six Georgia schools to earn Carnegie Community Engagement Classification UNG is one of the 119 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation that indicates institutional commitment to community engagement.

Including this year’s designees, only 359 schools nationwide carry the voluntary classification. Only six public universities in Georgia have earned the designation.

“This classification underscores UNG’s dedication to support both academic and community engagement,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. “Our students, faculty and staff contribute to our communities in meaningful ways through service-learning programs and community partnerships.”

Three online graduate programs at UNG — nursing, education and criminal justice — earned a spot on the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings.

“We are creating new opportunities for graduate education and expanding our current offerings to online formats to better serve students in our region,” said Dr. Chaudron Gille, UNG provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

UNG’s online graduate degrees in nursing include the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in nursing education. UNG also offers an online nurse executive leader certificate.

UNG’s online graduate degrees in education include: the Doctor of Education; Master of Education in early childhood education; Master of Science with a major in kinesiology; and Master of Education in middle grades math and science. UNG also offers online a number of graduate-level certificates in education.

UNG also offers an online Master of Science with a major in criminal justice.

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Trio establishes Sigma Gamma Rho as first black sorority on campus

Angel Rosemond, left, Uriyah Davis, center, and Imani Arnold became members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority on Nov. 17. It is the first African American sorority presence at UNG.

Three UNG students made history when they were presented as members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., the first African American sorority presence at UNG. Imani Arnold, Uriyah Davis and Angel Rosemond were introduced as new members of the sorority in the fall. Membership will be open

to students on the Gainesville and Dahlonega campuses.

Adding culturally based fraternal organizations at UNG is part of the institution’s mission to serve its diverse student population, said Aubrey Frazier, director of fraternity and sorority life at UNG.

Eight marketing students take first place in national sales competition A team of eight marketing students from UNG took first place at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Competition hosted by Mercer University in conjunction with the Atlanta Hawks.

Dr. Cindy B. Rippé, an associate professor hired in the fall to launch an academic program in sales in the Mike Cottrell College of Business, trained the team for its first competition.

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one of multiple areas in which the college’s Department of Marketing and Management offered students a tangible experience that enhanced their classroom learning.

The sales program also held its inaugural Elevator Pitch Competition, in which almost 50 students presented elevator pitches of 30 to 60 seconds for nine paid internships with State Farm agents, who sponsored and judged the contest and provided three cash prizes.

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Two sophomores named Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalists Sophomores Carlie Anderson and Johan Rodriguez-Soto qualified as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

The highly selective scholarship provides students in their second year with up to $40,000 per year toward the completion of their bachelor’s degree in some of the nation’s most elite four-year universities. Of the nearly 1,500 applicants, 456 were named semifinalists, including Anderson and Rodriguez-Soto.

“We are thrilled to have two more students selected as semifinalists this year for this incredibly competitive scholarship, which historically has awarded less than 5% of applicants,” said Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement.

CARLIE ANDERSON

JOHAN RODRIGUEZ-SOTO

Students and faculty help preserve Mount Hope Cemetery

UNG students have learned the process for cleaning headstones as they help preserve Mount Hope Cemetery

Students and faculty from across multiple UNG departments continue to collaborate to preserve Mount Hope Cemetery and help the City of Dahlonega promote tourism at the historical cemetery.

Thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, five UNG students involved in the project joined Rosann Kent, director of the Appalachian Studies Center, and Chris Worick, chairman of the Dahlonega Cemetery Committee, to present their work last year at the Appalachian Teaching Project Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Transfer process simplified between UNG and North Georgia Technical College

Dr. Mark Ivester, president of North Georgia Technical College, and UNG president Dr. Bonita Jacobs, signed an articulation agreement to allow for 13 courses from the technical college to be accepted at UNG.

The path for North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) students to transfer to UNG is smoother now.

The two institutions signed an articulation agreement in January to allow for 13 courses from the technical college to be accepted at UNG. The main goal is to create a clearer process for students who wish to continue their education with UNG after attending any NGTC campus, said Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost

and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at UNG. NGTC has campuses in Clarkesville, Blairsville and Toccoa, Georgia.

“Transfer students always want to know which of their courses will count at the school they wish to transfer to,” Gille said. “This will clarify that for the students without having to go through an individual evaluation of their transcripts.”

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Dr. John Leyba named new dean of the College of Science & Mathematics

Two faculty earn high-level cybersecurity certifications

Dr. Bryson Payne

Dr. Tamirat Abegaz

Dr. John Leyba has been named the new dean of the College of Science & Mathematics at UNG. Leyba served as interim dean for the past year and had been associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics since 2018. Before that, Leyba was the head of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. He was hired for the job in August 2014 after working for Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, for 12 years and as a subcontractor for the U.S. Department of Energy for more than 11 years.

After a national search, Leyba was selected effective May 1.

Leyba earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Northeast Missouri State University, now called Truman State University. Four years later, he received his doctoral degree in nuclear chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Two computer science faculty members earned high-level certifications in the cybersecurity field.

Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science in UNG’s Mike Cottrell College of Business, has earned the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) in Reverse Engineering Malware. The focus is on analyzing and disassembling malware to neutralize cyber threats from viruses to ransomware and beyond.

Complementing Payne is Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, assistant professor of computer science, with two certifications. He is a GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst and GIAC Certified Incident Handler.

Only 9,317 professionals are certified forensic analysts in the world. Abegaz said he took the course because book knowledge is not enough to teach cybersecurity.

Spring/Summer 2020

Ashley Bruce, lecturer of kinesiology at UNG, received a Presidential Incentive Award to measure physical activity and fitness levels in college students using a Bluetooth-capable accelerometer. Bruce’s proposal was one of 44 to receive funding in 2020.

PRESIDENT AWARDS

A study on author Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved,” a film titled “The Tourist Tax,” a textbook about the euphonium, a pilot project on social and transfer students’ FOR FACULTY AND STAFF networks decisions, and a college algebra boot camp highlight a few of the wide-ranging projects granted 2020 Presidential Incentive Awards at UNG. “With an increased annual investment of $415,000 in the Presidential Incentive Awards, we were able to fund 44 of the 69 proposals submitted,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. “Many recipients of these awards have leveraged their research to publish articles and books, present at prestigious conferences and pursue external grants. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this year’s award recipients.”

Since Jacobs launched the Presidential Incentive Awards in 2013, more than $1.7 million has been invested in faculty and staff whose research and scholarly work have a direct impact on enhanced educational experiences for students and innovations that improve professional practices. Last year, 38 grants received more than $360,000.

Dr. Sudhanshu Panda, professor of geographic information systems and environmental science, received a semester award, one of the most prestigious awards, to develop a mobile app to help farmers remotely monitor the health of their livestock. Panda explained that in the pilot project, goats, sheep and cows will wear a transponder collar that will transmit data to a server for analysis. When the data reveals that an animal exhibits abnormal behavior, the app will alert the farmer to the animal and its location.

“This will revolutionize the way animal health is managed,” Panda said, explaining he has tried other avenues to fund the project. “I was very happy to learn I received this grant. If I can make this work, it will mean great things for rural farmers as well as research at UNG.”

$415,000

RESEARCH AND

INNOVATION

Presidential Incentive Awards • Semester Awards provide up to $12,000 with a full release from teaching and service for one semester.

• Summer Awards provide up to $10,000 to support faculty in focused and meaningful research and scholarly and creative activities in summer 2020.

• Innovation Awards of up to $5,000 each provide opportunities for collaboration among colleagues or individual pursuits focused on innovations and partnerships that promote bestpractice models.

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Cadets sweep top two spots at Spartan Ranger Challenge The UNG Ranger Challenge program swept the top two spots at the Spartan Ranger Challenge in the fall to qualify both teams for the Sandhurst International Military Skills Competition, which was later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNG’s “Black” team won the day land navigation, obstacle course, team development course, grenade assault course, and 12-mile foot march competitions en route to a first-place finish overall. UNG’s “Gold” team finished in second place.

Hosted by the 1st Brigade of U.S. Cadet Command, 19 teams from the nation’s junior and senior military colleges competed in the Spartan Ranger Challenge at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

“I am very proud of all of our Ranger Challenge teammates and our coaches,” said Col. Joshua D. Wright, professor of military science at UNG. “Their physical endurance, cognitive

The Ranger Challenge team spends months honing skill, teamwork and endurance by replicating competition tasks.

strength, teamwork, and dedication has once again shown the strength of our leader development program. This was an exceptional performance.”

UNG finished in the top four overall and as the top ROTC team at Sandhurst in 2018 and 2019, most recently taking third place in 2019.

Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC, and teams compete against other colleges in events such as patrol, marksmanship, weapons assembly, one-rope bridge, grenade assault course, Army Combat

Fitness Test, land navigation, and road marches.

Students on the Ranger Challenge teams who competed at Fort Knox were: Ian Bryan, Nina Carter, Kyle Daughtery, Hayley Farmer, Isaiah Fleck, Haydn Griffin, Chase Grover, Alexei Joya, Thomas Little, Tristan Moran, William Norman, Taylor Reed, Brandon Robinson, Zachary Rodriguez, Paul Rose, Thomas Schwind, Daniel Shearer, Allyson Smith, Karch Swaylik, Eva Sykes, Derek Whitmore, and Garrett Wilson.

Olmsted Foundation increases grants for overseas cultural immersion

UNG faculty member Tamirat Abegaz (left), UNG cadet Ayomide Adekola, Spelman College cadet Myranda Duhart and UNG cadet Tomas King attended the NATO Cyber Conference in May.

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UNG has received additional funding for overseas cultural immersion trips for its cadets and cadets from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The Olmsted Foundation increased its annual grant for UNG cadets from $20,000 to $25,000 for 2020 and upped the grant for HBCU cadets with Georgia State University ROTC from $6,000 to $7,500.

“This is all part of professional development and talent management for our cadets,” said Keith Antonia, associate vice president for military programs. “We want to expand our students’ global competencies, whether they become Army officers or serve as leaders in other sectors of American society following graduation.”

The Olmsted Foundation offers overseas and cultural immersion opportunities to cadets in undergraduate programs. The trips provide cadets with exposure to a national perspective and a focus on the role of U.S. policy in that region.

Spring/Summer 2020

18 cadets earn Distinguished Military Graduate honor Eric Carbone is honored at the Distinguished Military Students review on Sept. 29. Now a second lieutenant, Carbone was also one of 18 Distinguished Military Graduates for UNG in 2019-20.

For the 2019-20 academic year, 18 UNG cadets were ranked in the top 20% of the nation among more than 5,000 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets assessed by U.S. Army Cadet Command.

Cadets are ranked on the national Order of Merit List by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training.

UNG cadets ranked in the top 20% earn the designation of Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG).

This year’s DMG cadets are John Belser III, Eric Carbone, Alejandro Davila, Jacob Drobney, Isaiah Fleck, Jarrett Hutchens, Cody Kendrix, Dylan Lanting, Jacob Mizell, Tristan Moran, William Norman, John Perry IV, William Scaggs III, Jericho Searcy, Brandon Thurmond, Micaela Tierce, James Warren, and Parrish West.

Operation Nighthawks of Honor recognizes retired Col. Gerald Lord On Feb. 26, UNG honored an alumnus who used the lessons of leadership he learned in the Corps of Cadets and the military to mold today’s Army leaders. Retired Army Col. Gerald Lord was honored at the university’s fifth annual Operation Nighthawks of Honor ceremony.

Lord, ’61, served in the Army for more than 30 years, including a stint as professor of military science and commandant of cadets at UNG from 1984-88. Lord also served combat tours in Vietnam. His final activeduty assignment was as commander of the Army Garrison at Fort McPherson, Georgia, from 1988-91.

Lord served another stint as UNG

commandant while also serving as director of Auxiliary Services from 1997-99 and was associate vice president for business and finance from 2001-08.

“I have known Col. Lord for over 30 years, both professionally and personally. He has always been a consummate professional who truly loves North Georgia,” said retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets at UNG. “This is an honor he will never forget. You won’t find many individuals like him who demonstrate the dedication and determination to make this institution a better place.”

Retired Army Col. Gerald Lord, ’61, second from right, was celebrated at the 2020 Operation Nighthawks of Honor event.

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Lynn Cottrell donates $1 million for digital scoreboards on athletic fields

From left: baseball Coach Tom Cantrell, Mike Cottrell, Lynn Cottrell, President Bonita Jacobs, Athletic Director Lindsay Reeves.

Lynn Cottrell donated $1 million for digital scoreboards at the baseball, soccer and softball fields at UNG’s Athletic Complex.

“This gift from Lynn Cottrell will significantly enhance our athletic complex and the experience of our student-athletes and fans,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. “The generosity of donors like Lynn and Mike Cottrell makes an incredible impact at UNG, and we are very grateful for their support.”

The new scoreboards will display photos of players and their statistics during the lineup announcement or when players are at bat in baseball and softball.

Northeast Georgia Health System becomes official healthcare partner of UNG Athletics Two of the largest organizations in the region are working closer together, as Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) became the new official healthcare partner of UNG Athletics.

The agreement is one of a few in the nation for an NCAA Division II athletics program.

“This partnership reflects the strength of our athletic program and is indicative of our vision to grow the program in the years to come,” said Lindsay Reeves, athletics director at UNG. “We are excited to have the opportunity to work alongside NGHS whose commitment to community mirrors our own.”

In addition to the athletic partnership agreement, NGHS and UNG will collaborate on UNG health initiatives and Wellness Expos, as well as with Student Counseling and Health Services in Gainesville. Both organizations are also exploring ways NGHS can support programs in UNG’s College of Health Sciences and Professions.

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From left: Jeff Tarnowski, vice president for University Advancement at UNG; Dr. Bonita Jacobs, president of UNG; Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System; Dr. John Vachtsevanos, team physician and orthopedic surgeon with Specialty Orthopedics; Nigel the Nighthawk.

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Nighthawks fight song revealed The brand-new UNG fight song was unveiled as part of the homecoming basketball doubleheader in the spring.

Camden Pruitt, a senior from Woodstock, Georgia, pursuing a degree in music education, was one of the students who provided details about UNG that helped Dr. Scott Boerma, director of bands at Western Michigan University, craft a song that fit the university.

Dr. Ashley Jarrell, director of instrumental studies and assistant professor of music at UNG, hatched the idea a few years ago and enlisted Boerma.

“It was really great to be a part of something that is going to leave a legacy at the school,” Pruitt said.

Morgan May, marketing and events coordinator for the Athletics Department, looks forward to all UNG teams using the song when they run onto the court or field.

“We’re really excited to start this tradition and bring a lot of spirit to our game-day environment with the addition of the fight song,” May said.

Fight Song Lyrics: Pride of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Soar over Lake Lanier.

Hail, hail to you, North Georgia, strong and bold!

March on to fame and glory!

Tell all the world our story!

Lead on to victory for blue and gold!

Athletics leads Division II in Make-AWish fundraising for 4th straight year

UNG celebrated its eighth annual Make-A-Wish Day in October by welcoming 16-year-old Luke England.

Athletics led all NCAA Division II athletic departments for MakeA-Wish Foundation fundraising for a fourth straight year in 2018-19.

A total of 168 Division II schools participated in Make-A-Wish.

UNG’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised $23,929, more than twice as much as the second-highest amount raised.

SAAC raises money through the annual Nigel’s Run with Superheroes Fun Run and 1K Walk in the spring, working Gold Rush parking with Rotary and the Corps of Cadets, collecting donations at a Gold Rush tent, sponsoring Make-A-Wish home athletic events where all gate proceeds are donated, and 50-50 raffles at home events.

Snap to listen

Williams retires as coach for cross-country, track and field Highlights of Tom Williams’ career at UNG included a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship meet and a Peach Belt Conference championship.

After resurrecting the women’s cross-country and track and field programs at UNG, head coach Tom Williams announced his retirement in March.

“I have been blessed beyond measure with the opportunities that Director of Athletics Lindsay Reeves and UNG have given me to do something I have a passion for,” Williams said.” I have had many great memories from my time at UNG, including a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship meet and a Peach Belt Conference championship. But it is the lasting relationships I have developed with the student-athletes and staff that I will forever cherish.”

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Reeves named one of nation’s top athletic directors in Division II

Baseball coach Cantrell tallies 900th victory of his career

Lindsay Reeves, UNG director of athletics, was named one of four Division II winners of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics picks the winners.

She was only the second two-time recipient from Georgia after previously earning the distinction in 2016.

Reeves is in her 20th year at UNG. The 2019-20 season marked her 10th year as director of athletics for the 13-sport intercollegiate program. She is only the third athletic director in the history of UNG athletics and oversees more than 50 athletic department employees, nine facilities and more than 225 student-athletes.

Tom Cantrell, head coach of UNG’s baseball team, earned the 900th win of his career Feb. 7 when the Nighthawks defeated Peach Belt Conference opponent Claflin University 4-0.

Cantrell has won 723 of those games as head coach at UNG, where he is in his 21st season after relaunching the program in 2000.

His Nighthawks have won three of the past five Peach Belt Conference regularseason championships.

Cantrell’s UNG teams have tallied 40-win seasons six times during his time as head coach. His team won 57 games, the most in his tenure, in 2005 and reached the NCAA Division II Championship round in 2017.

Five inducted in 10th class of Athletics Hall of Fame

Friedrich

Gilliam

Five new members were inducted into the UNG Athletics Hall of Fame in February.

The 10th anniversary class included Matt Causey, ’07, (men’s basketball), Larry Dennis (faculty athletics representative, NAIA Eligibility Committee), Felipe Friedrich, ’13, (men’s tennis), Kelly Penston Gilliam, ’14, (women’s soccer), and Ron Hunnicutt, ’75,

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Dennis (baseball, men’s basketball).

UNG’s Athletics Hall of Fame honors individuals who have earned outstanding athletic achievement or made substantial contributions to the university. A nine-member board of directors is responsible for the Athletics Hall of Fame operations and serves as selectors for all honorees, based on nominations.

“We are extremely excited to

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Causey

Hunnicutt

enshrine our 10th anniversary class of inductees into the North Georgia Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Lindsay Reeves, UNG director of athletics. “These five honorees have constructed the foundation on which our current 13 sports continue to build upon and collectively serve as a source of pride for the entire Nighthawk Nation.”

Women’s basketball team earns third straight NCAA bid before tourney is canceled For a third straight year, UNG’s women’s basketball team earned a spot in March Madness, before the NCAA Division II tournament was canceled on March 12.

The Nighthawks had earned the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Regional, which had been set to be played at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina.

UNG (26-5) ranked No. 18 nationally after wins against Augusta University and Clayton State in the PBC tournament, followed by a 76-62 championship game loss to Lander. The Nighthawks won at least one game in their previous three NCAA tournament trips, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2019 and a Sweet 16 run in 2018.

The UNG women’s basketball team also won the Sportsmanship Award from the PBC for 2019-20.

Head coach Buffie Burson, in her 26th season leading the program, was proud of her team’s season.

“There are some games this season we probably shouldn’t have won,” Burson said.

“But just the fact our leaders knew how to win and they refused to lose got us to 26 wins.”

UNG junior forward Julianne Sutton earned PBC Player of the Year and

UNG’s women’s basketball team ended the 2019-2020 season with 26 wins.

first-team all-conference honors. Sutton averaged 18.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, with a team-high 27 blocks and 74 assists, good for third on the team.

She also was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Southeast Region First Team.

Junior guard Abbie Franklin was a second-team all-conference selection, while junior guard Kara Groover received the Elite 15 Award, given to the student-athlete competing in each PBC championship who has the highest overall cumulative GPA. Sutton and Groover also earned all-PBC tournament honors.

Sutton, Franklin and Groover are UNG’s captains.

UNG had no seniors this season. But

this year’s junior class has been part of 85 victories, including five wins in the NCAA tournament, in what is easily the best three-year run in UNG’s 15 seasons in NCAA Division II. The men’s basketball team finished 14-15 overall and 9-11 in PBC regularseason play, an improvement of three wins on both counts from 2019, and reached the PBC tournament this season under the direction of first-year head coach Dan Evans.

Senior guard Ephraim Tshimanga was named third-team all-conference and PBC Defensive Player of the Year, while redshirt freshman K.J. Jenkins was PBC Freshman of the Year.

Coach Mike Davenport inducted into Georgia Dugout Club Softball Hall of Fame Head softball coach Mike Davenport knows what it means to lead a team to victory and inspire leadership in his players. His success earned him a spot as an inductee in the Georgia Dugout Club Softball Hall of Fame in January.

Since he began coaching softball at UNG in 2001, Davenport has led the team to more than 800 victories, highlighted by the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship. During his tenure, he has coached several AllAmericans and led the team to win 12 conference regular-season titles, 11 conference tournaments, and five NCAA Southeast Region championships.

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Where I Lead: Breaking barriers as a first-generation student BIO

URIYAH DAVIS, a junior pursuing a degree in kinesiology, experienced a trifecta of success in 2019. The 20-year-old from Bainbridge, Georgia, received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship, was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate Achievement Program, and helped bring UNG’s first black sorority to campus.

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How did it feel to make history by establishing the first black sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, at UNG? I did not do this by myself. There is an amazing group of women who helped this come to fruition. But it’s overwhelming to know that I helped bring this sorority here. We are giving this option to women of color, but we are open to everybody.

What made you decide to apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship?

My boyfriend, who has several scholarships, said I needed to try for it because I have big dreams and have done great things. I reached out to Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president, research & engagement, and told her about myself, my major and what my future plans are. She said she could help.

How did you find out you had received the Gilman?

I saw an email and it didn’t look how I expected it to look.

For the first five minutes, I thought it was a phishing scam.

Once I realized it was real, I was overjoyed.

Why did you apply for the McNair Scholars program?

The McNair program was created to help people like me, a first-generation college student and a minority, pursue their dream of attending graduate school. I knew being able to be a part of something so amazing would help me be as competitive as possible for the program I want to join .

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Bagwells create scholarship program that encourages students to give back A $5,000-per-academic-year scholarship landed as a major surprise for UNG students in fall 2019.

Now, as part of this scholarship the donors, Chantal and Tommy Bagwell, are asking the recipients to “pay it forward” when the opportunity arises.

By Clark Leonard Photos by Peggy Cozart

The Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Scholarships are funded by a pledge of $1 million over five years, with annual gifts providing scholarships for 40 undergraduate students who reside in or went to high school in Forsyth or Hall counties. The scholarships are renewable for returning students, and new students will receive the scholarships as others graduate. Anyone from those counties who applies for financial aid through UNG is eligible to be selected.

Tommy Bagwell met with scholarship recipients in February, learned about their educational and personal stories, and shared advice from his time in college and throughout his life experiences in the business world.

One student said the money gave her more time to support a parent who is sick. Another recounted his mother crying tears of joy during the phone call in which she learned about the scholarship. After sharing her story, one of the recipients told Bagwell she couldn’t thank him enough.

“You just did,” Bagwell said.

Savannah Whitmire, a sophomore from Flowery Branch, Georgia, pursuing a degree in accounting with a minor in graphic design, said she cut down from 35-hour work weeks because of the scholarship.

“I have the ability to make arrangements now to really focus on school and my major,” Whitmire said.

The Bagwells request that all recipients, when they are financially able to do so after graduation, find opportunities to be generous in their communities or support scholarships for future students.

Whitmire, who works at Publix, has already taken the generosity challenge to heart. She has started helping people who needed a few extra dollars for groceries and occasionally bought a meal for the person behind her at a drive-thru.

Tommy Bagwell met recipients of the scholarships for UNG students funded by a $1 million gift from he and his wife Chantal.

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Christian Pasmin, a freshman from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a dual degree in chemistry and engineering, said the scholarship combined with the Hope Scholarship has limited his college expenses to the extent he doesn’t need loans.

“It’s a lot of stress taken off our family,” Pasmin said.

Megan Stephens, a junior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a biology degree as a pre-medicine student, enjoyed meeting her benefactor.

“It was really great to put a face with a name because this donation has impacted me so much by giving me more time to focus on my studies and job shadowing,” Stephens said.

To support any of UNG's scholarship funds visit unggive.org or contact the UNG Foundation at 706-867-2876.

Named for the year of our university’s founding, the 1873 Circle recognizes annual philanthropic contributions of $1,000 and greater. Graduates of the last decade may join the circle starting at $250.

Last year, the 1873 Circle comprised 615 leadership donors who made up 90 percent of the university’s philanthropic support.

Pictured: 1873 Circle members at the home of President Bonita Jacobs in February 2020. Top: Dr. Karen Frost ’74 and Eddie Frost. Left: COL (Ret.) Edward Nix ’51 with Cadet Jacob Drobney and Cadet Jarrett Hutchens. Right: President Jacobs welcomes Elizabeth and COL (Ret.) B. Parker Miller III, USMC ’67.

Put your passion for UNG to work and play a critical role in the advancement and success of the university and its future graduates by joining the 1873 Circle today!

For more information, visit UNGgive.org/1873circle or contact Alberto Perez, annual giving officer at annualgiving@ung.edu or 706-867-3211.

Photo courtesy of Georgia Public Broadcasting

Student discovers key to notorious Georgia prisoner’s cell

By Clark Leonard

UNG student Brittany Rhodes discovered a piece of history while cleaning out an old estate with her mother about 20 years ago. It was only as the Cumming, Georgia, resident studied in a history class at UNG that she began to realize the full significance of a set of keys they found.

While in a UNG class, student Brittany Rhodes realized she and her mother had previously found a set of keys including the key to Leo Frank’s cell. The family put the keys on loan to the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta.

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The Rhodes family initially kept The keys reference J.E. Smith, who was the keys, which were warden when Leo Frank was abducted in a jar at the estate, from the prison. because the tag on door to the infirmary where Frank the keys referenced was when he was abducted, along with the Milledgeville state various other artifacts of the Frank case. prison and they had “This is the best place for the keys,” Katz family from Milledgeville, said. “It’s among other Leo Frank artifacts.”

Georgia. But as Rhodes, who is The Rhodes family has loaned the keys to pursuing a post-baccalaureate teacher the Breman for five years with a chance to revisit that certification in middle grades science and social studies after arrangement later. already earning a political science degree with a pre-law “The Leo Frank case reflects so many issues that we concentration from UNG, delved deeper another discovery are still dealing with today — discrimination, failings arose. of the justice system, and the dangers of mob mentality.

Middle grades, secondary and science education faculty Additionally, it serves as a reminder for Georgians to do member Dr. Lauren Bradshaw teaches a course at UNG that better, and work toward a more just society,” Bradshaw said. designs escape rooms with historical significance, including “We will not change anything by simply having students one focused on Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was convicted memorize other people’s version of an event. The goal of of the 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in a case social studies and history education is to train others to shaped by racism and anti-Semitism. Rhodes shared her analyze the historical context and sources related to an finding with her professor when research showed J.E. Smith, event, and have our students create their own historical who also was mentioned on the tag of the keys she had found interpretation. This is why Brittany’s discovery is so years earlier, was the warden when Frank was an inmate at consequential. She has found another clue to the puzzle.” the prison.

Rhodes enjoyed a look behind the scenes at the Breman.

After Frank’s conviction, Georgia Gov. John M. Slaton She and Bradshaw saw Frank’s Cornell University diplomas commuted his death sentence to life in prison in June 1915. and his marriage certificate.

Frank was abducted from the Milledgeville prison and “It was like fitting in a puzzle piece to complete the story,” lynched on Aug. 17, 1915, in Marietta. He was pardoned by the Rhodes said. state of Georgia in 1986 due to the state’s failure to protect him and allow him to seek further legal appeals.

“These keys hold a lot of significance,” Rhodes said. “It’s important we remember the past so it doesn’t repeat itself.”

New place for old artifact Once Bradshaw, Rhodes’ supervisor for her student teaching, saw the keys, she worked to find a landing spot for them. By early January, the assistant professor and student took the keys to the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta.

Jeremy Katz, director of the Breman’s Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History, was thrilled when he first learned about the keys. The Breman already had the

The keys are now among other Leo Frank artifacts at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

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Photo courtesy of William Breman Jewish History Museum

Photo courtesy of Georgia Public Broadcasting

FALL 2020 ELECTIONS: — A UNG GUIDE —

By Edie Rogers Photos by Peggy Cozart

UNG faculty share their insights on the upcoming elections.

This fall, all eyes will turn toward the presidential race as incumbent President Donald J. Trump takes on his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. On the state level, Georgia prepares to elect two U.S. senators and a slew of other statewide contests are up for grabs.

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But for several UNG faculty members, their attention remains glued to election-related topics. Not just political “junkies” who cannot get enough election coverage, these faculty members have conducted research and appeared across a number of media outlets as experts.

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To help you navigate the remainder of the 2020 election season, UNG’s experts share their thoughts on why it matters, questions you should ask as you watch political debates, and what to watch for in this fall’s contests.

GEORGIA ELECTIONS

DR. DOUGLAS YOUNG

Dr. Douglas Young is a UNG political science professor whose professional interests include U.S. politics, Congress, Georgia politics, and constitutional law.

Young has been interviewed by a variety of publications and on radio and television, including talking about Georgia politics in a segment on Atlanta's NBC news station last fall. While the presidential race may be the marquee race nationally, Young says Georgia will draw some interest, too, both in that race and the two U.S. Senate races. Some of the questions he is asking are:

While the presidential race may be the marquee race nationally, Young says Georgia will draw some interest, too, both in that race and the two U.S. Senate races.

• The hotly contested race for retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s seat skipped the primary, so who will win out in a “free-for-all” general election contest? Incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler, appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp, faces Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Doug Collins and a crowded Democratic field that includes the son of former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, four women and an Atlanta pastor.

• Who will be on the ballot this fall for our local Georgia 9th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Collins? The June 9 primary drew a crowded field of four Democrats and nine Republicans, including some former and current officeholders as well as several political newcomers. The district is located in the northeastern portion of the state and encompasses all or parts of 20 different counties.

• Can a Democratic candidate win either of Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats up for election in 2020?

• Can former Vice President Joe Biden defeat President Trump in Georgia?

• Is Georgia likely to be a purple state, warranting lots of candidate appearances and tremendous infusions of money from both major parties’ presidential campaigns?

• Is there a significant group of “Never Trumper” Republicans in Georgia who might vote against the president in November, especially among more affluent suburban Atlanta white women?

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SOCIAL MEDIA

DR. CAROLINE MUNOZ Dr. Caroline Munoz is an associate professor of marketing in the Mike Cottrell College of Business at UNG. For many years, she has researched various aspects of social media and its use and effects on society. In recent years, Munoz and a colleague looked at social media and its role in political campaigns, specifically in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Since the 2016 presidential primary, the pair have explored the role and influence Instagram played in both the presidential and gubernatorial races.

Her research has been published in various journals. Here’s what they have found: Initially, research examined how candidates framed their political character development via Instagram posts. Findings revealed that candidates relied heavily on images that conveyed statesmanship such as patriotic symbols, elected officials or campaign paraphernalia. These types of images also received ample engagement. Then-candidate Donald Trump relied on patriotic symbols and large audiences more than other candidates, whereas, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton focused more on family and children’s associations.

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To further understand what drives higher rates of engagement, Munoz and her colleague explored the role that faces and/or selfies play in driving engagement (i.e. number of likes and comments) in political Instagram images. One notable finding was that faces included in Trump’s Instagram posts had significantly higher rates of engagement, whereas, they did not for Clinton.

Marketers desire higher rates of engagement – but does this really matter to a campaign? Can Instagram images actually influence voters? To address this question, the pair ran an experiment with 2,000 subjects that exposed them to candidates’ high engagement images followed by asking questions that evaluated the candidate. Findings revealed that 2016 presidential primary candidate Ted Cruz’s most liked and commented on Instagram images increased evaluations of him with Republicans and decreased evaluations of him with Democrats. One key takeaway from this research is that candidates who have less voter awareness, such as Ted Cruz, may find more success persuading voters via social media when compared to well-known candidates.

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Findings revealed that candidates relied heavily on images that conveyed statesmanship such as patriotic symbols, elected officials or campaign paraphernalia.

These types of images also received ample (social media) engagement.

Dr. Benjamin Schoening is head of the Department of Music, director of vocal studies and an associate professor of music at UNG. As a lyric baritone, he has enjoyed success as a vocalist throughout the U.S. and Europe and as an instrumental and choral conductor.

In 2019, he co-wrote and co-edited the book “You Shook Me All Campaign Long: Music in the 2016 Presidential Election and Beyond,” which examines the use of music during the 2016 campaign, the follow-up to his book “Don’t Stop Thinking About the Music: The Politics of Songs and Musicians in Presidential Campaigns.” In 2015, he was a collaborator on the Trax on the Trail project, a website that explores the creative use of music and sound on the campaign trail. He shares insights about the use of music in campaigns: A big reason to use popular music is to capitalize on the popularity of the song and/or artist. In the earliest days of presidential campaigns, this meant writing parodies to popular existing melodies. In recent years, this has meant using popular songs in their original form (referred to as “canned” music). Campaigns are usually looking for a song hook that communicates a message about the campaign such as Bill Clinton’s use of “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” in the 1992

CAMPAIGN MUSIC

DR. BENJAMIN

SCHOENING

presidential election.

The first use of “canned” music was in FDR’s inaugural run for president with the song “Happy Days are Here Again.” However, this type of use was not commonplace until the early 1980s with Ronald Reagan’s use of the Lee Greenwood song “God Bless the USA.” As music has been used more and more to warm-up the crowd, there are a number of regional songs that have become popular like “Rocky Top” in Tennessee and “Eye of the Tiger” in Philadelphia.

Artist support for candidates usually trends along party/music lines with rock, pop, and R&B artists generally more supportive of Democratic candidates and country stars more supportive of Republican candidates, although this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Schoening's research revealed that conservative candidates, by far, get in trouble with artists for unwanted musical use or infringement more often than liberal candidates for the same reasons.

However, it has happened to candidates from both parties at one time or another.

Artist support for candidates usually trends along party/music lines with rock, pop, and R&B artists generally more supportive of Democratic candidates and country stars more supportive of Republican candidates, although this is not a hard-and-fast rule.

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MEDIA & POLLS

DR. GLEN

100

SMITH

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50

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Dr. Glen Smith is a UNG professor of political science who specializes in media, political psychology and research methods. His particular focus is on how partisan media influences public opinion and political hostility, and his research has been supported by multiple UNG Presidential Incentive Award grants, given annually by President Bonita Jacobs to encourage academic research and activities.

Smith has published a book called “How to Disagree Agreeably: Issue Debates with a Primer on Political Disagreement” and has written journal articles on the topic. He has shared his expertise in interview segments on Atlanta and local radio stations as well

as in print publications. Smith notes that voters should educate themselves about how the media covers elections to become a savvy consumer of information.

The first thing to keep in mind about media coverage of general elections is the overwhelming and, Smith believes, misplaced emphasis on opinion polls – who is winning or losing and by how much. In a normal general election, about two-thirds of all media coverage is focused on this “horse race” coverage, which may explain who’s winning, but provides very little useful information for voters to make good voting decisions, such as the candidate’s policies, record in office, or social and

economic conditions.

A longer-term consequence of the horse race coverage is that it treats politics like a sport and in doing so turns voters into fanatics for their candidates rather than rational people trying to select the best president. In other words, the more the media frames elections as a game, the more voters are focused on winning, rather than who will best represent their interests in office.

When it comes to poll coverage, people (and journalists) should be very aware of what’s called “differential non-response” after campaign events.

This occurs when supporters of one of the candidates feel overly enthusiastic or (more commonly) overly pessimistic and this influences their decision to answer public opinion polls. For example, following conventions each candidate tends to get a small bump in the polls, which tends to disappear after a week or so. The bump likely wasn’t caused by any voters changing their minds, but instead the bump simply reflects one candidate’s supporters were more enthusiastic, which caused them to answer public opinion polls at a higher rate.

Likewise, if one candidate makes a gaffe or has a bad debate performance, subsequent poor polling is likely due to differential non-response because his/her supporters are less willing to answer polls and express their support, but they’ll still vote the same way.

The first thing to keep in mind about media coverage of general elections is the overwhelming and, Smith believes, misplaced emphasis on opinion polls – who is winning or losing and by how much.

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COVID-19 emergency by enacting a huge stimulus bill in a matter of days.

However, there are complications.

ELECTION DAY

DR. CARL

CAVALLI Dr. Carl Cavalli is a UNG political science professor whose areas of research include the presidency, Congress, the legislative process, political parties, elections, and political behavior. He has shared his expertise on television and radio, including serving as a panelist on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind,” in February to talk about the Democratic caucuses in Iowa. Cavalli has also written a book on the presidency and several chapters in a book on American government that he co-edited. Looking ahead to November, Cavalli shares these notes on what to watch for on Election Night: Will there be an election this fall?

We have seen state after state delay and reschedule spring primaries and elections due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. What would normally

be a vigorous presidential nomination competition among Democrats ground to a halt. The Democratic National Committee postponed their nominating convention until August, and both parties talk of replacing the traditional convention halls with virtual gatherings.

All this leads some to ask: Could the November presidential election be postponed? The answer to that is a very emphatic possibly, but probably not!

Here’s why: • Our November presidential elections were set in federal law in 1845, when Congress set the date as “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.” So, changing the date requires another act of Congress.

It is possible. We’ve seen Congress act very quickly during emergencies, most recently responding to the

• While it is true that Election Day may be changed by altering federal law, there are subsequent fixed electoral dates that cannot be as easily changed. “Election Day” is the day states must choose their presidential electors. They must make their selection by the first Monday after Dec. 12, a date that is fixed in the Constitution. In addition, Inauguration Day is also fixed in the Constitution on Jan. 20 of the following year.

• This leaves a window of only a couple of weeks for moving Election Day back through a change in federal law without running up against the need for a constitutional amendment to change the date electors must meet.

If the U.S. managed the monumental task of changing federal law and amending the Constitution,there would only be a limited window of about a month before another amendment would be required to alter inauguration day.

• Doing any of this also requires significant action from states as well. They would need to change their documentation, alter polling schedules, make sure their residents know and understand the changes, and very likely make changes to their own state laws and constitutions to accommodate federal changes.

Could the November presidential election be postponed? The answer to that is a very emphatic possibly, but probably not!

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THE

REAL DEAL

UNG students get an insider’s look at Georgia politics from a former governor

By Clark Leonard Photos by Peggy Cozart

Former Gov. Nathan Deal taught a class in Georgia politics in fall 2019 as a Regents Professor.

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Political science students at UNG had a chance to learn firsthand about the state’s political dynamics from former Gov. Nathan Deal and a litany of prominent guest speakers this spring.

Deal, a University System of Georgia Regents Professor at UNG, said the interactions with “very intelligent” students in his special topics class, “Politics in the Peach State,” were the highlight for him.

“Their interest and their participation were very encouraging to me,” Deal said. “They were willing to engage and ask questions of me and our guest speakers.”

Guest speakers included a former governor, a former first lady of Georgia, state Supreme Court justices, current and former state senators and representatives, and other statewide officeholders. With politics often seen as a lightning rod for negativity, the former governor also hopes his students saw the real people involved in the political process and gained some optimism during the course.

“Hopefully, the course gave them the understanding that these are real people who have public service as a motivating factor in their lives,” Deal said. “Since many of the students have indicated an interest in public service as part of their future education and employment pursuits, this opportunity afforded them a chance to pull back the curtain instead of having to rely on news broadcasters for their information.”

Topics covered in Deal’s course included: the state constitution and legal code, the similarities and differences between state legislative bodies and the U.S. Congress, the different objectives and perspectives of the three branches of government in Georgia, and the real-world applications learned from running for and holding elected office.

Based on his political experience, Deal had a great amount of insight to share. Before he served as Georgia’s governor from 2011-19, Deal

represented Georgia’s 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years and was a state senator for 12 years.

His course also included the introduction of contemporary political written material. This course provided real-world perspectives on public policy and politics and how the two are not necessarily the same.

Other political science students were able to visit the class for the guest speakers’ discussions.

“We were excited to see the response of students to the course, which provides such up-to-date information. One of my students from the Cumming Campus drove to Dahlonega just to hear one of the

“Hopefully, the course gave them the understanding that these are real people who have public service as a motivating factor in their lives.”

– Former Gov. Nathan Deal

guest speakers and came back into the classroom inspired,” said Dr. Dlynn Williams, department head of political science and international affairs at UNG. “The opportunities provided in this class have been truly remarkable.”

One of the students who took the course was Morgan Mathis, a Tucson, Arizona, native who graduated with a political science degree in May. She appreciated the unique experience.

“Taking former Gov. Deal’s class has been one of the most rewarding courses I have taken here at UNG. It has been fascinating to hear about the real inner workings of Georgia’s politics firsthand from the people who have dedicated their lives to helping it run properly,” Mathis said. “Former Gov. Deal, along with the expert guest lecturers, have shown us that public service is not simply a job but a lifelong passion.”

As governor, Deal led Georgia to become the No. 1 state for business in the nation for six consecutive years, a first in Georgia history.

During his tenure, he helped create 800,000 private-sector jobs, leading to the state’s job growth outpacing the national average.

Former Gov. Nathan Deal spoke about the inner workings of state politics during his special topics course, “Politics in the Peach State.”

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By J.K. Devine Photos by Peggy Cozart

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UNG’s Corps of Cadets has been the birthplace for generations of future leaders.

The unique blend of real-world training and leadership mindset cadets experience at UNG has been dubbed “the North Georgia way.”

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“It takes dedication to get those types of results, and a North Georgia cadet is taught not just to meet the minimum standard but to exceed it,” Cadets live the Army life for four years. It includes physical fitness, leadership training and hands-on skills development.

Throughout its history, the Corps has boasted of alumni standouts: more than 50 flag officers, including two four-star generals and a three-star general; two commandants of the Corps of Cadets at UNG; 13 members of the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame; a World War II flying ace; the first president of then-Gainesville Junior College; and Georgia’s longestserving Speaker of the House.

The honors that cadets and alumni earn are a testament to the hands-on training and leadership skills developed at UNG. It is referred to as “the North Georgia way.”

“It describes the leadership experience that fosters the style of an Army leader who graduated from the UNG Corps of Cadets,” said retired Col. Joseph Matthews, ’94, commandant of cadets at UNG. “A ‘practical leader with a human touch’ is developed at 38

— Retired Maj. Richard Neikirk

UNG over four years of living an Army lifestyle.”

Retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets at UNG, said the cadets’ dedication to meet and exceed the Army’s established standards produces awardwinning results.

“It takes dedication to get those types of results, and a North Georgia cadet is taught not just to meet the minimum standard but to exceed it,” he said.

The recipe for successful cadets and alumni starts with recruitment.

Neikirk said cadets come from high school JROTC units, non-JROTC units, prior-active-duty soldiers, and those without military backgrounds.

Once in the program and in uniform, cadets live the Army lifestyle every day, Matthews said.

It includes physical fitness training,

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room and uniform inspections, ruck marches, and training in tactical and technical skills. This is supplemented with academic courses in military science and leadership in both a commissioning and noncommissioning track, and cadets are required to uphold a specific GPA requirement in these courses and their major areas.

Senior cadets organize and lead all of the out-of-the-classroom activities with the cadre, instructors who are both retired and active-duty military officers , acting as advisers. Matthews said this approach is called the “leadership laboratory.”

“The Corps is led by cadets, not by the commandant nor the professor of military science,” he said. “We and our respective staffs are teachers, coaches, mentors, and examples of good leadership for cadets to learn from.”

5

MACARTHUR AWARDS

Cadets learn alongside civilian students, which creates a more culturally well-prepared Army officer.

The interaction between UNG’s cadets and their civilian faculty and fellow students establishes a unique learning environment for a senior military college in the United States.

It also gives UNG cadets a distinct advantage.

“This exposure to a more civilianmilitary partnership creates a more culturally well-prepared Army officer who engages American society and international partners with skill and confidence,” Matthews said.

Based on the hands-on leadershiptraining style with the expectation of meeting and exceeding Army

“This exposure to a more civilianmilitary partnership creates a more culturally wellprepared Army officer who engages American society and international partners with skill and confidence.”

— Retired Col. Joseph Matthews, ’94

standards and the civilian collegiate environment, UNG cadets have a foundation to succeed, whether they choose to commission into the military or follow leadership pathways into public service, business, law enforcement, or other areas.

“I don’t know of any military graduate who has graduated from here who can say they were not prepared for military life,” Neikirk said. “The alumni have the skills and decisionmaking abilities that often enable them to exceed their peers in job performance.”

Matthews, a Corps of Cadets graduate, agreed.

“The Corps developed in me a strong sense of duty to serve our country and commitment to help others; to be a selfless leader who cares about his soldiers’ welfare,” he said.

He and many Corps alumni also care enough to return. Matthews said the common bond and friendships formed give cadets a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves.

They desire to maintain and enhance the program for those who follow behind.

“We have a bond that is made more intense because of a rigorous environment that demands more than the individual in order for the larger unit to succeed.”

2

CONSECUTIVE ROTC TITLES AT THE SPARTAN RANGER CHALLENGE AND SANDHURST MILITARY SKILLS COMPETITION

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CONSECUTIVE ROTC TITLES AT THE SPARTAN RANGER CHALLENGE

100

+

OF DISTINGUISHED MILITARY GRADUATES

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A day in the life of a UNG cadet Members of the Corps of Cadets at UNG have more duties than typical college students. Not only do they fulfill their academic responsibilities, they train for a military life.

Benjamin Middleton, a senior pursuing a degree in modern languages with a Russian language concentration and a minor in international affairs, is one example. As a cadet captain, company commander and resident assistant, Cadet Middleton encourages cadets to exceed Army standards and their own personal and academic responsibilities. It is a task he does not take lightly.

Here is a typical Tuesday for the 21-year-old from Greenwood, South Carolina.

0650

Cadet Benjamin Middleton works with his fellow cadets after class.

(6:50 a.m.)

Staff Call for the Corps, which is a meeting with key leaders to discuss upcoming events; it’s a precursor to the Command and Staff meeting on Thursdays.

0930 (9:30 a.m.)

Classes including military science, Russian cinema and ecology.

“Military science is the most useful course I am taking because it pertains to what I will do when I graduate,” said Middleton, who will serve in the Military Intelligence branch.

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1345 (1:45 p.m.)

Conduct company commander and resident assistant activities such as room inspections and instructing leadership in the company.

“It takes a lot of time management, and it’s stressful,” he said. “But it will prepare you for what military life is like.”

1730 (5:30 p.m.)

Work at the Alumni Center as a student caller to garner donations from alumni and share upcoming events with them.

2000 (8 p.m.)

Meeting with his fraternity, Sigma Nu. “The men from Sigma Nu headquarters really sold me on their leadership development,” he said. “And I still had an urge to belong to something outside of the Corps. It was like finding a missing piece of the puzzle.”

2130 (9:30 p.m.)

Back to the residence hall to study and finish any other tasks.

“I’m always on the move,” he said.

“I actually just grab a snack for lunch and eat dinner sitting at my desk at the Alumni House.”

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Where The North Georgia Greta Railsback, ’99, is the first female UNG graduate to be promoted to a full colonel.

Military leadership On her first day of Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week in 1995, Greta Railsback knew she made the right decision to join the Corps of Cadets at UNG. “From day one, being part of a team and gaining trust very quickly that normally builds over time was amazing,” said the native of Mineral Bluff, Georgia. “Our cadre and students who were seniors had responsibility for us, and I felt part of a team that was cohesive and trusted.”

That sentiment stuck with Railsback during her career with the

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Corps of Cadets. She embraced the responsibility and rose in the ranks to the company commander in her senior year.

“UNG and the Corps of Cadets set you up to be successful,” said the 1999 graduate with a degree in criminal justice.

Her success continued into the U.S. Army. In October 2019, Railsback was promoted to a full colonel and became the first female UNG graduate to earn this rank. The 42-year-old took the news in stride.

“It means that the Army is placing a greater amount of responsibility on me,” said Railsback, who is stationed

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at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. “The expectations are higher now and you have to step up and work harder.”

Based on her promotion, she expects more female graduates of UNG’s Corps of Cadets to follow.

“We’d all like to high-five each other, but I know we can do better.

Every year, I want to see us do better,” Railsback said. “We have a lot of male North Georgia graduates who are doing well. We need to step-up to the plate to ensure our female graduates are offered the same opportunities. Because this promotion is not winning for us, it is just the beginning.”

As the director for the Center for the Army Profession and Leadership, Railsback sees the promotion lists come through her office. In fact, she saw her name on it in spring 2019. It was not a surprise, but the crowd at her pinning ceremony Oct. 9 was.

“I had plenty of North Georgia grads who came. I wasn’t really expecting that,” she said. “My family and teammates rounded out the crowd. It was quite nice.”

Seeing fellow UNG graduates as well as working with them is a normal occurrence for Railsback.

“I’ve had bosses who were graduates,” she said, mentioning one general and his wife are both UNG graduates. “I also tend to run into my UNG teammates in the Army.”

Because of that, Railsback never feels alone, despite the different assignments, including three combat deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. She said all have made her a better human being and given her purpose.

“I feel like I am part of something bigger,” she said.

Way Led Them A path to corporate leadership When UNG alumna Jenny Muller was a girl, her parents always told her that she could be anything she wanted to be. Muller wanted to be president.

After President Bill Clinton was criticized for not serving in the military, Muller knew she would serve in the U.S. Army.

“I figured, I’m a woman so I’d get the Democratic vote,” she said. “And I’d serve in the Army and secure the Republican vote.”

Muller’s determination led her to UNG and its Corps of Cadets. Despite a change in career plans, the 1994 UNG graduate credits the corps for her success.

The Houston, Texas, resident is district manager at Smith & Nephew, a British multinational medical equipment company. Muller manages nine sales representatives covering the Gulf Coast region.

Managing fellow cadets as company commander her senior year was no easy task. As a freshman, Muller and her fellow female cadets lived in separate residence halls. Not many female students were in corps leadership positions in the early 1990s.

Muller said some laughed at her desire to become a company commander.

But the corps evolved and the women excelled.

“By my senior year, we were living on the same floors as the men,” she said.

“We also had the largest number of female leadership in the corps overall up until that that time. We had five in leadership positions that included a battalion commander and brigade staff.”

While a medical issue prevented Muller from commissioning as an

Jenny Muller, ’94, is a district manager at a British multinational medical equipment company. She attributes her success to lessons she learned with UNG’s Corps of Cadets.

officer, she said her four years in the corps were invaluable.

“It taught me how to follow and lead, and both attributes are critical for success in today’s environment,” Muller said, explaining leaders must know when to drive the mission, facilitate a solution or follow directions. “The military has perfected that model.”

The model has served Muller well.

She worked her way up the corporate ladder to a high-priority position.

After starting out as an international leadership consultant for a year followed by a stint as a retail store manager for two years, Muller spent eight years as a director of client

relations and 10 years as a district manager. In 2013, she was hired at Smith & Nephew.

“I still have line commander of Alpha Company on my resume,” Muller said.

While she works in the business world, Muller has not forgotten the institution that gave her a start. She served on the UNG Corps Advisory Council from 2014-17 and has been a member of the UNG Foundation Board of Trustees since 2017.

“The life lessons and leadership I learned from UNG set me on a path to success in life,” she said. “I want to ensure that it is here for years to come.”

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Where I Lead: Creating a music community

BIO

DR. ESTHER MORGAN-ELLIS understands how music can bring people together, based on her doctoral dissertation and book on sing-alongs in movie theaters during the 1920s and 1930s. As director of UNG’s orchestra, the associate professor of music teaches her students to collaborate and produce a musical performance.

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Where did you develop your love of music?

When I was an infant, my crib was actually in the room where my mom taught violin lessons. The first thing I would do when someone gave me an unfamiliar object ... you know, most babies stick things in their mouth. Well, I would put it underneath my chin like a violin.

What is the best part about being a music educator?

I really like being in the classroom with students, especially small classes, where we can have conversations. But I also love seeing students be really successful, especially when they exceed even my expectations.

Why are ensemble groups and playing music with others important?

We are a part of a shared community. It’s about working together toward a common goal. In this case, creating a common experience that’s important to everyone involved.

What is rewarding about working in a department full of singers, songwriters, instrumentalists, conductors, and composers?

I feel like I’m an important part of a great team and I have lots of colleagues that I enjoy working with and who are ambitious and visionary.

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By Clark Leonard Photos by Peggy Cozart

UNG emerges as cybersecurity leader UNG continues to raise its profile as a leader in cybersecurity education. The latest evidence came in the National Security Agency (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge that wrapped up in January.

UNG students, faculty and staff scored 230,450 points, more than four times as much as second-place Georgia Tech’s 56,050. Third-place Oregon State University was the only other school to top 40,000 points in the challenge that presented tasks expected of a junior- to mid-level field analyst with the NSA. Competitors called on their skills in cryptography, database analysis, network analysis, reverse engineering, and forensics to infiltrate a simulated terrorist network mobile application and prevent a terrorist attack.

While the NSA Codebreaker Challenge results provide undeniable evidence of UNG’s cybersecurity prowess, the university laid the groundwork long before the bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity launched in fall 2018.

UNG collaborated closely with cybersecurity professionals to craft a degree curriculum that mirrored the industry’s needs and would always be open to adjustment in a field driven by evolving trends.

“We asked them, ‘What do you want in cybersecurity professionals?’” said Dr. Ash Mady, department head of Computer Science and Information Systems at UNG. “We listened to them, and we train students accordingly. The industry knows it can trust what we’re doing.”

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Dr. Tamirat Abegaz Faculty Member

Maria Marquez Student

It’s about more than books and lectures Cybersecurity requires skills beyond a textbook or classroom lecture. That is where the Center for Cyber Operations Education and the CyberHawks student club step in. The center supports students who compete in a dozen cyber competitions each school year.

Dr. Bryson Payne, director of UNG’s Center for Cyber Operations Education and professor of computer science, also serves as faculty adviser for the CyberHawks. The club regularly welcomes guest speakers from employers such as the NSA, FBI and GBI. The combination of those talks and demonstrations of ethical hacking is powerful.

“That gives students an opportunity to see what cyber looks like,” Payne said.

Mady appreciates the additional learning UNG offers through these avenues.

“You need to get them hands-on training and let them deal with these situations to appreciate the stress and the unstructured environment and the challenge,” Mady said. “They get equipped and learn how to succeed and maneuver.

You don’t create a professional athlete by just talking with them about the game.

They need to play the game.”

Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, assistant professor of computer science, says the success of UNG students in competitions and landing internships and jobs shows 48

Dr. Renee Pratt Faculty Member

Dr. Bryson Payne

UNG’s experiential approach works.

“You cannot learn computer science or cybersecurity just by reading. You have to practice,” Abegaz said. “You don’t learn how to ride a bike by reading manuals. It would take forever. You have to continue to try and fail until you get it right.”

Maria Marquez, who is scheduled to graduate with a cybersecurity degree in May 2021, was one of 30 UNG students who completed all seven tasks of the NSA Codebreaker Challenge — none of the other 531 schools had more than three team members complete all seven tasks.

“UNG gives us a variety of tools. It’s not just a bunch of lectures,” Marquez said. “It includes hands-on programs. It makes me feel well-prepared to go into cybersecurity.”

A wealth of jobs await these students One of UNG’s goals is to meet workforce needs, and the need is expanding rapidly in cybersecurity. As of January 2020, CyberSeek , a cybersecurity job market website, reported more than 500,000 cybersecurity job vacancies nationally, with more than 18,000 of those in Georgia. According to its website, CyberSeek “provides detailed, actionable data about supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market.”

“That’s exciting and scary,” Payne said. “On one hand, there are jobs for

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Faculty Member

Andrew Su Student

every one of our graduates. But there are hundreds of thousands of unfilled positions that should be protecting our data and networks.”

That job outlook excites Jackson Szwast, a junior from Canton, Georgia, pursuing a cybersecurity degree.

“It’s a growing industry,” he said.

“It’s going to be here for a while, and you won’t go hungry.”

Thanks to UNG’s detailed work in crafting its academic programs and pairing them with extracurricular activities, students will be prepared for an internship or full-time job. That has been the case for Andrew Su, a junior from Suwanee, Georgia, pursuing a cybersecurity degree. He will have an internship this year at Country Financial and has worked in operations and information technology at Amazon while a student at UNG. “When they go and work, they’re ready. When they talk to an employer, they are convincing,” Mady said.

“They can compete. They can win opportunities, and they can succeed.”

Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education – one of only eight universities in Georgia to hold the designation. Seven UNG graduates have commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army Cyber Corps thanks to the growth of UNG’s cyber efforts, with numerous others entering the Signal Corps and Military Intelligence branches.

Through fall 2019, the cybersecurity program had 10 graduates, with an additional 13 students in spring 2020.

Dr. Ash Mady

Department Chair

Jackson Szwast Student

Steady growth The cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program has taken off rapidly at UNG. It started with 20 cybersecurity majors in fall 2018 and grew to 217 as of spring 2020.

Among those in the cybersecurity degree program this spring were 55 members of UNG’s Corps of Cadets.

This fits with UNG’s designation by the NSA and the Department of Homeland

Cyber marks common thread in IT/IS courses UNG incorporates a module on cybersecurity into all of its computer science and information systems courses. Dr. Renee Pratt, assistant professor of information systems, enjoys exposing students to scenarios that get them thinking about how they would respond to a ransomware attack or other cyber threats. She said so much of what she teaches helps students realize how to protect information

and access to it. Her digital forensics in business course exposes students to the decision-making skills around compliance, security regulations and computer forensics as a profession.

“Humans are generally the weakest link in cybersecurity and our best course of action is to educate our students on awareness, practices, investigation, and consequences,” Pratt said.

Mady highlights that fact in his research on social engineering, whereby attackers seek to phish for information to help them gain access to a network.

He said it is vital for employers to tailor their cybersecurity training for each employee so they can receive buy-in and protect their systems.

Mady said the soft skills involved in such security practices were part of what the industry wanted UNG to teach students. The message seems to be getting through.

“It’s more than typing code,” Su said.

“It’s about being able to communicate and solve problems together.”

Pipeline from summer programs UNG teaches cybersecurity to students in high school, as well, through the GenCyber Warrior Academy and Upward Bound.

The GenCyber Warrior Academy, which is funded by an NSA grant, offers training to 20 male and 20 female students for free in a summer-camp style atmosphere.

Student learn how to be ethical hackers in the 10-day academy. Sessions about robots, car hacking and drone hacking are among the favorites of previous academy students.

Upward Bound, a program designed to help promising low-income, first-generation high school students prepare for and be successful in college, included a cybersecurity element in 2019 thanks to a $40,000 U.S. Department of Education grant.

Both summer programs help potential future students see what UNG offers in cybersecurity.

Su is thankful he attended the GenCyber Warrior Academy in high school.

“It’s why I’m here right now,” he said.

“It’s more than typing code. It’s about being able to communicate and solve problems together.”

— Andrew Su

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Virtually Memorable

W

Reunion classes reminisce about their time at North Georgia

e looked forward to welcoming alumni back to campus for the April 2020 Alumni Weekend. Unfortunately, the rapidly changing conditions of the COVID19 pandemic made it necessary to cancel campus events for the remainder of the spring semester. Instead, we asked members of this year’s reunion classes – 1960, 1975 and 1990 – to share a few of their favorite recollections or memorable moments.

ʼ90 Cadets hamming it up

A FROG’s First Impressions Phil Collins, ’75 The first time they met, Phil was impressed by his platoon leader’s friendliness in helping him move into the residence hall and by the polite farewell he gave to Phil’s parents as they drove away. “Promptly, my new ‘friend’ turned to me and said, ‘Get back in your hole, FROG!’” Later that evening, as Phil and his new FROG buddies were being schooled on how to eat properly at the Chow Hall, Phil pondered what his friends were doing at colleges elsewhere.

“Carole King’s ‘So Far Away” began to play and I distinctly remember thinking, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’”

ʼ60 Big dance

Pine Valley Picnics June Westmoreland Parks, ’60 June said her teacher training at North Georgia was excellent, but it wasn’t all books all the time. She enjoyed blanket picnics at Pine Valley. “A cadet would pick you up, Army blanket in hand,” June said. “You would carry cards out there, cook hot dogs and hamburgers and stay until dark.” Dancing might follow later in the evening.

“There were a couple of lodges with dance halls where the cadets could wear their civilian clothes.”

Soccer and Standing at Attention Chris Kemp, ’90 Although 30 years have passed since his years in the Corps of Cadets, “I can remember FROG Week like it was yesterday,” Chris declared. “My most vivid memories are, as a cadet first sergeant, routinely standing at attention in the assistant commandant’s office.” Another favorite memory comes from playing soccer on the drill field against The Citadel during his freshman year. “The entire Corps of Cadets and many of the students were there.”

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Chr is and a fellow cadet

Ready for Anything Howard Floyd, ’60 During his college years, Howard learned that being a leader means being ready to tackle whatever comes your way – a philosophy that made a real impression on the young cadet. “Church, YMCA, and North Georgia have made the biggest impacts on my life – even more than the Army,” Howard said. In fact, “North Georgia prepared me for the Army; nothing surprised me.” Great friends also made a difference. “I could call on my friends any time if I needed help and they would respond.”

"Besties"

Opposites Attract Carla Quinn, ’90 When Carla began her freshman year at North Georgia, she had no idea at the time that she’d met her best friend that first week on campus.

Despite seeming to be complete opposites, they formed what has become a lifelong friendship. “I have so many fond memories: the smell of spring, the sound of cadets running for morning PT, becoming a Phi Mu and making wonderful friends living in Lewis and Donovan Halls – many still in my life today.”

ʼ60 Roomies

ʼ90 Sweethear ts

ʼ90 Flag footba ll

Roommates and a Man in a Uniform Lynda Terrell Byrne, ’75 Growing up in a house full of brothers, rooming with other girls was a major adjustment for Lynda when she arrived at college. Despite a distinct lack of privacy (calls and visitors were announced via intercom), their experiences created a powerful bond. “Lifelong friendships with strong, smart, beautiful women – especially my Kappa Delta sisters, helped prepare me for the future.” She still laughs about some less-than-romantic dates she had during those days – mucking through the mud and gravel on top of Crown Mountain. “Ah, romance at North Georgia in ’75,” she said, “But somehow I fell in love with a cadet, even though John was not in my college plan!”

ʼ60 Fun at the candy store

ʼ90 Cadet repels

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CLASSNOTES 1980s

2000s

Maj. Gen. William K. Gayler, ’88, has been named chief of staff for the U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. He was previously director of J-3 Operations/Cyber for the U.S. Africa Command.

Charles Mitchell, ’06, used his art to inspire others by promoting inclusive representation in his exhibit “Music is only Skin Deep.” The exhibition was on display in the Bob Owens Art Gallery on the UNG Dahlonega Campus from Feb. 13 to March 16. While at UNG, Mitchell was a photography major and a member of the men’s basketball team.

1990s Angela Duncan, ’91, was named by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the 11th seat on the Gwinnett County Superior Court bench. Duncan’s appointment comes after serving as the Gwinnett County magistrate court judge and chief judge for the City of Chamblee Municipal Court.

Matthew Williams, ’07, was recently named assistant city manager in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Prior to this role, Williams served as town manager of Huachuca City, Arizona.

2010s Frank Zamora, ’10, has been hired as the head coach for the boys’ soccer team at Johnson High School in Oakwood, Georgia. Johnson’s program is one of the best in the state, and Zamora looks forward to continuing that legacy.

Zamora was previously named the 201920 Hall County Schools District Teacher

Col. Dwayne Wilson, ’93, was promoted Feb. 21 to the rank of brigadier general in a ceremony at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia. He currently serves as the chief of staff for the Georgia Army National Guard.

Nathan Ingram, ’97, was promoted to assistant city manager for the City of Canton, Georgia. He will transition from the chief financial officer to his new position, which will oversee the operational components of the city, including finance, human resources, technology, municipal court operations, and special projects.

Ingram holds a license as a certified public accountant and a degree in biology from UNG.

Vanessa Thomas Myers, ’99, has written a new book for children and families, “Breakfast with Jesus: 100 Devotions for Kids About the Life of Jesus.” Shana Davis Corbin, ’03, designed the cover of the book. While at UNG, Myers earned her degree in psychology and Corbin earned a degree in art marketing.

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of the Year.

Katie Farr, ’14, was honored as the Forsyth County News’ Teacher of the Month in December 2019. She has been teaching at Shiloh Point Elementary in Cumming, Georgia, for five years. Farr graduated from UNG with a degree in early childhood education.

Suzanne Cindea, ’16, was awarded the distinction of Gainesville City Schools districtwide Teacher of the Year.

Cindea has been teaching at Gainesville Exploratory Academy for seven years and graduated from UNG with her master’s degree in early childhood education.

Alexander Popp, ’16, was named editor of the Dawson County News. Popp, a Forsyth County resident, previously worked as crime and courts reporter at the Forsyth County News and at The Vanguard, UNG’s student newspaper. He earned a degree in communication with a multimedia journalism concentration from UNG.

Spring/Summer 2020

UNG alumni at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2nd Lt. Rainer Eldred, ’19, graduated in January from Logistics Basic Officer Leader Course as the Distinguished Honor Graduate for Ordnance and was No. 1 of 170 second lieutenants in the combined course (Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation). He has reported for his first duty assignment in the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne. While at UNG, Eldred earned a degree in strategic and security studies.

Erica Schmidt, ’19, was hired as a reporter to cover education, life and general news topics at the Dawson County News in Dawsonville, Georgia. The Forsyth County native previously worked for the UNG student newspaper, The Vanguard, and earned a degree in communication.

Jonathan Michaud, ’18; Jessica Holmes, ’15; Madison Brush, ’15; Avery Arndt, ’17; Komal Dahya, ’15; and Nick Ehmann, ’19, recently shared their experience of working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with 30 seniors pursuing chemistry degrees at UNG. All of these alumni found their path to the CDC through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowship Program for recent graduates to participate in public health research at the CDC. They explained the application process for the ORISE fellowship for students and graduates.

Viktoria Capek, ’18, joined the KATV news group in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a general assignment reporter. Prior to this position, Capek served as a multimedia journalist in Duluth, Minnesota.

Dalton Lavender, ’19, recently became an associate accountant at Draffin Tucker, specializing in healthcare, commercial and lease accounting. While at UNG, Lavender earned a degree in accounting and business management.

UNG alumnus and second lieutenant accepted to the Army’s Baylor Physical Therapy Program Will Skaggs, ’20, was accepted into the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in physical therapy. Prior to his entry into the competitive program, Skaggs interned at Army-Baylor in San Antonio, Texas. After he commissioned in May 2020, he attended the Basic Officer Leader Course and then entered the doctoral program.

In Memoriam John “Byron” Woolfolk, 88, died at home on March 17. He was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Byron taught geology and chemistry at then-North Georgia College from 1970 to 1991. His full obituary may be found at dahlonegafuneralhome.com/ obituary/JohnByron-Woolfolk.

Dr. Steve Gurr, 78, of Gainesville, Georgia, died March 20, after a brief illness. He served as executive vice president and dean of students at then-Gainesville College beginning in 1985. He retired in 1994. He co-edited The Dictionary of Georgia Biography and was an editor of The New Georgia Guide. A private burial was held at Ellaville Cemetery. His full obituary may be found at accesswdun.com/ obituaries/obit/99936/steve-gurr.

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In Memoriam Alumni Mrs. Diana Virginia Adams ’63 February 22, 2020 Mr. Roy Lewis Adamson ’56 March 10, 2020 Mr. Robert Hampton Alexander ’57 November 16, 2019 Mrs. Elizabeth Anne Amerson ’56 January 26, 2020 The Hon. Asbury Quillian Baldwin ’64 March 15, 2020 Mr. Charles Thomas Battle ’44 January 9, 2020 Ms. Joyce Bearden ’66 November 18, 2019 Mrs. Glenda S. Blackstock ’63 February 13, 2020 Mrs. Kathryn Jewel Blanks ’67 November 13, 2019 Ms. Frances Logan Brown October 12, 2019 Mr. Charles Lamar Cantrell ’61 March 21, 2020 1LT Larry Hugh Carter ’66 October 31, 2019 Mrs. Lola Jane Cash ’49 January 5, 2020 Mr. Marvin Lanier Chambers ’61 March 5, 2020 Mr. John Frederic Christopher ’46 December 19, 2019 Mrs. Rebecca Hicks Cloninger ’38 December 25, 2019 Mrs. Mary Ruth Dalrymple ’66 March 18, 2020 COL (Ret.) Harry Quigg Davis ’50 November 17, 2019 Mrs. Carolyn C. Duncan ’53 February 10, 2020 Mrs. Edith Ellett ’42 November 19, 2019 Mr. Joseph Lawton Estes ’43 November 18, 2019 Mrs. Sue Jane Fenn ’52 October 11, 2019 Mrs. Winifred Gwendolyn Ferguson ’55 November 25, 2019 Mr. Burgess B. Fite ’51 January 2, 2020 Mr. Larry Eugene Floyd ’58 November 9, 2019 Mr. Thomas Coleman Fox ’77 February 20, 2020 Mr. Lawson Adam Geiger ’60 November 5, 2019 Mrs. Nila Sue Goforth ’58 November 13, 2019 Mrs. Guelda S. Granade ’52 March 24, 2020

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Former vice president of academic affairs Dr. Hugh Shott dies

Mrs. Frances Louise Gray ’50 January 24, 2020 Mr. Johnny Carlton Harper ’55 February 29, 2020 COL (Ret.) Bobby J. Harris ’52 December 13, 2019 Mrs. Shirley Anne Hastings ’72 March 11, 2020 COL (Ret.) Robert Lee Hayes ’74 March 19, 2020 Mrs. Opal Kate Hicks ’48 October 9, 2019 Mr. Edwin Franklin Holcombe ’41 December 17, 2019 Mr. William Trinton Hooks ’61 December 14, 2019 MAJ (Ret.) James Randolph Jacobs ’68 December 21, 2019 Mr. Otho Crawford Jenkins ’44 February 2, 2020

Dr. Hugh I. Shott, former longtime vice president of academic affairs and dean of then-North Georgia College, died at age 93 on Jan. 22.

Shott served at UNG from 1966 to 1988.

H. Michael Hyams, who served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students for 28 years at North Georgia, said Shott was the first person he met at the university. Hyams appreciated his friend’s wisdom and ability to bring people together.

“Always quick with a smile and a kind word, regardless of job pressures, Dean Shott brought dignity and compassion to the most difficult job of chief academic officer,” Hyams said at a gathering to honor Shott upon his retirement in 1988.

SGT William Jonathan Jones ’85 January 22, 2020 Mr. John Ralph Jones ’66 December 11, 2019

SPC Richard Gordon Noe ’75 January 3, 2020

Ms. Lauri Lynn Walls ’80 March 2, 2020

Mrs. Helen Carroll Jones ’50 October 26, 2019

MAJ Walter Edward Norwood ’44 January 9, 2020

Mr. Graham Tharpe Ward ’19 December 21, 2019

Mrs. Patricia Jane Jordan ’55 September 21, 2019

Mr. Willliam Gladstone Owens ’50 March 1, 2020

Mr. John Herbert Wheeler ’42 March 3, 2020

Mrs. Patricia Kay ’76 December 27, 2019

Mr. William L. Payne ’70 October 22, 2019

MG (Ret.) Jack Cox Wheeler ’61 January 22, 2020

Mrs. Juanita Harris Kendrick ’51 January 5, 2020

Mr. Timothy Starr Payne ’80 September 26, 2019

Mr. Carl Linsley Wolary ’64 February 14, 2020

Mrs. Jane Richards LeMaster ’68 February 7, 2020

Mr. Claud J. Raley ’53 November 22, 2019

Mr. Robert A. Zell ’58 December 20, 2019

Mr. Timothy Scott Lewallen ’79 October 14, 2019

Mrs. Claudia Roberson ’49 February 15, 2020

CMDR Charles R. Lindler ’39 October 14, 2019

Mr. James B.F. Russell ’42 January 25, 2020

Faculty, Staff and Friends Ms. Geveva Sue Bazemore October 16, 2019

Mrs. Jane Massey ’50 December 4, 2019

Mr. Jerome Adrian Schine ’45 January 17, 2020

Mrs. Edna Loise McCaleb ’78 March 4, 2020

Mr. James Herbert Sellers ’62 December 17, 2019

Mr. Robert Edward McJunkin ’88 November 2, 2019

Mr. Robert Eugene Shirley ’57 December 22, 2019

Mr. Malcolm Gilchrist McPhaul ’60 December 10, 2019

Mr James Newton Shoap ’92 January 26, 2020

Mr. Daniel Bryan Mills ’61 January 3, 2020

Mrs. Betty Jo Shott ’73 January 10, 2020

Mrs. Clara Lucille Mitchell ’80 January 25, 2020

Ms. Barbara Ann Sweet ’80 March 6, 2020

MAJ (Ret.) Thomas Lee Moore ’59 October 14, 2019

Mrs. Betty Ann Turner ’72 December 7, 2019

Mr. James Edward Mortimer ’01 September 30, 2019

Mrs Shirley Jean Turpin ’68 November 13, 2019

Mrs. Stacy L. Nabors ’85 September 29, 2019

Mr. Douglas John Vogel ’71 November 22, 2019

Mr. Barney Jackson Nichols ’53 January 24, 2020

LTC (Ret.) William Roger Waldrop ’60 December 18, 2019

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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Spring/Summer 2020

Ms. Jean S. Chitwood January 23, 2020 Mr. William E. Ensley February 8, 2020 Mr. William M. Galardi February 7, 2020 Dr. Charles Stephen Gurr March 20, 2020 Ms. Joyce Carolyn Head January 26, 2020 Mr. Earl Jackson Lundy October 19, 2019 Dr. John Earl Raber February 20, 2020 Dr. William George Roughead November 23, 2019 Dr. Hugh I. Shott January 22, 2020 Mr. John Byron Woolfolk March 17, 2020

Upcoming Events For event times and other details, as well as more event opportunities, visit calendar.ung.edu. UNG is aware of the impact COVID-19 is having on events and gatherings of large groups of people. Events are subject to postponement or cancellation.

AUGUST August 1 Summer 2020 Commencement and Commissioning Ceremonies Dahlonega Campus August 17 - 28 Visual Arts Exhibit: Gainesville Senior Capstone Celebrating Spring 2020 Graduates Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Gainesville Campus August 20 - 21 Gainesville Theater Alliance presents Discovery Series: The Laramie Project Brenau Downtown Center’s Theatre on the Square Gainesville August 21 – September 21 Visual Arts Exhibit: The Southern Printmaking Biennale IX Bob Owens Art Gallery Dahlonega Campus SEPTEMBER September 1 - 10 Visual Arts Senior Capstone Exhibition I Library and Technology Center Galleries Dahlonega Campus September 8 - 30 Visual Arts Exhibit: Sculptures by Leigh Garcia Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Gainesville Campus September 15 - 24 Visual Arts Senior Capstone Exhibition II Library and Technology Center Galleries Dahlonega Campus September 18 Class of 1965 Reunion Alumni House Patio Dahlonega Campus

October 2 – 10 Gainesville Theater Alliance WonderQuest presents James and the Giant Peach Brenau’s Pearce Auditorium Gainesville October 2 - 3 Communication, Media & Journalism’s Georgia Film Festival Gainesville Campus October 3 Family Day Dahlonega Campus October 5 - 18 Visual Arts Hal B. Rhodes III Student Exhibition Library and Technology Center Galleries Dahlonega Campus October 8 Oconeefest Oconee Campus October 9 - 11 Class of 1970 Reunion Dahlonega Campus October 12 – November 4 Visual Arts Exhibit: Paintings and Prints by Angie Jerez Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Gainesville Campus October 15 Octuba Fest Shott Performance Hall Dahlonega Campus October 16 12th annual Kevin Jenrette Scholarship Golf Tournament Achasta Golf Course Dahlonega October 16 Class of 1990 Reunion Dahlonega Campus

September 25 - 27 Boar’s Head Weekend Dahlonega Campus

October 17 – 19 Gold Rush Weekend Dahlonega Campus

OCTOBER

October 17 Class of 1980 Reunion Class of 1995 Reunion Dahlonega Campus

October 1 - 26 Visual Arts Exhibit: Paintings by Eleanor Aldrich Bob Owens Art Gallery Dahlonega Campus

October 18-24 Mike Cottrell College of Business National Women In Business Week Events on Multiple UNG Campuses

October 20 Octuba Fest Shott Performance Hall Dahlonega Campus October 21 Octuba Fest Ed Cabell Theatre Gainesville Campus NOVEMBER November 5 Visual Arts Exhibit: Sculptures by Joni Younkins-Herzog Bob Owens Art Gallery Dahlonega Campus November 7 NCAA Division II Men’s & Women’s XC Southeast Regional Gainesville Campus November 9 - 20 Visual Arts Exhibit: Senior Capstone Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Gainesville Campus November 11 Corps of Cadets Veteran’s Day Review Dahlonega Campus November 11 – 21 Gainesville Theater Alliance presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Brenau’s Hosch Theatre Gainesville November 14 33rd annual All American Piano Celebration Shott Performance Hall Dahlonega Campus November 19 Sinfonietta Shott Performance Hall Dahlonega Campus November 30 – December 10 Student Holiday Art Sale Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Gainesville Campus DECEMBER December 3 Women’s Holiday Scholarship Luncheon Chattahoochee Country Club December 4 Holiday Choral Festival Grace Episcopal Church Gainesville WWW. UNG.EDU

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Photo by Shannon Shockley ’99

Over the rainbow

An early-morning double rainbow glowed over UNG’s Gainesville Campus early in spring semester and gives us hope to weather the COVID-19 storm.

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