UGA horticulture expert offers tips on growing vegetables at home

/by

This was written by Bob Westerfield and originally posted to UGA CAES News on April 20, 2020. 

While adults and children spend more time at home as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, planting a garden or container garden is a great activity to plan together. It’s outside, active, educational and edible. With some grocery stores taking longer than usual to stock some items, vegetable gardening is a great way to keep your refrigerator stocked.

For those who have never considered growing their own vegetables, the task may seem daunting, but it’s actually a very simple process.

Vegetables need soil, sunlight, moisture and fertility. Any location in your landscape that receives at least six hours of sunlight could be a good location for growing your crop. The amount of space you have available will dictate the size of your garden. Even very small gardens can produce a surprising quantity of vegetables and easily feed a family of four or more.

Squash

Squash plants grow in the UGA Research and Education Garden.

One simple method of getting started is to grow vegetables in raised beds. Treated lumber, two feet by six feet or larger, can be safely be used to form the sides of the bed. Compost, manure or bagged topsoil are good amendments to use to fill the beds.

Soil temperatures have just arrived at the perfect level for planting vegetables. Summer vegetables can be planted between now and June, so there is plenty of time to plant a garden.

I would suggest purchasing transplants of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Theses crops do not establish easily if planted directly into the garden from seed. Other vegetables, such as squash, corn, cucumbers, beans, okra and melons, can be directly seeded into the garden with excellent success.

Eggplant

Take care to plant seeds at the proper depth recommended on the seed packet. Apply a light starter fertilizer, such as 5-10-15, at planting time to give vegetables initial nutrition. More fertilizer should be applied after vegetables have been pollinated and are developing tiny fruits.

Soil testing, available through your local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office, is the best way to know the true nutritional needs of your garden soil.

Some form of irrigation will be necessary to help vegetables get started and maintain them through the growing season. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are the best options to conserve moisture and keep plants dry. Overhead irrigation, however, can be used when it is the only option.

Most vegetables require one to two inches of water per week. Raised beds tend to drain much faster and may require additional applications of water. Organic mulch placed around vegetable plants will help conserve moisture and help keep weeds under control.

As the season progresses, keep a careful eye on your developing vegetable plants. Insects, disease and even weeds can take over quickly if not kept in check. Proper identification of the pests is essential in choosing the right control. UGA Extension can help identify pest issues and recommend the best controls.

Don’t let these difficult times keep you down and feeling helpless. Turn your backyard into vegetable heaven and enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor. Supplies can be ordered online if you don’t want to don your mask and practice social distancing at your local garden center.

For additional gardening information, visit extension.uga.edu/publications to view numerous related publications. Search the topics for a specific variety you are interested in growing, such as corn, beans, squash, okra, etc. Other suggested publications include:

Home Gardening (Bulletin 577)
Vegetable Gardening in Georgia (Circular 963)
Vegetable Garden Calendar (Circular 943)
Weed Control Options for the Home Vegetable Gardener (Circular 1144)
Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens (Circular 1027-3)
Growing Vegetables Organically (Bulletin 1011)

Bob Westerfield is a Cooperative Extension horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Helping Bulldogs feel a little less alone through art

/by

Thanks to Hillary Brown (AB ’00, MA ’10), director of communications for the Georgia Museum of Art, for this guest blog. All images provided by the Georgia Museum of Art.

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia usually hosts tens of thousands of visitors a year with tours and programs, but that’s not possible at the moment. With COVID-19 keeping people in their homes, the museum’s staff, many of whom are UGA alumni, saw an opportunity to serve an even wider audience than usual, bringing programming to visitors rather than the other way around and helping Bulldogs feel a little less alone through art.

Online Exhibitions

The museum worked with Athens firm The Adsmith [owned by Kirk Smith (BFA ’85)] to put existing and upcoming exhibitions online, incorporating 360-degree views of galleries where art was installed. Although these exhibitions do not have the same effect as wandering the galleries in person, they can also stay up indefinitely, reaching a larger group of visitors. The annual master of fine arts degree candidates’ exhibition for the Lamar Dodd School of Art, a tradition dating back decades, was reconfigured into an online format that allowed for greater flexibility and gave graduating students a way to show their work.

The exhibition “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” was only partway through its scheduled run and many people were disappointed to have missed the opportunity to see it. The Richard H. Driehaus Museum allowed the Georgia Museum of Art to use the files from its Acoustiguide tour to create a virtual tour of the show, available on YouTube through May 10.

Other exhibitions available online include “The Monsters Are Due on Broad Street: Patrick Dean” (BFA ’97), “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” and “Rediscovering the Art of Victoria Hutson Huntley,” with more to come soon.

Yoga in the Galleries

Shannon Ball (BSED ’96), co-owner of Five Points Yoga, leads “Yoga in the Galleries” via Zoom.

Online Education Opportunities

The museum’s education staff [Callan Steinmann (AB ’07, PHD ’17), Sage Kincaid (AB ’05, PHD ’22), Emily Hogrefe-Ribeiro (PHD ’22) and Madison Hogan (AB ’18)] has been traveling to the building once a week to stream Yoga in the Galleries and Morning Mindfulness programs via Zoom (while maintaining a safe distance from the instructors teaching those courses!). Presenting them online has doubled the number of visitors participating.

A four-part art class on introductory printmaking techniques also moved to Zoom, allowing the museum to teach new skills and pay local artist Brian Hitselberger (MFA ’10) for his time teaching. Curators have recorded mini tours in the galleries to replace the museum’s usual weekly tour every Tuesday at 2 p.m., and, when possible, planned lectures are being recorded and put online. YouTube’s subtitles and the now-asynchronous format of these programs also increase their accessibility.

Step-by-step images of the creation of styrofoam plate art,

Art at Home: Styrofoam Plate Cityscapes project in conjunction with the exhibition “Rediscovering the Art of Victoria Hutson Huntley.”

Online Programs and Events

Many of the new and revised programs point the way forward to better ways of reaching audiences, such as the museum’s new Art at Home page, which includes simple art projects that can be made with easy-to-find materials. The museum already had downloadable teacher packets on its website, with activities and suggested lesson plans keyed to Georgia Performance Standards in art, language arts, history, science, math, engineering and other disciplines.

Family Day, one of the museum’s most popular programs, has moved online, too, with Art at Home activities and kits that can be ordered for free from Athens’ K.A. Artist Shop, sponsored by Heyward Allen Toyota, Heyward Allen Motor Company and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art. The Museum Shop is still fulfilling orders for books, including many of the ones associated with the Tiffany exhibition, and the museum’s blog is updating more often than its usual weekly schedule. Crosswords with the hashtag #museumgames post weekly, and you can find a Daily Inspiration on Instagram Monday through Friday. Weekends bring close-looking activities with interactive components through Instagram Stories. No matter the program, the museum is working on ways to bring it to you and help us all find a window through art.

Donating to the Community

Staff members also went through museum materials, donating personal protective equipment to organizations in need and assembling art kits for Clarke County School District (CCSD) students that could be picked up at CCSD meal-distribution sites. Work continues behind the scenes as well, with preparators framing and unframing art and working to schedule pickups and drop-offs, donations being processed as usual, registrars revising loan agreements and continuing to add objects to the museum’s online collections database (currently at more than 7,000 objects), curators working on reconfiguring the exhibition schedule and writing for upcoming shows, and all busily planning for the future while adapting on the fly.

The best way to keep up with what the museum is working on is to follow its accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Bulldogs answer the call for hand sanitizer

/by

Communities everywhere were feeling the panic. Store shelves were stripped bare. Online orders were backlogged. Hand sanitizer was simply not available. That is, until enterprising and altruistic UGA alumni across the state of Georgia took rectifying the shortage into their own paws!

 

Georgia Pharmacists with compounding labs quickly mobilized into whipping up batches of hand sanitizer:

Dean Stone of IHS Pharmacy & Gifts delivers hand sanitizer to Candler County Sheriff John Miles & his team.” (photo provided by Dean Stone)

Dean Stone of IHS Pharmacy & Gifts delivers hand sanitizer to Candler County Sheriff John Miles & his team.” (photo provided by Dean Stone)

 

Distilleries had alcohol, and with that, they started to produce hand sanitizer:

Kelly and Jim Chasteen with hand sanitizer produced at ASW Distillery. (photo provided by Jim Chasteen)

Kelly and Jim Chasteen with hand sanitizer produced at ASW Distillery. (photo provided by Jim Chasteen)

 

Breweries were not to be left out. They, too, are converting their facilities to bottle up hand sanitizer:

Clean Creature hand sanitizer courtesy of Creature Comforts

(Clean Creature hand sanitizer photo courtesy of Creature Comforts Brewing Company)

Tony SIngletary and Tripp Morgan with Pretoria Fields message of hope

Tony Singletary and Tripp Morgan in front of Pretoria Fields Brewery’s message of hope for the community. (photo courtesy of Pretoria Fields Brewery)

 

All around the Bulldog Nation, University of Georgia alumni are answering the call. Share your stories of Dawgs helping Dawgs!

Accomplished alumnae mentor series goes virtual

/by

This post was written by Rachel Webster (ABJ ’08), member of the Women of UGA Council.

Early on a recent Monday morning, a cohort of UGA alumnae prepared their breakfasts, poured their coffee into their favorite mugs, and got together for an inspiring panel discussion. Virtually, of course, each participant joining from their personal computer. It was the Women of UGA Leadership Council’s first Mentorship Monday hosted remotely in this time of social distancing.

The Mentorship Monday series is a unique opportunity for women in the metro-Atlanta area to discuss professional development topics and grow their professional network. Each cohort of approximately 50 participants meets six times, normally in-person, for a breakfast and discussion on leadership and career topics featuring other illustrious UGA alumnae. For this session, the Women of UGA Leadership Council’s Mentorship Committee decided to continue the discussion while keeping all the participants safe by moving the whole event online.

Mentorship Mondays Online

Virtual Mentorship Monday panel: moderator Women of UGA Council Member Laura Jalbert (BSW ’99, MSW ’00) and panelists Robbin Steed (ABJ ’85), Jennifer Bellamy (ABJ ’08), Christie Diez (ABJ ’12), and Amanda White (MBA ’16)

The latest event featured a panel of women who have built their careers at 11Alive and TEGNA in Atlanta. Jennifer Bellamy (ABJ ’08), Christie Diez (ABJ ’12), and Amanda White (MBA ’16) were featured in a panel discussion moderated by Robbin Steed (ABJ ’85) and hosted by Women of UGA Council Member Laura Jalbert (BSW ’99, MSW ’00).

With this dynamic group, topics ranged from the importance of mentorship in building and advancing a career, how COVID-19 has affected the work and professional schedules of the panelists, and stories and tips from inside the television and media worlds. Mentorship Monday participants were able to submit their questions to the panel real-time via the ZOOM meeting interface.

Women of UGA Council Member Crystal Filiberto (AB ’07) attended the virtual session and noted that while the usual in-person fellowship was lacking, she appreciated how personal the session still felt. “In a time that we are being asked to cancel events, keep distance between us and our loved ones, and shelter in place, I think people are yearning to find some sense of normalcy and comfort. Connection looks different these days.”

As often happens in Mentorship Monday sessions, Crystal also distilled a valuable takeaway from the speakers: “Don’t wait for a title. You can be a leader from any position.” To her, that meant tapping into compassion and kindness as every person works through the effects of the virus on our communities. “Be a leader from any position, including from my makeshift desk during a pandemic,” she summarized.

The Women of UGA Leadership Committee is committed to creating other opportunities for alums to connect, virtually until in-person meetings are viable and safe. Find out more at the Women of UGA webpage or on their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Andrew McKown (BS ’07) fights COVID-19 in the ICU

/by

Dr. Andrew McKown (BS ’07) walked into the intensive care unit of Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center one morning early in 2020 at 7 a.m. He reviewed patients’ charts, consulted with staff on overnight developments, visited patients and performed a litany of medical tasks that kept him busy until about 7 p.m.

That was three months ago. Today, McKown’s 12-hour day also includes multiple sets of gowns, masks and gloves he must wear all day long, phone calls providing updates to patients’ families who can no longer visit their loved ones, a hooded face shield blowing air in his face and the research required to keep up with a global pandemic.

“It’s … been interesting,” said McKown. “My work has changed dramatically.”

McKown is face-to-face with COVID-19, serving his community in a vital way few can, and his story began at the University of Georgia.

“It’s kind of a family thing”

McKown grew up in East Cobb, near Marietta. He excelled at George Walton Comprehensive High School and applied to several colleges, but after being offered a Foundation Fellowship, he decided on UGA—a decision that was met with strong familial approval.

Andrew McKown's UGA graduation photo, 2007

McKown’s UGA graduation photo

“I come from a huge UGA family: My parents, both of my sisters, two of my mom’s three siblings, my mom’s parents, my mom’s aunt—who studied and taught there—and five of my cousins attended UGA,” said McKown. “It’s kind of a family thing.”

The Foundation Fellowship that attracted him to UGA provided experiences that became the bedrock for the rest of his education and career. Foundation Fellowships are UGA’s foremost undergraduate scholarships, placing students in a community of similarly dedicated scholars and offering numerous grants for travel-study, which McKown used to study in Thailand and Uganda.

In Thailand, he aided and observed medical staff at a rural clinic, and the experience made an impression: When he returned to Athens, McKown directed his focus toward global health and began taking classes at the then-newly founded College of Public Health. His subsequent trip to work at a health center in Uganda built upon this, as did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention internship that used data gathered in Uganda to study costs associated with medical sharps disposal.

A Bulldog in Boston

After graduating from UGA in 2007, McKown applied to and was accepted at Harvard Medical School. For the next four years, he studied at one of the world’s premier medical institutions, broadening his horizons in a big city and meeting people from around the world, including his wife, Ellen House.

The two native southerners—House is from North Carolina—grew their relationship while McKown completed medical school followed by a residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and while House completed a psychiatry residency and fellowship.

In his third year of med school, McKown took a critical care rotation, a choice that would prove pivotal in growing his interest in pulmonology.

“I’ve always been a math and science guy,” said McKown. “I liked the physics of how we could use a ventilator to breathe for people, how exactly it works and how we pick the right settings to use. It fascinated me, so I thought that’s where [my career] might be heading.”

House and McKown at the white coat ceremony marking the beginning of his residency at Mass General

House and McKown at the white coat ceremony marking the beginning of his residency at Mass General

That focus on pulmonology would play a role in McKown’s next step, but another event, in the final year of his residency, played an even bigger role: the birth of his daughter, Georgia.

“Boston was great, but it can be a tough place to raise a family when you’re a long way from [your own family],” said McKown. “We debated what to do, and we thought hard about staying, but we also thought about moving south.”

After some research, McKown, House, and Georgia made their way to Nashville and Vanderbilt University in 2014. This move placed them close to both extended families, and Vanderbilt presented unique opportunities for both young doctors. House joined the psychiatry faculty at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and McKown took a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Returning to the Classic City

After completing the fellowship, McKown wanted to find a place he could practice medicine and teach. He enjoyed teaching resident physicians during his fellowship, and House wanted to continue teaching at a medical school. Also,  the family wanted to stay in the Southeast. Fortunately, a connection from McKown’s UGA past opened a door.

Andrew McKown and children on one of Athens' bulldog statues

McKown and children on one of Athens’ bulldog statues

“I reached out to Matt Crim (AB ’05, BS ’05)—someone I knew through the Foundation Fellowship who is now at Piedmont Athens Regional—to find out about his experience. He was positive about Athens, the growing medical community and medical school, and he put me in touch with Athens Pulmonary.”

With that, wheels went into motion. Today, House is a psychiatrist at UGA’s University Health Center and an assistant professor of psychiatry with the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership, and McKown is a physician with Athens Pulmonary. The family of four—they now have a young son, Baker—has now been in Athens for close to two years.

“After having been in Boston for seven years and Nashville for four, the first reaction was, ‘Oh wow, [Athens] is so much smaller than I remember,’” McKown joked. “But it’s a really great and positive community. We love where we live.”

In the two years since his return, McKown and his family have made Athens their home, turning neighbors into friends, finding restaurants they like and advancing in their work. House has received awards for her teaching at the medical school, and earlier this year, McKown was named the co-director of Piedmont Athens Regional’s intensive care unit.

“Normally, you know what to do”

But for McKown, the past two months may make the past two years seem much more distant. As COVID-19 swept across the planet, Athens Pulmonary doubled its daily commitment of physicians to affiliated hospitals and overhauled their doctors’ call schedules. And while having an unpredictable daily schedule creates a certain amount of stress, it pales in comparison to the work of treating this disease.

“Normally, when a patient comes in and they have respiratory failure, you know what to do,” said McKown. “[But] when a patient comes in with COVID-19? How we managed it three weeks ago is different from how we managed it last week. I mean, it’s crazy. The shift in medical opinion was great enough that it profoundly changed our management just in the last few weeks.”

McKown also cautions that the world is not out of the woods yet. If we don’t remain vigilant, things could still turn for the worse.

“We have been fortunate here, so far, to not have the crush that they have in New York, and that’s because we’ve had success with social distancing measures,” said McKown. “I’ve talked to friends who practice up there, and it is a whole different world. And it’s a bit of a fear of mine that people will look at our success up to now and still say, ‘why did we do what we did?’

“But I’ve seen people across the age spectrum critically ill, close to death, here in Athens from COVID-19. And if we don’t continue to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of infection, there could be so many of them that we will be strained to take care of them all.”

However, there are reasons to feel positive. McKown said that he’s been deeply impressed with Piedmont Athens Regional’s leadership, having been a part of the many meetings discussing plans and contingencies for the hospital.

“I’m also thankful for the huge outpouring of support from the community,” said McKown. “There are signs all over the hospital from the community that are, essentially, a cheering section for the hospitals. There’s been a number of gifts from the community, like hand-sewn face masks. UGA’s creating face shields. All of these things are amazing, and they are impactful.”

If you know a Bulldog on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight, share your story with the UGA Alumni Association.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Offseason Update

/by

Quarantine’s got Jerry playing a six-week-long away game, but that’s not going to stop him from updating you on the Dawgs’ offseason as well as what Bulldog Nation can do to support each other and those around them during uncertain times.

We’re Calling All Dawgs, because Bulldogs know that our greatest strength is each other. Find out more at alumni.uga.edu/covid-19.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

Bulldogs come together during COVID-19 crisis

/by

The University of Georgia virtually celebrated G-Day on Saturday, April 18, and Bulldogs around the country wore their red and black in a show of solidarity. UGA pride swelled as alumni set up at-home tailgates, posted photos and videos of their family, and once again cheered on the Dawgs in the 2019 UGA-Notre Dame game.

The day also marked the launch of the university’s #CallingAllDawgs alumni engagement campaign, a collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread effects it has had on communities near and far. As of April 20, nearly 1,000 donors have answered the call, raising over $250,000.

“Bulldogs need one another now more than ever,” said Meredith Gurley-Johnson, executive director of the Alumni Association. “It’s inspiring to see our family come together to make a difference for those hit hardest by this pandemic.”

This critical funding will support pressing initiatives like the UGA student emergency support, which is assisting students facing significant financial hardships due to the COVID-19 crisis. Support was also raised to fund faculty-led research dedicated to developing and testing a vaccine for the coronavirus and other deadly diseases. And many donors chose to support their affiliated schools, colleges, and departments, helping them continue to deliver their important missions — from educating future leaders to serving Georgia’s small businesses.

Additionally, many alumni and friends are choosing to give their time and expertise by signing up for the UGA Mentor Program. These virtual mentorships will provide critical career and life advice to students and new graduates at an especially tumultuous time.

The #CallingAllDawgs campaign magnifies UGA’s ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19. Students, faculty, staff and alumni continue to make a difference in a myriad of ways — from tutoring young learners across the state to providing meals to food-insecure senior citizens.

To stay up-to-date on how Bulldogs everywhere are committing to helping others during this crisis, visit alumni.uga.edu/covid-19. Or to show your support, learn how you can answer the call by giving your time, money or energy to the cause.

Answer the Call

Show your UGA spirit in your next virtual meeting

/by

UGA Zoom Backgrounds

Let’s face it. Not all of us are blessed with swanky home offices that we are happy to show off on Zoom calls. However, with Zoom, you can swap your “home office” (wherever that may be) for a customized virtual background. For the UGA fan, we are proud to share some spirited options.

As a creative person, I have always downloaded fun background images to set as the desktop background on my computer. Now, to keep quarantine life from getting bland, I add some fun to meetings with virtual Zoom backgrounds.

Setting a virtual background is easy!

Most computers are compatible with Zoom backgrounds. If yours is, follow these steps to show your UGA spirit to your coworkers. *It may be easiest to start by selecting your favorite background image and saving it to your desktop to make it simple to find during this process.

  1. In Zoom, click your profile in the top right corner, then click Settings. *The icon for Settings is gray and looks like a gear.
  2. On the menu to the left, click Virtual Background. *The icon is turquoise and looks like a person on a computer monitor.
  3. Click the + icon next to where it says Choose Virtual Background. A box will pop up allowing you to upload a photo from your computer. Navigate to the one you’ve chosen, click on it, and it will appear alongside the other virtual background images in Zoom as an option for you to choose from. *Once you have saved the image, you can delete it from your desktop, since it is now stored in Zoom.

Participate in National Volunteer Week from home

/by

It’s National Volunteer Week! No, this is not a reference to our friends living just northwest of the Georgia state line, but it is a great chance to stop and thank our passionate alumni volunteers, along with everyone who gives their time and talent to the University of Georgia. The engagement of the UGA’s 327,000 alumni and 38,000 graduates rely on the volunteer efforts of many loyal and dedicated individuals. Departments across campus also have awesome volunteers who help carry out important work for the university.

We’d like to highlight our own incredible DGD’s who support the Alumni Association in their communities:

Board members, including President Brian Dill (second from left) back in Athens for a home football game.

Alumni Board of Directors

These 40 graduates represent various class years and professional fields. They meet 3 times a year and attend many events hosted by our team. Board members share their leadership abilities, creative thinking, and access to their personal Bulldog networks to help engage UGA alumni. This group has been crucial to the successful launch of the UGA Mentor Program, taking on one, and sometimes two mentors each!

 

Members of the Black Alumni Leadership Council with Hairy Dawg during the 2020 Alumni Leadership Assembly in Athens.

Black Alumni Leadership Council

Over the last four years, these volunteers have spent countless hours building one of UGA’s most successful alumni giving campaigns: the 1961 Club. More importantly, though, this team has established a strong social media presence and an e-newsletter that keep constituents informed and connected to their alma mater. You also may have heard about our incredible annual Black Alumni Homecoming Tailgate that continues to grow. This is just one event that is completely run by our passionate volunteers from this council.

 

Women of UGA Leadership Council members alongside Luke Massee, our UGA Alumni Association staff members who serves as the liaison to this council.

Women of UGA Leadership Council

These volunteers engage our female graduates in the metro Atlanta area in making a difference and growing professionally. They host a signature event in Atlanta each fall that has garnered participation from some of our most beloved graduates: Cookies and Cocoa with Hairy Dawg. This annual holiday gathering completely run by Women of UGA volunteers and continues to grow each year. Women of UGA council members are passionate about making a difference for students and have created need-based scholarships to support students with financial need. Their semiannual Mentorship Mondays feature dynamic alumnae in an intimate classroom setting to share wisdom with fellow graduates.

 

Young Alumni Leadership Council members with special guest and UGA alumnus Chuck Bryant at an event hosted by the Young Alumni Council.

Young Alumni Council

This group of outstanding young leaders meets regularly to determine how to best engage graduates 40 and under in the Atlanta area, of which there are nearly 90,000. This group knows that young alumni are eager to get involved, and their efforts to produce events of all shapes and sizes to meet the social and networking needs of young graduates is commendable. From Trivia Nights, Young Alumni Night at Sweetwater, and Ponce City Market Rooftop Takeover, young alumni in their 20’s and 30’s are sure to find a way to remain connected to their alma mater.

 

Student Alumni Council members at an event the council hosted in Tate Plaza.

Student Alumni Council

There are 40 students volunteering hundreds of hours a year to teach UGA’s student body about UGA traditions, and how they can support their peers while also preparing for life as a UGA graduate. From Freshman Welcome to 1785 Day to the G Book App, these leaders meet weekly during the school year to strategize how they will engage the UGA student community. We are so thankful for all that they do—especially their commitment to serving as student ambassadors at many of our key events throughout the year.

 

Hundreds of alumni chapter leaders flock to Athens each year to attend our annual Alumni Leadership Assembly.

Alumni Chapter Leaders

These volunteers truly give their “all” to UGA! They organize and lead chapters across the world. Chapter leaders organized more than 900 events last year. They dedicate their Saturdays in the fall to welcoming the Bulldog faithful at game-watching parties, and they involve alumni in meaningful community service projects in their local communities. Chapters also raise much-needed scholarship funds for deserving students, plan elaborate social media campaigns, and make themselves available for guidance on city favorites and relocation to their fellow alumni.

 

Kim Metcalf is one of thousands of alumni who are mentoring students through the UGA Mentor Program.

UGA Mentors

This is one of the latest additions to UGA’s menu of alumni volunteer opportunities. More than 2,100 alumni have signed up in the system to mentor, resulting in more than 1,200 mentor-student relationships. We are thankful to these volunteers who take time to provide valuable career and life advice to students. There are countless other groups of alumni volunteers across campus, and we are thankful for every graduate who answers the call to get involved. How can you help? There is no better time than now.

 

As always, you can follow UGA and the Alumni Association on social media to stay informed of ways to volunteer and you can locate your local alumni chapter to meet fellow graduates and connect with them online. In the face of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we are making it easier than ever to give back without leaving your home–from simply sharing stories of alumni helping each other to making a gift to support student emergency funds or coronavirus research, there is something you can do to support our faculty and students.

And in the spirit of National Volunteer Week, we hope you’ll share stories and links to photos of you and your fellow graduates volunteering to support your local communities during this time. THANK YOU for everything that YOU are doing to help others – from your families to your communities.

The power of podcasts: inside the minds of UGA alumni and students

/by

Find an escape from your daily routine with these podcasts created by some of the most influential minds (who just happened to attend UGA). Whether you are seeking inspiration, education or entertainment, there’s a reason podcasts are becoming a cultural staple: there’s something for everyone.

Visit Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Alumni Who Podcast Pinterest page for a comprehensive list of alumni-affiliated podcasts.

Society & Culture

Armchair Expert // Monica & Jess Love Boys
Monica & Jess Love Boys
Image: Monica & Jess Love Boys
Dax Shepard’s podcast, Armchair Expert, is co-created and produced by UGA alumna Monica Padman (AB ’09, AB ’09). It celebrates the “messiness of being human” and has been a popular listen since it premiered in 2018. In mid-February, Armchair Expert began a series called Monica & Jess Love Boys, which follows the dating life of Monica (in the straight community) and Jess (in the gay community). Although they date in different scenes, the pair encounters similar issues in individual and societal patterns.

Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls
Image: Stitcher
Therapy for Black Girls is a weekly chat about mental health, personal development and the decisions we make to become the best versions of ourselves. Host Joy Harden Bradford (PHD ’06) is a licensed psychologist who discusses mental health trends and tips.

The Bitter Southerner Podcast
The Bitter Southerner Podcast
Image: The Bitter Southerner
In each episode, Chuck Reese (ABJ ’94) paints a true picture of the South by exploring Southern culture and the South’s contributions to American life. The podcast tells the stories of people and organizations that don’t fit into Southern stereotypes.

The Melanin Mix
The Melanin Mix
Image: Apple Podcasts
The Melanin Mix is hosted by Amber Broughton (BSHP ’17) and Karly Smith (BBA ’17). Each Monday, they discuss a variety of topics, including adulthood, relationships, social media, beauty standards, and some of their craziest life experiences.

99% Invisible
99% Invisible
Image: Apple Podcasts
Have you ever wondered why there’s so little shade in Los Angeles? Or the origin of the fortune cookie? In 99% Invisible, Roman Mars (M ’96) delves into topics such as design and architecture that largely go unnoticed but have an impact on our world.

Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should Know
Image: Apple Podcasts
Co-hosts Chuck Bryant (AB ’95) and Josh Clark know a little about a lot of things. On this podcast, the two get to the bottom of odd questions.

Between The Lines
Between the Lines podcast
Image: Apple Podcasts
On Between the Lines, Lakeshia Poole (ABJ ’05) analyzes the latest reads, news stories, TV, and film.

Sports

The Steam Room
The Steam Room
Image: Apple Podcasts
Ernie Johnson (ABJ ’78) and former NBA great Charles Barkley host The Steam Room, a Turner Sports podcast covering new topics in the NBA as well as current events, pop culture and local news. Johnson is an iconic sports media personality best known as the host of Inside the NBA on TNT. Fun fact: Johnson delivered UGA’s 2017 commencement address.

The Game Changer
The Game Changer
Image: Apple Podcasts
The Game Changer with Rennie Curran (BBA ’17) shares the latest insights on leadership and personal development. Curran’s podcast tells listeners how to take their game to the next level in sports, business and life.

Illegal Motion
Illegal Motion
Image: Apple Podcasts
Illegal Motion is a college football podcast from the perspective of Corey Burton (AB ’06) and two other fellow fans. The trio discusses everything that surrounds the game they love.

33N83W
33N83W
Image: Apple Podcasts
33N83W was created by San Diego Alumni Chapter President Tara Shah (AB ’98) and is named for the coordinates of the UGA campus. The podcast features interviews with alumni, coaches and is perfect for the proud Bulldog fan.

Calling the Dawgs
Calling the Dawgs
Image: Apple Podcasts
Lifelong Georgia fan Patrick Chancy (PHARMD ’17) shares his commentary on UGA football on the podcast Calling the Dawgs.

The Hines Ward Show
The Hines Ward Show
Image: Stitcher
Super Bowl XL MVP and former UGA Bulldog Pittsburgh Steeler, Hines Ward (BSFCS ’98), teams up with Michael O’Neal to host The Hines Ward Show. The pair discusses what it’s like to be a professional athlete and living a celebrity life post-football career.

Punt + Pass
Punt + Pass
Image: Apple Podcasts
On Punt + Pass, former UGA football players Drew Butler (ABJ ’11, MS ’13) and Aaron Murray (BS ’12) break down college football match-ups across the SEC. The podcast brings the pair’s unique perspective and personal stories to the table to give college football fans all they need to know about college football. Each week, the podcast features a special guest.

News and Politics

20/20
20/20
Image: Apple Podcasts
ABC’s 20/20 features “interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports, exclusives, compelling features and medical mysteries.” Amy Robach (ABJ ’95) is the co-anchor of 20/20 and has conducted many headline interviews and reports across ABC News. She is well-known for her role on “Good Morning America.” Fun Fact: Robach delivered UGA’s 2015 commencement address.

Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Image: Apple Podcasts
Award-winning anchor Deborah Norville (ABJ ’79) is the host of  Inside Edition, the longest-running and top-rated daily news magazine audio podcast. Through Inside Edition, Norville exposes the truth with behind-the-scenes coverage of top national stories, human-interest stories, celebrity and pop culture features, exclusive interviews and hard-hitting investigations.

PeachPod
PeachPod
Image: Apple Podcasts
If you’re a Georgia politics junkie, then this is the podcast for you. UGA grads Kyle Hayes (BSED ’12, AB ’12) and Luke Boggs (AB ’15, AB ’15) along with Megan Payne host PeachPod, a Georgia-perspective political podcast that aims to inform people about the world around them. Hayes and Boggs have backgrounds in politics from their studies at UGA and experience in local Georgia politics.

Left Spin Right Spin
Left Spin Right Spin
Image: Left Spin Right Spin
If you’re searching for a way to understand today’s debate from both sides, then consider listening to Jonathan Wetherbee (AB ’12), who explores both sides of the news on Left Spin Right Spin. The podcast helps listeners grasp a more thoughtful understanding of the news.

Words Matter
Words Matter
Image: Apple Podcasts
Katie Barlow (ABJ ’11) is the host of Words Matter, a podcast that covers the changes in American politics and the importance of facts in today’s political arena. Along with co-host Joe Lockhart, Barlow explains recent events in historical context.

VOTEHER Podcast with Jen Jordan and Mara Davis

Vote Her Podcast logo

Image: Apple Podcasts
VoteHer is a weekly podcast where Jen Jordan and Mara Davis talk Georgia Politics and beyond with a side of snark and southern sass.

Business

Brown Ambition
Brown Ambition
Image: Apple Podcasts
Brown Ambition is a weekly podcast that discusses life, career, and building wealth. It is hosted by Tiffany Aliche and Mandi Woodruff (ABJ ’09), executive editor of MagnifyMoney.com and former personal finance reporter for Yahoo Finance.

The Journey with Blue
The Journey with Blue
Image: The Journey with Blue
On The Journey with Blue, Michelle Blue (BBA ’13) shares inspiring stories of entrepreneurs, including herself. The podcast shares the tools and resources to help grow a business and the importance of wellness as an entrepreneur.

What’s Your Story
What's Your Story
Image: Apple Podcasts
Master storyteller Sally Williamson (ABJ ’83), founder and president of Sally Williamson & Associates, shares stories of successful business leaders on her podcast, What’s Your Story. The podcast shows how storytelling can be used to motivate, position a brand, and make points that are repeatable and memorable. Fun fact: Williamson’s business has been on the Bulldog 100.

Minding My Black Business
Minding My Black Business
Image: Apple Podcasts
Started by JaNaè Taylor (Med ’03, PhD ’07), Minding My BLACK Business was created for black entrepreneurs and discusses the obstacles they experience on the road to self-employment. This professional and personal podcast creates a space for black entrepreneurs to turn to when they’re experiencing self-doubt, stress and worry. Fun fact: Taylor was a UGA 40 Under 40 honoree in 2018 and has been  featured in Georgia Magazine.

Make Me Known
Make Me Known Podcast

After launching Choice Media Communications, Heather Adams (ABJ ’98) started her own podcast, Make Me Known. Each week, Adams interviews guests and shares professional insights about communications, entrepreneurship, empowering women and leadership.

Food

The Alton Browncast
The Alton Browncast
Image: Apple Podcasts
Celebrity chef and TV personality Alton Brown (AB ‘04) hosts The Alton Browncast, which is known for its down-to-earth conversations with famous chefs, authors, scientists and makers.

Entertainment

Skytalkers
Skytalkers
Image: Apple Podcasts
Introducing the Star Wars podcast that you never “Chew” you needed: Skytalkers. Caitlin Plesher (AB ’15, AB ’15) is truly one with the Force. She and co-host Charlotte Errity discuss all things Star Wars on this bi-weekly podcat – from films and TV shows to novels and character analysis.

Bubbly Sesh
The Bubbly Sesh
Image: Apple Podcasts
The Bubbly Sesh is the official Hallmark Channel podcast and is hosted by Jacklyn Collier and Shawlini Manjunath-Holbrook (ABJ ’05). The podcast breaks down Hallmark movies and explores relationships and movie-making.

The Crossover
The Crossover
Image: Apple Podcasts
Chris Brame (ABJ ’98) co-hosts The Crossover, which touches on just about everything in Athens: local and national news, sports, pop culture and more.

Hear-Tell
Hear-Tell podcast
Image: Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Hear-Tell is a narrative nonfiction podcast that features writing from UGA students, alumni, faculty and lecturers in Grady’s Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program. André Gallant (MFA ’17) is the host, producer and a graduate of the program.

The Paste Podcast
Paste Podcast
Image: Apple Podcasts
On the Paste Podcast, Josh Jackson (ABJ ’94) and Allison Keene cover movies, TV, music, comedy, games, books, comics, drinks and politics. The podcast features interviews with artists and exclusive live musical performances.

Comedy

FOGO: Fear of Going Outside
FOGO: Fear of Going Outside
Image: FOGO: Fear of Going Outside
FOGO: Fear of Going Outside is a nature show hosted by Ivy Le (AB ’05). She seeks answers to questions about nature through her personal and humorous adventures.

Law

The Great Trials Podcast
Great Trials Podcast
Image: Apple Podcasts
Great Trials Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of America’s greatest trials with acclaimed trial lawyers Yvonne Godrey (JD ’11) and Steve Lowry. The podcast is a series of laid-back conversations including interviews with top trial lawyers.

Lifestyle

Gals on the Go
Gals on the Go
Image: Apple Podcasts
What’s it like to be a full-time college student and an influencer? Third-year UGA student Danielle Carolan and recent graduate Brooke Miccio (BBA ’19) will give you the inside scoop on Gals on the Go. Carolan has 258,000 Instagram followers and 506,000 subscribers on YouTube. Miccio has 87,000 Instagram followers and 211,000 YouTube subscribers. Their lifestyle podcast covers everything from productivity tips to travel stories.

Unladylike
Unladylike
Image: Apple Podcasts
Join Cristen Conger (ABJ ’06) and Caroline Ervin (ABJ ’06) on Unladylike, a podcast about all things gender-related. These two are paving a path to help women better understand their identities and face the underlying injustices women face.

Grown Ass Dating
Grown Ass Dating Podcast
Image: Apple Podcasts
Rendi Moore (BSW ’05, MSW ’07) and LeShaundra Cordier (BS ’04, MPH ’07) are two complicated, single women who share their truths about dating over 30 on Grown Ass Dating. The two help listeners overcome obstacles, avoid dating pitfalls and find dating inspiration and guidance.

That Sounds Fun
That Sounds Fun
Image: Annie F. Downs
Released on Mondays and Thursdays, That Sounds Fun features discussions about Annie Downs’ (BSED ’02) favorite things, favorite people and anything coming under the umbrella of “that sounds fun.” Downs is a best-selling author and nationally known speaker.

Why or Why Not with the Watsons

Image: Apple Podcasts
Why or Why Not with the Watsons features first-round draft pick and Super Bowl Champion Benjamin Watson (BBA ’03) and his wife Kirsten Watson (BBA ’03). Benjamin and Kirsten have decided to give you a behind the scenes look at their marriage and parenting journey in this weekly podcast.