A University of Georgia pilot program launching this month involving faculty and staff will further the university's efforts to foster a more welcoming and supportive campus community.

Based on recommendations issued by the Presidential Taskforce on Race, Ethnicity, and Community, a committee established by UGA President Jere W. Morehead in 2020, the university is implementing a pilot Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) training, beginning this year with two groups of UGA faculty and staff.

RSD builds the capacity of communities and organizations to engage, live and thrive despite their differences through a dialogue process that shifts the goal of conversation from problem solving to mutual understanding.

This pilot training is designed to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge to incorporate these dialogue skills into their respective units across campus.

Individuals selected for the pilot groups represent a cross-section of UGA's various schools, colleges and units and were nominated by their respective deans and vice presidents.

Taking place in a virtual format over two days, the first group will complete the pilot program in April and the second will complete the program in May. Following completion of the training, UGA will conduct evaluations to assess how faculty and staff apply the principles and processes learned through this pilot program.

The UGA Office of the President is providing financial support for the pilot program, which will be conducted by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach.

The following UGA faculty and staff have been nominated to participate in this pilot program:

Siara Abdulla, Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Lauren Anglin, College of Engineering
Mollie Armour, Office of the Provost
Casey Bassett, AU/UGA Medical Partnership
Ellen Bauske, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Penny Benton, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
Danielle Bostick, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Bringolf, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Karen Bryant, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Becki Bury, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Mary Carney, Office of the Provost
Michelle Carter, Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Jermaine Durham, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Sarah Ehlers, School of Law
Jennifer Elkins, School of Social Work
Jessica Fernandez, College of Environment and Design
Kathryn Flores, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
Tamara Freeman, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
Bryant Gantt, Athletics
Melissa Garber, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Beth Gavrilles, Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology
Courtney Gay, Athletics
Robert Gogal, College of Veterinary Medicine
Randy Groomes, Terry College of Business
Aaron Hale, Office of the Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Jeff Hammock, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
Jamel Hodges, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Shelley Hooks, Office of the Vice President for Research
Larry Hornak, Office of the Vice President for Research
Angela Hurt, Office of the Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Zoe Johnson, School of Social Work
Jason Jones, College of Pharmacy
Stacy Jones, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
Bethany Hamilton-Jones, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Jeff Jordan, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Amber Juncker, College of Engineering
DeeDee Kane, Terry College of Business
Laura Katz, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
Chris King, Office of the Vice President for Research
Paris Lawrence, Office of the Provost
Eva Levi, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Jennifer Lewis, College of Environment and Design
Sharon Liggett, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach
Catherine Logue, College of Veterinary Medicine
Julia Butler-Mayes, Office of the Vice President for Instruction
Carly McCallie, Office of the Vice President for Government Relations
Alison McCullick, Office of the Vice President for Government Relations
Samantha Meyer, Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Judy Milton, Graduate School
Michelle Momany, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Megan Morgan, School of Public and International Affairs
Naomi Norman, Office of the Vice President for Instruction
Joe Phua, Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Aaron Redman, School of Public and International Affairs
Amanda Rugenski, Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology
Sarah Saint, College of Public Health
Rochelle Sapp, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Tai Sherman, AU/UGA Medical Partnership
Janine Sherrier, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Lisa Sperling, Graduate School
Kristopher Stevens, Equal Opportunity Office
Tori Tanner, Office of the Provost
Janani Thapa, College of Public Health
Morgan Tickerhoof, School of Law
George Veeder, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology
Nakia Wade, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Joshua Welch, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Keith Wenrich, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Jean Martin-Williams, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Jen Williams, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Maurice Ynclan, Office of the Vice President for Information Technology
Henry Young, College of Pharmacy