Integrating PSO Initiatives to Achieve Organizational Goals: Best Practices
Directors from the Archway Partnership, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government will share their visions for integrating multiple PSO initiatives (e.g., evaluation, scholarship, leadership and grants) to support organizational goals and continuous improvement. You’ll learn how your peers are leveraging these programs to achieve UGA and PSO priorities.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how some PSO units integrate multiple initiatives to achieve success.
- Learn more about PSO evaluation, scholarship, grants and leadership programs that support continuous improvement.
- Identify best practices in PSO.
Presenters:
Theresa Wright, associate director, Carl Vinson Institute of Government (co-moderator)
Theresa leads the PSO Assessment and Evaluation Initiative and directs the Institute of Government’s Survey Research and Evaluation Support division. The Survey Research and Evaluation Support group provides systematic quantitative and qualitative data collection, research, and evaluation services for government and agency programs on an individual, agency, and system-wide scale. Theresa has more than 25 years of experience providing consulting, technical assistance, research and evaluation services to state agencies, local governments, and the higher education, justice, healthcare and child and family policy communities.
Kirsten Cochran, grants development specialist, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach (co-moderator)
Kirsten joined PSO in January 2022. She works with faculty and staff in the eight PSO units to assist in finding, developing, and submitting grant proposals. She previously worked in higher education in southwest Georgia before moving to the Athens area with experience in professional development, strategic planning, and federal and private grant-funded programs.
Michelle Elliott, director, Archway Partnership
Michelle was appointed director of the Archway Partnership in 2021. In that role, she oversees eight rural Georgia communities, providing coordination of university faculty and student resources to assist with locally-identified issues. In 2022, Archway launched the Connected Resilient Community initiative, a new certification that recognizes steps communities have taken to become more resilient and broadens the reach of the Archway Partnership throughout the state. Michelle initially joined Archway in 2011 as a public service faculty member in Pulaski County.
Matt Bishop, director, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development
Matt guides the institute’s strategic direction and programmatic operations to fulfill its mission to strengthen communities, organizations, and individuals through leadership development. With an extensive background in leadership, community economic development, community visioning, strategic planning, and group facilitation processes, he leads the institute’s efforts to design and deliver leadership programs that focus on community, nonprofit and youth audiences.
Rob Gordon, director, Carl Vinson Institute of Government
Rob is the director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, where he leads a diverse team of experts who inform, inspire and innovate so that governments can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. Through its work with governments across Georgia and beyond, the institute provides the knowledge and skills that elected officials, professional staff and appointed board members need to manage effectively in the 21st century.
