PSO In Action 2

Panel presentation about PSO projects across the state. Projects include the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel’s Summer Academy and Georgia Science and Engineering Fair; the Office of Service-Learning’s Experience UGA partnership and sports and literacy program with Clarke County Schools; the Archway Partnership model in action with highlights from Moultrie/Colquitt County; and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia’s horticulture and conservation programs supporting educational programming about the natural world and gardening.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify PSO projects across the state.

Presenters:

Laura Brewer, academic special programs director, UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel
Laura is responsible for the planning and administration of nationally and internationally affiliated academic enrichment programs for middle and high school students across the state. Prior to this role, she held positions with the University’s Early Care & Education Initiatives department, where she assisted with the development and implementation of a statewide professional development system for childcare providers funded by the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning.
Aiyana Egins, Experience UGA coordinator, Office of Service-Learning
Aiyana began as the coordinator for Experience UGA in fall of 2021. Prior to this role, she worked for two nonprofits in Georgia focused on instilling confidence in youth. She has also served as a volunteer for Girls Inc., the American Cancer Society, National Diabetes Association, and St. Mary’s Road United Methodist church. Aiyana started her own organization, You Go Girl Enterprises, to cultivate confidence in young women through social media, events, and seminars.
Allison Popchock, community partnerships coordinator, Office of Service-Learning
Allison is the community partnerships coordinator for the after-school sports and literacy program at the Office of Service-Learning. A graduate of Clarke County schools, she earned her degree from the Odum School of Ecology and began a career in horticulture. She discovered her passion for helping others while working at Sandy Creek Park.
Jason Young, director of horticulture and grounds, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Jason is the director of horticulture and grounds at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia. He directs the staff in caring for the 290 acres of natural lands and 30 acres of cultivated gardens at the State Botanical Garden. He also works with local communities to install native plant gardens throughout the state.
Jennifer Ceska, conservation coordinator, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Jennifer has served since 1995 as conservation coordinator in the Science Conservation Program at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Her specialty is creating project-driven professional networks and facilitating projects for endangered species recovery. Jennifer serves as project manager for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, coordinating over 60 organizations contributing recovery actions to 114 critically imperiled plant species in Georgia. She has consulted with 14 states in developing their own conservation networks.
Cora Keber, director of education, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Cora oversees program development, planning, coordinating, implementing, facilitating, and evaluating for adults, children, families, university students, and the community. She also oversees the garden’s Learning by Leading, a student engagement program providing university students experiential learning and internship opportunities.
Sara Hand, Archway professional for Colquitt County, Archway Partnership
Sara is the Archway Partnership professional in Colquitt County. She previously served as the Archway program coordinator in Athens. Between her stints with UGA, Sara was assistant director of the Georgia Museum of Agriculture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, where she managed human resources, budgeting, special events, marketing and volunteer coordination. She also collaborated with multiple organizations across Georgia to advance Destination Ag, the museum’s innovative elementary agricultural education program.
Sam Perren, operations coordinator, Archway Partnership
Sam was appointed operations coordinator in the Archway Partnership state office in January 2023. Sam has been with Archway since 2017 and has served as the Archway professional in Pulaski, Colquitt, and McDuffie counties. He heads Archway’s evaluation and grant-writing teams, coordinates the UGA Rural Engagement Workshop for Academic Faculty, and manages Archway’s efforts for Burke, Colquitt and McDuffie counties in addition to a number of liaison roles with UGA schools and colleges.