Staff Activities
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

James Aberson

served as a Board Member of the Georgia Statewide Independent Living Council.

was elected Chair of the Tommy Nobis Center, Inc. Board of Directors. The Tommy Nobis Center is a nonprofit organization that provides employment services for individuals with disabilities.

served as a Coordinator for the national simulation training on Independent Living Executive Management Simulation conducted by the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Independent Living Management at the University of Buffalo, Chicago, Ill., May 2005.

collaborated with the National Council on Independent Living to provide training on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Program Assessment Rating Tool, Atlanta, Ga., August 16-17, 2005. The national training targeted directors and managers of nonprofit independent living centers.

Cynthia Barnett

received training on the new Medicare prescription drug program.

Donna Bulbulia

participated in the 2005 AmeriCorps*Direct Best Practices Conference: Sharing for Success Nashville, Tenn., April 18-20, 2005.

participated in the DeKalb County Emergency Response Drill, Lithonia, Ga., July 28, 2005.

participated in the Partners Conference, for Center for Medicare Services Part D kickoff.

Wanda Cooley

served as a member of the CAPP Implementation Committee, the SSD Users Group and the Crystal Report Group.

participated in the Georgia Tech Academic Advising Network Best Practices 2005 one-day seminar.

served as member of NACADA, the National Academic Advising Association.

Ruth Davidson

served on the Board of Directors to ELM of Cobb County.

Reola DeRico

attended a Webinar on volunteer strategies for older adults given by the DHHS and AoA.

participated in Georgia Cares Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Part D Intensive Training, sponsored by DHHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

participated in Developing Exciting Senior Volunteer Programs at the Emory University Division of Aging.

participated in a Roundtable Discussion with Secretary Mike Leavitt, DHHS, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Margo Doers

returned to AYSPS in March 2005 from her military active duty in support of the U.S. Army mobilization for Enduring Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq.

Huiping Du

won First Place for People Category and Second Place for Place Category at the Crossing Path, Crossing Culture photo competition at Georgia State University.

Sue Fagan

served as Member of the Data Quality Committee, Dynamic E-Mail Working Committee, Electronic Dissertation Committee, Academic Working Group of the Enrollment Management Committee, Class Scheduling Committee, Classroom Facilities Council, ex-officio to the Academic Programs Committee, ex-officio to the Admissions and Standards Committee, CAPP Implementation Committee, StatWare Steering Committee, Chair of the Crystal Report Group, and Graduate Admissions Advisory Committee of the Enrollment Management Committee.

attended the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Assessment of Academic Advising Institute, February 2005.

attended the NACADA 29th Annual Conference on Academic Advising, October 2005.

attended the Influential Leadership and Ethics Workshop, November 2005.

served as Member of NACADA, the National Academic Advising Association.

Sally B. Fowler

served as Elected Staff Senator for 2004-2005 Academic Year.

served on the Academic Programs and Continuing Education Senate Committee, the Cultural Diversity Senate Committee, the Graduate Programs Subcommittee of APACE, the Racial Climate Survey Subcommittee of Cultural Diversity Committee, and was appointed to Advancement of Women Steering Committee for University 2005.

attended a 4-hour Disability Etiquette Workshop, February 22, 2005.

attended an 8-hour Cultural Competence Workshop, April 21, 2005.

attended an 8-hour University System of Georgia Staff Council Annual Meeting, October 14, 2005.

served as Member of NACADA, the National Academic Advising Association.

Minnie Ford Jenkins

participated in Georgia Cares Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Part D Intensive Training, sponsored by DHHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

received grant writing training from DeKalb County.

attended a Webinar on volunteer strategies for older adults given by the DHHS and AoA.

was trained to support DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones' One Stop Shop for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.

participated in Developing Exciting Senior Volunteer Programs at the Emory University Division of Aging.

Chip Kenney

conducted the eighth Southeast Community Rehabilitation Leadership Development Program. This outreach program targets new and emerging leaders in nonprofit organizations that provide employment services for individuals with disabilities. Thirteen individuals completed the program in July 2005.

presented at the Alabama Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Annual Conference, Opelika, Ala., June 17, 2005.

developed training curriculum for AbilityWorks, a statewide network of training centers operated by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. The curriculum emphasizes changes in national policy relative to employment services for individuals with disabilities.

conducted a three-day strategic planning session for the North Carolina Deaf and Hard of Hearing Task Force.

provided technical assistance to the Georgia Department of Labor-Vocational Rehabilitation Program, to build capacity for statewide provision of community rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities.

Bonnie Naugle

compiled, edited and coordinated the publication of the 2005 edition of the AYSPS Annual Report.

attended a week-long training session for Symon Communications products, Plano, Texas, August 2005.

attended a week-long training session for RedDot Content Management System, Atlanta, Ga., November 2005.

served as Member of the American Society for Public Administration.

Gardner Neely

participated in Nonprofit Studies brownbag seminars.

coordinated the Nonprofit Studies section of the Research Support website for library resources.

audited classes with John Matthews on city planning and with Katherine Willoughby on public budgeting.

led orientation for summer interns on the library and databases.

assisted visiting scholars from Bulgaria, Spain, Jamaica and Pakistan with library orientation and local information.

participated as member of choir of the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church.

served as Member of the Special Libraries Association.

served as Member and past officer of the Metro Atlanta Library Association.

served as Member of the Greenspace Commission, City of Decatur, Ga.

served on the neighborhood watch of a neighborhood association in Decatur.

Shannon Omisore

earned a Master of Arts in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University.

Melissa Hodge Penn

earned a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling and Human Service.

received training on the new Medicare prescription drug program.

served as Member of the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia Elderly (CoAge).

served as Member of the Council of Volunteer Administrators (COVA).

Charlotte M. Petrek

served as Member of Georgia State Staff Council, as Staff Council Officer-Parliamentarian, and as University Senator-Staff Representative.

served as Chairperson and Panel Member on Grievance Review Panel, Panel Member on the Georgia State Police Security Guard Supervisor Interview Committee, Panel Member on the University Management and Staff Development Services Trainer/Instructor Interview Committee, and chaired the AYSPS College Safety Committee.

served as Staff Senate Representative on the Senate Faculty Affairs Committee, AYSPS Representative on the Human Resources Advisory Council, on the Human Resources Fair Labor Standards Act Review Action Committee, on the Georgia State Employee Grievance Procedure Committee, on the Human Resources Hiring Process Review Committee, and on the Employee Appreciation Committee.

attended the Annual University System of Georgia Staff Council Conference.

participated in several professional workshops, included the Mock Trial Workshop; Connecting with Success; Woman and Power; and Creating Personal Success.

David Sandt

participated in several search committees for university director positions during the year.

appointed as the AYSPS staff representative to the university Administrative and Support Unit Review (ASUR) Committee for a one-year term.

continued to serve as the AYSPS College Administrative Officer (CAO) representing the school at university meetings dealing with college-wide issues.

Lisa Shephard

was selected to participate in the 2006 Leadership Academy of Women.

was elected AYSPS District Representative, and will be serving a two-year term from March 2006-February 2008.

was accepted into the Communication Graduate Program and began the program in fall 2005.

was elected Vice President of the Communication Graduate Student Association.

Sally Siewert

attended and facilitated two discussion sessions at the Region IV State Rehabilitation Council Training Forum, Atlanta, Ga., January 26-27, 2005.

attended and facilitated a planning session for the Employment Subcommittee Council of State Vocational Rehabilitation Administrators, Washington, D.C., April 17-20, 2005.

facilitated a focus group at the Growing the National VR-Business Network, Atlanta, Ga., June 1, 2005.

presented on the panel "Making the Most of Our Regional Database" at the Region IV Employment Conference, Atlanta, Ga., June 2-3, 2005.

presented “Take it Up a Notch: Improve Your Marketing Savvy” at the 16th Annual APSE Conference, Mobile, Ala., July 24-27, 2005.

was selected to participate on the 32nd Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) study group entitled “The Vocational Rehabilitation-Business Partnership.”

Marene Straub

gave presentations on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at Evergreen Club, United Methodist Church of Duluth, Golden Wingers, AARP Gwinnett, Best Friend Park, Lawrence Fountain Retirement Center, Buford Senior Club, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Lawrence Senior Center, Senior Net, Dacula Rainbow Club, Gwinnett Senior Council, Duluth Presbyterian Church, Mount Carmel Church, Get Up and Go Club, Pacesetters Club, Harmony Grove Church, YMCA Gwinnett, Lawrenceville Fun Time Club, and Snellville President’s Club.

served as member of the Community Council for Gwinnett County, Gwinnett County Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, Gwinnett Council for Seniors, Gwinnett Senior Golden Olympics, and the Gwinnett Provider Network.

Dorie Taylor

attended the Sociological Association Conference, Philadelphia, Penn., August 2005.

was selected for the 2006 Leadership Academy for Women.

organized the second annual Dan L. Sweat Lecture Series; Eric Hanusheck (Stanford University) spoke on "The Economic Importance of School Quality." The lecture and reception were co-hosted by the Fiscal Research Center, October 2005.

participated in "Preparing for Leadership: What it Takes to Lead," a seminar to develop skills and learn organizational strategies, October 2005.

participated in "Conflict Resolution/Negotiation," a seminar for technique and skill building for managing and mediating succesfully, December 2005.

Jennifer DaCruz Washington

received training on the new Medicare prescription drug program.