A group of new University of Georgia faculty members is traveling across the state this week, visiting 13 cities and passing through 40 counties from the coast to the mountains as part of the 2023 New Faculty Tour, which will introduce them to the state’s economic, geographic, social and cultural diversity.

The 31 faculty members, including two deans, that make up the tour group represent 17 colleges and schools at UGA, four public service and outreach units and four other departments at UGA.

The tour left campus Monday morning for the Archway Partnership™ community of Thomson/McDuffie County on its first stop. Other scheduled stops on the five-day trip include UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant at Skidaway Island in Savannah, the Georgia Ports Authority in Garden City, the Interfor timber facility in Baxley, the UGA campus in Tifton, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland, Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, and SK Battery America in Commerce.

“This tour was originally planned as a biannual event, but it was so well received by the participants, as well as by communities throughout the state, that I strongly supported offering it on a yearly basis to continue the momentum of introducing our exceptional faculty to the state of Georgia,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead told the new faculty at the send-off. “I hope this tour will inspire awareness of your individual impact on the future success of Georgia and will inspire you to get involved in the outreach and extension work of UGA.”

In addition to providing new faculty members a formal and comprehensive introduction to the state of Georgia’s geography, economy, history, demographics and culture, the tour enables new faculty to network and develop professional relationships with peers across campus. New faculty also become familiar with UGA’s land-grant and sea-grant mission and with research and instructional opportunities related to Georgia. When they return to campus, faculty are able to build on their experiences and put their expertise to use helping Georgia communities grow and prosper.

“We encourage faculty and staff to seek out opportunities for engagement with communities in Georgia, to use their expertise and the resources of the University of Georgia to collaborate and build partnerships that benefit the citizens of this state,” said Jennifer Frum, UGA vice president for public service and outreach. “Their experience on the New Faculty Tour builds the foundation for that engagement.”

The New Faculty Tour is coordinated by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at UGA and is made possible by major support from the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. Additional sponsors include the UGA Alumni Association, the UGA Foundation and a multitude of other UGA units and supporters of the university.

Devin Lavender, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, gained a deeper interest in rural health on last year’s New Faculty Tour. Lavender has since worked with rural communities and says being connected makes an impact on his research.

“I think what really keeps me grounded is being closely involved in the community and meeting with the people who live there,” said Lavender, a UGA alumnus and a native of Macon. “Through the statewide work of UGA Public Service and Outreach and the relationships they’ve built, we as faculty have the opportunity to be in the communities we’re working with, and that is what really makes the difference.”