ATHENS, Ga. (Jan. 4, 2006) – The University of Georgia will honor outstanding faculty and staff for excellence in public service and outreach on Thursday, Jan. 26, during the annual UGA Public Service and Outreach meeting and awards luncheon. The event will take place at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Redefining the Land-Grant Mission.”

Lee T. Todd Jr., president of the University of Kentucky, will present the keynote address on “The Land Grant University of the 21st Century.” Todd has made community outreach a priority at his university. Under his leadership, UK has developed a program called “Health Education through Extension Leadership,” which delivers health and wellness information to the citizens of Kentucky through a partnership of the university’s public health, agriculture and extension service.

Art Dunning, vice president for public service and outreach at UGA, will address the plenary session on “Public Service and Outreach at UGA: Preparing to Meet the Needs of Society in the 21st Century.”

The meeting will conclude with the luncheon and awards presentation. The 15th annual Walter Barnard Hill Awards will be presented to outstanding faculty and the first annual Staff Awards for Excellence in Public Service and Outreach will honor exceptional staff members.

The Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach sponsors the meeting and awards luncheon. The registration fee is $20. To register or for more information, contact Jane Mertens at 706/542-6592 or .

This article was posted on Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 at 11:23 am and is filed under Event.