STUDENT AFFAIRS STAFF DIRECTORY
306 Memorial Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3564
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Biographical Info
Dr. Michelle G. Cook is the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Georgia. Cook began her career at UGA in 1998 and has served in several key administrative roles. She has led the university in building strategies to support students and help them maximize their potential. She has long served as both assistant and associate dean for student affairs in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, coordinating student orientation, academic advising, student academic awards, and graduation. Cook established the Office of Transfer Student Services—the first of its kind at UGA—to help transfer students transition into UGA’s learning environment. Cook also served as the inaugural Franklin Residential College dean, launching UGA’s first residential learning community, in conjunction with University Housing.
More recently, Cook served as the Senior Vice Provost where she made significant contributions in terms of recruitment, retention, and success of students from underrepresented backgrounds. She also has a wealth of experience in strategic planning. Cook co-chaired the development of the university’s 2025 Strategic Plan and chaired the Presidential Task Force on Student Services and Support, which recommended the creation of Dawg Source, a one-stop shop for student services at UGA. As vice president, Cook oversees a division comprising 16 departments and 600 full-time staff members, whose purpose is to support students through a wide range of services and programs that promote an environment in which all students can thrive.
Prior to being named associate provost in 2011, Cook served as an associate dean in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, where she was responsible for student academic affairs. She oversaw the college’s Office of Academic Advising, Graduation Certification Office, and launched the Office for Transfer Academic Success. She is an affiliate faculty member in the Institute for African American Studies and the Institute for Women’s Studies. She also is a member of the Foot Soldiers Project faculty. Cook was the inaugural dean of the Franklin Residential College, where she served for three years, and was a 2008 faculty-in-residence at the UGA at Oxford program in Oxford, England.
Cook holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University, a master’s degree in African-American Studies from Yale University and a doctorate in history from Duke University.
Biographical Info
Eric Atkinson serves as Dean of Students at the University of Georgia. He is responsible for overseeing the following departments:
- Engagement, Leadership, and Service
- Greek Life
- Student Conduct
- Student Transitions
- Student Veterans Resource Center
- Tate Student Center
- University Housing
He is also a member of the University’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC), the Freedom of Expression Team, and co-teaches a First Year Odyssey (FYO) seminar with President Morehead.
Eric received his undergraduate degree from Troy State University and earned M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Georgia. He has worked in UGA’s Division of Student Affairs since 1999.
Biographical Info
As the Associate Vice President for Finance and Risk Management, I work closely with the Vice President and serve as a member of the leadership team for the Division. I am the chief fiscal officer and risk advisor for the Division of Student Affairs. My stewardship responsibilities include fiscal and compliance matters, including financial accounting and reporting; HR/personnel actions; EO compliance; payroll; financial management systems; and fund management (state appropriated, auxiliary operations, student activity fee accounts and UGA Foundation funds). Additionally, I serve on several campus-wide committees: Student Technology Fee Committee, All- Campus Student Fee Allocations, and Major Repair and Rehabilitation (MRR). I also serve as the Division’s Return to Work Coordinator.
I received a B.S. and a M.S. in Accounting from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After working as a C.P.A. in Atlanta for two years, I attended The University of Georgia School of Law, where I received my Juris Doctor. Prior to working in the OVPSA, I worked as a law clerk for a federal district judge in Chattanooga, Tennessee and as an Assistant Director for Legal Affairs in the UGA Office of Legal Affairs.
Biographical Info
Beau Seagraves serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Well-being within the Division of Students Affairs.
In addition to leading the campus-wide Well-being Resources initiative, as associate vice president, Beau directly supervises five departments, including the University Health Center, Student Care and Outreach, Recreational Sports, the Disability Resource Center and University Testing Services. He serves on the university’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC) and has an adjunct faculty appointment in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.
He previously worked in the residence life departments of Furman University and Presbyterian College before coming to UGA as a doctoral intern in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Since then, he has served the university in a number of roles, including assistant dean for Student Support Services, associate director for Student Conduct, assistant dean of students, and associate dean of students and director of Student Care and Outreach.
Beau is an alumnus of the University of Georgia, where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in counseling and student personnel services. He also holds a Master of Education in counselor education from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Furman University.
Biographical Info
Smith provides strategic leadership to support UGA and the Division of Student Affairs in effectively addressing the needs of UGA’s increasingly diverse student population, championing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the student experience. As associate vice president, he directly supervises three departments within Student Affairs: International Student Life, the Pride Center, and Multicultural Services and Programs. Smith reports directly to the vice president for Student Affairs and serves as a member of the senior administrative and leadership teams for the Division of Student Affairs.
Biographical Info
As Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs, Annie Carlson Welch focuses her work on strategic planning, co-curricular learning, building academic partnerships, and supporting assessment and accreditation efforts for the division. This includes oversight of research initiatives and data management to create a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, Annie manages the university’s student complaints portal and assists the Vice President with the student sexual misconduct appellate process.
Annie represents Student Affairs across the university through the establishment of new partnerships and service to the university. She is a member of University Council, serves on the university’s Strategic Planning Committee, and is a member of the Active Learning Management Team, UGA’s Quality Enhancement Plan.
Annie’s professional background covers a breadth of academic and student affairs roles from undergraduate research to assessment, academic advising, student engagement, and fraternity/sorority life. She’s worked at institutions across the country, including NC State University, Wake Forest University, the University of Oregon, and Florida State University.
Annie earned a M.S. in higher education from Florida State University and a B.A. in history and anthropology from the University of Illinois. She is a current doctoral student in the McBee Institute of Higher Education.
Biographical Info
As assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Dr. Jackson represents and promotes the Division of Student Affairs by increasing its visibility and creating a consistent brand for the Division, provides new and enhanced digital service and content delivery to students, oversees the coordination of division information technology initiatives, and supports the institution’s mission, vision, and goals. He also leads, consults, and advises collaborative division teams in the areas of communications, digital engagement, and information technology to bring together information, leverage technologies, and create a cohesive and creative approach to engaging and serving students digitally.
Dr. Jackson is a member of the vice president’s office staff, serves on the leadership team for the division, and is a member of the University’s Core Strategic Communications group. In addition, he provides staff support for various initiatives and division-wide projects, and has served on several campus-wide program design and strategy committees. He also supports the Vice President for Student Affairs with the student conduct appellate process.
Stan’s professional background includes nearly 15 years in university administration and higher education communications, including serving on the staffs of the Division of Student Affairs, the UGA Alumni Association, UGA’s Department of Financial Services and the UGA Griffin Campus. Previous to his work in higher education, he worked for the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, Inlingua International and the Verona International Program.
Dr. Jackson has previously served on the 1919 Society of the Piedmont Athens Regional Health System, as well as the boards of Hands On Northeast Georgia and the Georgia Children’s Chorus. He is a graduate of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Oconee program and the Leadership Georgia Class of 2020-2021.
Stan holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in higher education administration, and a Ph.D. in higher education, all from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Angel, live in Watkinsville with their son, Conner, and daughter, Laura Claire. He has been a member of the Student Affairs team since 2013.
Biographical Info
Dr. John Alvarez Turner is the Director of the Pride Center at the University of Georgia. With over twenty years of experience in education, John has worked in K-12, corporate training, and higher education. Before joining UGA, John held various positions at The University of Akron, including Associate Director for Hispanic Outreach, Student Success Instructor, Manager of the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery of Akron’s Black History and Culture, and Academic Advisor. He also served as a Commissioner on the Civil Rights Commission for the City of Akron, Ohio, and spent seven years as a Middle School ESL Social Studies Teacher.
At UGA, John leads the Pride Center in planning, advising, developing, and implementing programs and trainings that foster belonging, multicultural education, and intercultural engagement, honoring the intersections of LGBTQIA+ identities.
John holds a Doctor of Education in Student Affairs Leadership, a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from The University of Akron, as well as a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Central Florida. He joined UGA in 2018 as an Assistant Director for Multicultural Services and Programs and has been the Director of the Pride Center since 2022.
Biographical Info
As the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Erin leads the university’s commitment to educate and serve students with disabilities, ensuring equal educational opportunities as required by the ADA and other legislation. The Disability Resource Center works with students to determine appropriate academic accommodations and houses the Test Accommodations Office for onsite classroom testing and Alternative Media Services, which converts required printed material into accessible formats for students with reading disabilities.
Erin has two degrees from the University of Georgia, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Master of Public Administration and Policy. She spent most of her undergraduate years at UGA as a student disc jockey for the WUOG 90.5 radio station. Erin initially joined the staff of the Disability Resource Center in 2015 as a senior disability services coordinator and has served as director since 2018. Previously, she served more than nine years in Student Affairs at the University of North Georgia Oconee Campus, including seven years working directly with students with disabilities.
Biographical Info
Dr. Martha Dannenbaum is the Executive Director of the University Health Center at The University of Georgia. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University (BA-Biology) and the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio (MD), with a residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology completed at the University of Oklahoma. She is Board Certified by the American Board of OB/Gyn (ABOG) and was in private practice as an OB/Gyn in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 15 years. She is currently licensed to practice medicine in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Prior to coming to UGA, she spent 17 years at Texas A&M University Student Health Services, with the last 15 of those years in the role of Director. Dr. Dannenbaum is passionate about innovative quality improvement work focused on holistic student well-being.
Completed Dawg Ally and/or Global Ally programs. This additional training helps ensure health equity for all patients and clients by promoting inclusive belonging in healthcare.
Biographical Info
Wanda L. Johnson is the Director for the Office of Multicultural Services and Programs. Wanda has diverse experience in student growth and development spanning from her time in DFCS, DJJ, Boys and Girls Club, and higher education. Prior to UGA, Wanda served as the Lead Academic Advisor III for STEM majors at Georgia College.
At UGA, Wanda is responsible for providing leadership with regard to planning, advising, developing and implementing a variety of programs, educational offerings, and trainings that focuses on providing opportunities that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, multicultural education and awareness, and intercultural engagement that also honors intersections of identity for the office of Multicultural Services and Programs. Additionally, the Director leads the assessment efforts of the office as well as working closely with student organizations within MSP to ensure proper programming and administrative functioning.
Wanda holds a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Georgia State University.
Wanda is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Student Affairs Leadership at the University of Georgia.
Biographical Info
Kasper brings more than 20 years of experience in University Housing. She previously served as executive director of residential education at the University of South Florida, director of residential education and associate director of University Housing and Dining Services at Oregon State University, and assistant director for residential education at the University of Arizona.
At South Florida, Kasper oversaw the implementation of a residential curriculum that contributed to increase USF’s overall persistence rate to record highs. She also served as interim chief housing officer, supervising facilities, operations and outreach, and budget and finance.
Her professional associations include being elected to serve as Residence Education Director for the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and past service as co-chair and faculty for the annual ACPA Residential Curriculum Institute, as well as faculty chair for the National Housing Training Institute.
Kasper earned her Master of Education in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and her bachelor of science in public relations with a minor in broadcasting from Northern Michigan University.
Biographical Info
Barrett Malone serves as Associate Dean of Students within the Division of Student Affairs. In this role, Barrett provides administrative oversight and supervision to four departments, including Student Conduct, Greek Life, the Tate Student Center, and the Student Veterans Resource Center. He also chairs the University’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC) and is a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team.
Barrett previously served the University as Director for the Office of Student Conduct and was responsible for planning, implementation, evaluation and oversight of the University’s student conduct system. He also facilitated and served as the Hearing Officer for sexual misconduct hearings and coordinated and monitored appeals of all University judicial hearings.
A two-time graduate of UGA, Barrett received his B.B.A. from the Terry College of Business and earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. Prior to joining the Division of Student Affairs, Barrett worked in the sports communications department at the University of Georgia Athletic Association, and after graduating from law school, entered the private practice of law for several years before returning to his alma mater.
Biographical Info
Dr. Nicole McConnell is the Director of Student Transitions (ST) where she leads a staff in the endeavor of supporting students during their key times of transition at UGA. The department of Student Transitions works to connect students to on-campus resources that will help them learn strategies to effectively navigate their collegiate experience. The ST portfolio includes Dawg Camp, Welcome UGA, and transition leaders as various transition programming opportunities.
Joining the University of Georgia in 2017, Nicole worked as the Assistant Director of Student Activities which included overseeing student activities and the programming board, first-year and transfer student experience initiatives, and the homecoming committee. Over the course of her career, she has planned, executed, or consulted on tons of events including those with an attendance of nearly 7,000. Previously, she served three and a half years in Student Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, working in residential life and housing.
Nicole holds an Ed.D in Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Georgia, Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial engineering Technology from Kennesaw State University (formerly Southern Polytechnic State University). Her research and professional interest areas include supervision, student involvement, biracial/multiracial student experience, and support of students in transition.
Biographical Info
Rebecca serves as the Director for the Office of Student Conduct, providing oversight and leadership for the University’s student conduct system. Rebecca facilitates the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy/Title IX hearings, and serves as a member of the Division of Student Affairs’ Leadership team and also the University’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council.
Prior to assuming the Director role, Rebecca served as the Associate Director for the Office of Student Conduct at the University of Georgia. Her responsibilities included managing all incoming referrals and reports to the office regarding the University’s student conduct process. She was responsible for resolving alleged violations of UGA’s code of conduct and for oversight of all case assignments, budget management, office supervision, and for coordination of the office’s outreach and education initiatives.
Rebecca received a B.A. from LaGrange College, a Master of Education degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Biographical Info
Jon is the Director of the Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) and has been in this position since July, 2021. He is a retired Army officer and a veteran of four combat tours in the Middle East plus operational deployments in Panama, Japan and South Korea. Jon is also a retired K-12 educator in the state of Alabama with service as a high school teacher, an assistant principal, a career and technical education director and as a superintendent.
Jon holds a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of North Georgia, a master’s of adult education from Kansas State University, and a doctorate of education from Auburn University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.
As the SVRC Director, Jon serves as the faculty sponsor of the UGA Student Veterans Association and Past Chair of the national Council on Military Transition to Education.
Biographical Info
Carrie Smith serves as the Director of Student Care & Outreach, providing individualized support and assistance to students experiencing hardship circumstances. She oversees general case management within Student Care & Outreach. Additionally, Carrie provides trainings and informational sessions to campus and community partners about working with students of concern and the role of Student Care & Outreach. Carrie also serves as a member of the university’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC).
Carrie received a B.B.A. in Marketing from Mississippi State University, an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi, and she holds a Ph.D. in College and Student Personnel Services from UGA. She worked in corporate public relations at Fleishman-Hillard before returning to the field of education to serve as the Assistant Director of Admissions at The Browning School. Prior to coming to UGA, Carrie worked with graduate admissions, scholarship programming, and athletics at the University of Mississippi. She served as the Student Affairs Case Manager before this position.
Biographical Info
As the director of Greek Life, Joshua is responsible for strategic oversight of Greek Life Office operations and leads a team of talented professionals who work to create meaningful fraternity and sorority experiences for the 7500+ students involved in the Greek community. Through his personal and professional experiences, Joshua has come to believe that the fraternity and sorority experience, rooted in values, uniquely equips students to become impactful and multifaceted leaders.
Prior to arriving at UGA in spring 2020, Joshua served as the associate director of fraternity and sorority life at North Carolina State University where he oversaw fraternity and sorority housing initiatives, alcohol and other drug prevention education for the department, and as a liaison to alumni advisors and house corporations and the department. Over the past 12 years of his career in higher education, Joshua has worked at a variety of institutional types, including campus and headquarters-based positions.
Joshua’s professional involvement includes volunteer roles in the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors where he has served as a representative to the Nominating & Election Committee and the Professional Development Committee exploring core competencies of the profession for fraternity and sorority advisors. He is a 2020 Recipient of the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors.
Joshua received his bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master of Education with a specialization in College Student Personnel from Western Carolina University.
Biographical Info
Keith Wenrich leads the Department of Recreational Sports, serves on the leadership team for the Division of Student Affairs and reports directly to the associate vice president for student affairs. He is responsible for the operations of all recreational facilities including the Ramsey Student Center, Pound/Wheeler Gym on the health science campus, Rec Sports complex, Club Sports complex, the Lake Herrick Pavilion, and the Challenge Course in the Oconee Forrest. Keith leads a team of 29 professionals, 10 graduate assistants and more than 550 student employees.
Keith received his undergraduate degree from Susquehanna University in business administration and his M.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi in sports administration. He has worked in UGA’s Division of Student Affairs since 2007 and has worked in higher education for 25 years.