STUDENT AFFAIRS STAFF DIRECTORY
306 Memorial Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3564
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Office of the Vice President
for Student Affairs
306 Memorial Hall
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-3564 | askstudentaffairs@uga.edu
Organization Chart | OVPSA Website »
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
As the Director for Talent Management, Kathryn is charged with supporting senior leaders, hiring authorities, and search committees across Student Affairs to identify data-informed staffing needs and develop and execute inclusive recruitment plans and processes. She also oversees wide-ranging efforts, including division-level onboarding, HR operations, engagement, professional learning, etc., to enhance the holistic employee experience, promote the retention and growth of employees, and advance a diverse and inclusive culture.
Prior to Student Affairs, she spent over three and a half years in UGA’s Division of Development & Alumni Relations serving on their Talent Management team, as well as time in private sector recruitment. She is proud to have earned her B.A. in Marketing from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business (Go Dawgs!) and is native to the Athens area. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, her Shih Tzu, Crosby, and uncovering new ways to explore Athens.
Biographical Info
Student Affairs is comprised of 16 departments that provide incredible programs, services and scholarships to our diverse student population. Many of our initiatives are made possible by the generous gifts from alumni, foundations and friends of the university. As the senior director of development, I serve as the chief fundraising officer for the vice president and our department directors and colleagues, and I partner with them to ensure their priorities are financially solvent through private and annual giving.
I graduated from the university in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History, and I proudly proclaim myself a product of the programs and services supported by Student Affairs. Without them, I would not have been prepared to achieve post-graduate success. I am honored and tremendously excited to be back at my beloved Alma Mater, and look forward to establishing many new relationships with folks who share my enthusiasm and appreciation for Student Affairs!
Biographical Info
As the digital engagement lead for the Division of Student Affairs, Wes oversees the design, production, implementation and maintenance of Student Affairs’ digital engagement initiatives. He is responsible for the visual design and branding of the Student Affairs web presence, as well as working with other Student Affairs web and design professionals to support digital engagement initiatives throughout the division.
Previously, Wes worked for the UGA Division of Development and Alumni Relations designing, building and maintaining the online presence of multiple departments, including the UGA Alumni Association, the UGA Foundation, the UGA online giving and event registration system (GAIL), the UGA Parents & Families Association and the Office of Development and Donor Relations
Wes began his career at UGA in the Division of Student Affairs and is happy to once again be a part of enriching the lives of our students while they build the foundation of knowledge that will lead to success after graduation from this great institution.
Wes holds a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of Georgia, a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree in Information Technology from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw Georgia. He and his wife, Tracey, live in Athens with their daughters, Elsie, Violet and Ada. Wes has been a member of the Student Affairs team since April 2014.
