The University of Georgia’s Rural Engagement Workshop for Academic Faculty has awarded $75,000 in seed grants supporting faculty-led projects focused on addressing critical challenges and opportunities in rural Georgia. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, will help faculty from across the university engage directly with rural communities on issues including rural health care access, postpartum mental health, workforce shortages in veterinary medicine, support for families experiencing dementia and economic development through agritourism and cultural vitality initiatives.

Launched in 2021 through a partnership between the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, the Rural Engagement Workshop helps faculty connect academic expertise with community-identified needs across Georgia. The program is facilitated by faculty and staff from the Archway Partnership, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and UGA Cooperative Extension.

Through a series of workshops, networking opportunities and community visits, participants gain a deeper understanding of rural Georgia, build relationships with local partners and explore how research can translate into practical, community-informed solutions. The workshop also creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty from across UGA.

“These projects demonstrate the power of bringing together research expertise and community partnership to address issues that matter deeply to rural Georgia,” said Stacy Jones, vice president for Public Service and Outreach. “By supporting faculty who are working directly alongside communities, we are strengthening UGA’s land-grant and sea-grant mission and helping ensure that the university’s knowledge and resources continue to create meaningful impact for the people of Georgia.”

Funding for the seed grants is provided by the Office of the Provost and supports UGA’s strategic priorities around research, innovation and strengthening partnerships with communities across Georgia. Since the workshop began, participating faculty have secured nearly $14.4 million in subsequent funding tied to projects and partnerships developed through the program, including the interdisciplinary UGA CARE (Cognitive Aging and Research Education) Center.

The workshop itself has also received national recognition. In 2024, the program earned an Award of Excellence in Innovation from the University Economic Development Association for its work connecting academic faculty with rural communities across Georgia. 

This year’s seed grant recipients include:

• Kayla Anderson, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, partnering with the Archway Partnership and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, for a project that engages rural youth in participatory research, placemaking, and advocacy to improve public spaces for young people and the broader local community.
• Dana Bultman and Patricia Richards, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, partnering with Archway and the Fanning Institute, for a project focused on supporting rural communities through storytelling and the arts.
• Caroline Gomez-Di Cesare, School of Medicine (with Ted Futris, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Sarah Haight, College of Public Health), partnering with Archway and FACS Extension, for a project focused on using community partnerships to strengthen rural health outreach.
• Sheri Dorn, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (with Hee Lee, School of Social Work), partnering with Archway, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and FACS Extension, for a project focused on extending support to rural families experiencing dementia.
• Rachael Green, College of Veterinary Medicine, partnering with 4-H Extension and ANR Extension, for a project focused on preparing future veterinarians to serve rural Georgia.
• Sarah Haight, College of Public Health (with Ted Futris, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Caroline Gomez-Di Cesare, School of Medicine), partnering with Archway and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, for a project focused on postpartum mental health and relationship dynamics among rural parents.
• Angie Im, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (with Hee Lee, School of Social Work), partnering with Archway and ANR Extension, for a project focused on strengthening rural community vitality through agritourism and local food systems.
• Hee Lee, School of Social Work (with Ted Futris, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Sheri Dorn, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Angie Im, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences), partnering with Archway and FACS Extension, for a project focused on helping rural families navigate dementia care.
• Cameron Thomas, College of Pharmacy (with Kayla Anderson, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences), partnering with the Archway Partnership and FACS Extension, for a project focused on improving access to personalized medicine in rural communities.
  
  The projects will continue to strengthen partnerships between UGA faculty and rural communities while supporting collaborative research and outreach efforts that improve health, economic opportunity and quality of life across the state.