Staff Activities
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Paul Benson began studies in the Georgia State University/Georgia Tech joint Ph.D. program in Public Policy in August.

Cynthia Blasdell coordinated design issues for the future AYSPS building at #2 Peachtree Street Annex, serving as a link between GSU technology personnel, the GSU project manager, the architect, and electrical subcontractors; and participated in biweekly planning meetings with the Georgia Building Authority (GBA) and the architectural firm. She edited the 2001 Annual Report, and chaired the college Web Oversight Committee. She served on the GSU Web Instructional Support Planning Team (WebISPT) and was appointed to the Navigational/Architecture Subcommittee of the University-Wide Web Advisory Committee. She coordinated audio/visual services, with the Distance and Distributed Learning Multimedia team, to provide tapes and web-based video of the Foreign Policy Symposium and Birthday Celebration.

Kwadjo Boaitey served as member of the Council of Volunteer Administrators of Metro Atlanta and as newsletter editor.

Wanda Cooley served on the Graduate Admissions Banner Implementation Team and the Council of Academic Advisors and served on the college Web Oversight Committee.

Sue Fagan served on the Class Scheduling and Degree Audit Banner Implementation Teams, the Class Scheduling Committee, the Enrollment Management Group, the Staff Advisory Committee, and the Classroom Facilities Council.

Ronni French (with Avani Raval) coordinated the first Coca-Cola Student Leadership Conference, which brought 90 high school leaders to the GSU Campus for a conference in September. She attended the Williamsburg Development Institute in June; served as Chair of Volunteer Management for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross; served as Secretary of the Board of the Joel Chandler Harris Association (Wren's Nest House Museum); served on the boards of Central Atlanta Hospitality Childcare, Inc., and Sweet Auburn Curb Market; served on the production committee of the Festival of Trees, and the Fall Retreat Committee for Leadership Atlanta; served as hospitality chair for ArtScape 2001; served as program evaluator for United Way; and was active in Kiwanis at the club, division and district levels.

Angela Garner provided administrative support for the Institute for Diversity Summer Enrichment Program sponored by the American Hospital Association in Chicago, and served as the School's volunteer for the Winter commencement exercise.

Juanita Goss presented an overview of The Atlanta Project's grant from the state Office of Child Support Enforcement which includes legal education for non-custodial parents and peer recruiting for state contracted Fatherhood Programs, at the International Fatherhood Conference, Atlanta, Ga., May 2001. She served on a diverse committee of community representatives, educators and artists to produce the first Black Men's Film Festival, to be held in Atlanta, November 2002.

Angeline H. Jackson served on AYSPS technology committee; served on the campus-wide network administrator's group; served as the ARC liaison for the relocation to the Wachovia annex; served as HOST site for three web sites: Council for School Performance (CSP), Atlanta-area Evaluation Association (AaEA) and Dan Sweat recruitment site; served as web programmer/web administrator for HOST sites (AaEA, CSP and Dan Sweat site); assisted the Communications Committee of the AaEA in developing a members only portion of their existing web site; assisted the Membership Committee of the AaEA in developing a membership database; assisted the Professional Development Committee of the AaEA with on-line registrations for events; served as ARC coordinator for the Annual fund; conducted two training sessions on Grant Writing for the Georgia Department of Adult and Technical Education; attended Computer Security Training sponsored by the SANS Institute; served as board member/treasurer for Wise Women Speak Foundation, Inc.; served as minister to the New Birth South Metropolitan Church in Morrow, Georgia; served as Assistant Director of the Healing Ministry for New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (NBMBC) in Lithonia, Georgia; served as Bible Study Coordinator for Harvest Heights Nursing Home through NBMBC in Decatur, Georgia; and attended a 12-session course on Leadership Training through NBSMC.

Joye Jay supported a GSU-wide Service-Learning Community.

Bernette McColley managed the 'Georgia Health Policy Center' and the 'Philanthropic Collaborative for a Healthy Georgia' websites. In addition, she served as a volunteer with the Silver Sonics Track and Field Club in Cobb County, working with the team and coaching the jumping events.

Gardner Neely served as 2001 President of Winnona Park Neighborhood Association, Decatur, Georgia; served on the Greenspace Task Force of Decatur; attended local meetings of the Special Libraries Association, and the Metro Atlanta Libraries Association; audited GSU courses in Health Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Economics of Cities, and the Economy of South Africa; attended the GSU Symposium on Urban Sprawl; attended the American Economic Association meeting session on fiscal federalism; attended the Galileo/library users group annual meeting at University of Georgia; and assisted in identifying research sources for Nara Monkam and Marc Vanolst from the University of Namur in Belgium. He hosted a visit from Sergey Paturyan from Yerevan, Armenian Tax Service, and Serghi Bourian from Moldova. With LaLoria Konata of the Pullen Library Reference Department, he presented a library and information services overview to 35 Masters students from Indonesia.

Charlotte Petrek organized and led the invitation and admissions efforts for the March 9, 2001 Foreign Symposium Policy Seminar and the Andrew Young Birthday Celebration. She participated in professional workshops including Basic Equal Employment Opportunity Training, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Technical Assistance, Supervisory Skills for Effective Performance Evaluations, Building Community Through Fair and Effective Performance Evaluations, and Statewide Staff Council Conference 2001. She served as 2001/2002 Staff Advisor Council (SAC) Vice-President, as SAC Representative on the Senate Faculty Affairs Committee, the Senate Budget Committee, and the FAC Non-Tenure Track Subcommittee. She served as Certified Lay Speaking Minister and Stephen's Minister in the United Methodist Church; facilitated a Thursday Night Ladies Study Group at Northbrook United Methodist Church; and completed a creative writing course.

Jeff Pruett served on the college Web Oversight Committee.

Avani Raval coordinated Andrew Young School of Policy Studies involvement in the Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta, sponsored by a $1.5 million grant from The Coca Cola Company. He coordinated, with Ronni French, the Coca Cola Student Leadership Conference, September 29, 2001, a day long, hands-on conference with attendance from approximately 90 high school senior class presidents from around the state. He assisted in coordinating the Andrew Young Birthday Celebration Dinner and the Foreign Policy Symposium, and organized the New Faculty Orientation, and AYSPS display information for the Georgia State University Leadership Appreciation Night. He served as Dean's Office coordinator for the State Charitable Contributions Program and the Staff/Faculty Campaign.

David Sandt served as Chair of the University Grievance Hearing Board during the summer; served as member of the Selection Committee for a new Director of Auxiliary Services; served as member of the University's Research Budgetary Committee exploring ways to standardize procedures and problem solve external sponsored funding issues; served as the AYSPS College Administrative Officer (CAO) representing the School at university meetings dealing with college-wide issues; served as the AYSPS Spectrum coordinator and campus-rollout team member for the university's new financial system; and completed all required courses leading toward a Ph.D. in History.

Robin Steinbrenner organized, coordinated and supervised 50 volunteers from the Andrew Young School for the Andrew Young Birthday Celebration, Hyatt Regency, March 9, 2001; served as first point of contact with the Secret Service to coordinate the visit of the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic Martin Ziguele, December 4, 2001; edits and publishes the Dean's E-news; began studies in the Masters Degree in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program in the College of Education; volunteered at the Chastain Park Therapeutic Horse Back Riding Program for the physically and mentally handicap; and served on the Saint Vincent DePaul Society disbursements of funds committee at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Dorie Taylor represented AYSPS on the GSU Staff Advisory Council. As chair of the Benefits Committee she prepared the report, "Transportation Options Available to GSU Staff: Controlling Parking Costs and Transportation Alternatives." As chair of the Communication Committee, Dorie presented the annual Staff Information Day event which showcased 100 services/vendors available at a discount to the GSU community and the annual Staff Forum which provides an opportunity for staff to ask University Administrators to address issues of interest. Dorie also serves as a non-voting member of the University Senate Committee on Planning and Development, and serves as a member of the SAC Executive Committee currently working on achieving staff voting membership on the University Senate.

Telesa Wilson served as co-chair of the Council of Volunteer Administrators of Metro Atlanta and Streams of Service: AmeriCorps; (with Linda Calloway) collaborated with the School of Social Work to implement a Freshman Learning Community; and worked with the Office of Community Service Learning on the Into the Streets Event for the Fall 2001 semester.