Office of Diversity Relations: News & Events
Faculty & Staff Highlights
2009 CAES Diversity Awards
The purpose of the CAES Diversity Awards is to recognize members of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences faculty, staff, and student organizations who have made significant contributions to enhancing a positive climate for multicultural diversity within their teaching, research, and/or extension programs. The committee was encouraged by the number of nominations submitted by students, faculty and staff, which indicates an increasing level of concern and activity in the college for promoting a positive climate.
The 2009 CAES Diversity awards were presented on October 6 during the annual D.W. Brooks Lecture. The 2009 diversity award winners were Dr. Alfredo Martinez-Espinoza, Carolina Robinson and the student organization Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences.
Faculty: Dr. Alfredo Martinez-Espinoza
Dr. Martinez-Espinozais an Associate Professor within the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Griffin Campus. Dr. Martinez-Espinoza is an Extension Specialist working on diseases of turfgrass, small grains and non-legume forages. Alfredo holds a PhD. from the Department of Plant Pathology at Montana State University (Bozeman). Dr. Martinez-Espinoza has published 2 books, 9 book chapters, 235 scientific articles, extension bulletins, trade journals, popular press and newspapers articles and has participated in over 200 professional and scientific meetings. In addition to these accomplishments, Dr. Martinez has been actively engaged attending the Hispanic/Latino community of Georgia and the Southeastern US since his appointment at the CAES. Dr. Martinez-Espinoza has pioneered delivery of information in a bilingual format. Under his leadership statewide trainings, programs and materials have been developed and implemented. Alfredo has helped break down language and cultural barriers, nurturing cooperation and supporting a network of UGA Specialists tackling Hispanic issues. His sustained efforts have had a clear, demonstrable impact on the University and its Hispanic/Latino clientele.
Student Organization: Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences is a nationally based organization of professionals and students that is geared towards professional development for all racial and ethnic backgrounds. To accomplish its goals, MANRRS draws from a large network that offers support to minorities in agriculture and related sciences. Locally, The University of Georgia chapter of MANRRS focuses on community service by participating in the annual River’s Alive event, which focuses on cleaning the Oconee River and cooking dinner at the Athens Homeless Shelter. MANRRS hosts programs that work on professional development such as: resume building, work-place etiquette, and proper attire. In addition to professional development, MANRRS hosts programs that work on creating diversity in the individual by holding programs that talk about study abroad. To gain new members, MANRRS participates in the Multicultural New Student Reception, an event that welcomes new students to the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as well as GA Daze, a program for prospective minority students. At GA Daze, prospective students get to interact with current students, experience classes, and preview other organizations on campus.
Staff: Carolina Robinson 
Carolina Robinson is the Study Abroad Recruitment Coordinator for the College and works closely with the CAES Office of Global Programs and the Office of Academic Affairs. As the recruitment coordinator, she promotes diversity through globalization. Enthusiastically, Carolina helps to recruit students and coordinate their study abroad experiences, aid in the reception and orientation of visiting international students and assists CAES faculty members in creating new study abroad programs. Through her efforts, in 2008, the College ranked higher than the University in study abroad participation rate which has enhanced the overall reputation for the College as being progressive and in tune with globalization. Carolina’s commitment to diversity is evident by her coordination of the International Agriculture Certificate program. Students who successfully complete this program would have developed a working knowledge of another language, taken courses on internationally relevant topics and participated in an abroad internship. In particular, the Certificate is designed to help students foster global understanding and an appreciation of international culture and relationships. As a personal dedication to citizenship, Carolina has been an eager participant in the College’s ongoing diversity recruitment programs. She has been involved and counseled students during the College’s Georgia Daze breakfast meetings, the Hall County Hispanic Recruitment Initiative and Georgia Preview Days. Carolina has become a valuable resource for perspective and currents of diversity. Carolina is both a strong advocate and a product of diversity through globalization. She loves to introduce and involve her family (husband Melvin Robinson Jr., son Andre (15) and daughter Elisa (3)) in her native Colombian culture.
2008 Diversity Award Recipients
Pat Clifton receives Fulfilling the Dream award
“If you’re going to dream, dream big enough”—that’s the message Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham gave at the fifth annual Freedom Breakfast on Jan. 18 at UGA’s Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel where four people received the 2008 President’s Fulfilling the Dream Awards for community service.
This year’s award recipients are Patricia Clifton, Derrick Floyd, Robert Hill and Esther Sherman.
Pat Clifton was recognized for her work as coordinator of the Young Scholars Program at UGA. A former principal of Hilsman Middle School, she came out of retirement to help with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' program, which offers pre-collegiate opportunities for minority students, including visiting a research lab in Costa Rica or schools in Ghana. Under her guidance, the program has ballooned from hosting six students in 2000 to more than 70 in recent years. More than 300 students have graduated from the program, and 98 percent of them then moved on to four-year colleges and universities across the nation.
For the full article, please visit: http://www.uga.edu/news/artman/publish/080118_FreedomBreakfast.shtml