McLaughlin Receives UGA’s Richard Reiff Internationalization Award Jim McLaughlin, an associate professor of elementary education and head of the middle school education program, has received the Richard F. Reiff Internationalization Award from UGA’s Office of International Education for his work in Veracruz, Mexico. The award is given in honor of Richard Reiff, who served as director and then executive director of International Education at UGA for 31 years. It is awarded for activities such as creating and running study abroad or exchange programs, initiating and supporting faculty and scholar exchanges, international public service and outreach activities, and international research. McLaughlin, who received the award at a September 18 reception hosted by the OIE to honor faculty and staff who conducted study abroad and exchange programs in the 2002-2003 academic year, has shown a unique commitment to international education. He served as chair of UGA’s Study Abroad Risk Management Review Board for its first two years, helping shape policies and review programs to ensure the safety of students abroad. He also served on the Blue Ribbon Committee on International Affairs in the College of Education. McLaughlin helped pioneer the Georgia/Veracruz Partnership, a collaboration between educational institutions in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, and UGA. He developed a Maymester and summer study abroad program in Xalapa, Mexico, a student exchange program with the University of Veracruz, and a general agreement with the Secretary of Education and Culture for the state of Veracruz.   One of the unique qualities of the Xalapa study abroad program is its emphasis on cultural and educational immersion. To that end, all students stay with Mexican families, visit schools and social institutions in urban and rural areas, and engage in a community service project in a rural school. More than 89 UGA students, 48 Georgia educators, six faculty members, four graduate assistants, and a community member have participated in this program over the last five years. McLaughlin’s dedication was rewarded last year with a Fulbright Grant that allowed him to spend spring semester at teaching and pursuing research at the University of Veracruz. Wayne Parrot, professor of crop and soil sciences, and John Maltese, an associate professor of political science, tied for the “Director of the Year” award.  The winners of this award are selected on the basis of nominations from students attending UGA study abroad programs this past year.  Students considered the following qualities:  organization, preparation, knowledge of the host country, knowledge of the subject matter, ability to share knowledge with students, teaching excellence, availability and accessibility to students, care of students, mentoring of students and crisis management skills. Lioba Moshi, an associate professor comparative literature in the African Studies Institute, won the “Faculty Mentor Award.”  This award goes to an experienced study abroad program director who has served as a mentor to a new study abroad program director.  The winner is selected on the basis of nominations submitted by those faculty members who have benefitted from this mentoring. The Cortona (Italy) Program won the “Old Faithful Award,” which goes to a program that over the course of many years offers a study abroad program of consistent high quality and excellent reputation. Larry Morris, professor of forest resources, won the Perseverance Award, which goes to the program director who shows persistence and perseverance in the face of difficulties and challenges.  The award will be renamed the Larry Morris Perseverance Award. Tim Smalley, an associate professor of horticulture, won the “Kasha Puskarz Best Money Manager Award,” which goes to the study abroad program director who generally does an excellent job of responsibly managing and accounting for the program’s money. Finally, the UGA en España Program won the “Parsons Paperwork Award.”  This award goes to the program that consistently submits their paperwork in a timely fashion (preferably without prompting), in the manner requested, with all data complete. For more information, visit http://www.coe.uga.edu/ga-ver/ Tuesday, September 23, 2003 WRITER: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mchilds@coe.uga.edu CONTACT: James McLaughlin, 706/542-5469, jmcl@coe.uga.edu