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By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
David L. Coker, who oversees UGA’s study-abroad and international-education programs, has  announced his retirement effective Sept. 1.
Coker has held the position of associate provost for international studies since last July. Previously he was associate vice president for academic affairs and executive director for international education.
Coker joined UGA in 1988 as executive assistant to former President Charles Knapp, and in 1991 was assigned responsibility for policies and procedures concerning international activities. He was overall director of the university’s involvement in the 1996 Olympic Games.
As associate provost, he is responsible for coordinating more than 70 study-abroad programs. More than 1,000 UGA undergraduates are involved in some form of international education each year. He also oversees international academic development projects and services and international research initiatives.
“David Coker has been very important to this university in two important roles--as executive assistant to President Knapp and in directing international studies programs,” says Karen Hol-brook, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “One only has to look at the numbers of international programs, the numbers of students and the sharply upward trajectory in scope and enrollment to see how effective Dr. Coker’s leadership has been. I value his judgment in all things academic, given the great breadth of his background and his unfailing institutional perspective. The university will miss him greatly.”
For his part, Coker says he is not so much retiring as taking advantage “of an opportunity for reflection and personal initiative in other areas.”
Before joining UGA, Coker was at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and adjunct professor of higher education. Previously he held a number of positions at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, including assistant chancellor for student affairs and director of the counseling center.
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