Diane L. Cooper, a professor in counseling and human development and coordinator of UGA’s master’s degree program in college student affairs administration, has been selected as a member of the American College Personnel Association Diamond Honoree Class of 2008 by the ACPA Educational Leadership Foundation. The selection recognizes of her teaching and scholarship, including helping to author or co-author numerous books, book chapters and journal articles. Cooper is one of 15 Diamond Honorees being recognized this year. Her research focuses on program design and assessment, legal and ethical issues in student affairs practice and professional issues related to underrepresented groups in higher education.

Wallace B. Eberhard, professor emeritus in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, received the Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History from the American Journalism Historians Association at its annual convention in October. The award, the highest award the AJHA presents, recognizes an exemplary record of sustained contributions to journalism history through teaching, research, professional activities or other contributions to the field of journalism history.

Stephanie Jones, an assistant professor in the College of Education’s department of elementary and social studies education, was one of only five young scholars from across the nation to receive the 2007 Exemplary Dissertation Award from the Spencer Foundation for her dissertation entitled “Living Poverty as a Girl: Literacy and Identity Between Social Classes.” The five award winners were chosen from Spencer Dissertation Fellowship recipients spanning the past four years and will receive a $2,500 grant.

Mary Ann Moran

Mary Ann Moran, a marine microbial ecologist, has been named the first recipient of the D.C. White Research and Mentoring Award from the American Society of Microbiology in honor of a pioneering environmental microbiologist. The award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, commemorative medal and paid travel to the ASM general meeting, recognizes distinguished accomplishments in interdisciplinary research and mentoring in microbiology and the breadth of these contributions as well as their originality and overall impact.

Ed Panetta

Ed Panetta, director of the Georgia Debate Union and associate professor in the department of speech communication, was named Glen Pelham National Debate Coach of the Year. Panetta has worked with the UGA team for the past 20 years and helped to qualify more than 35 teams for the National Debate Tournament, which is debate’s equivalent to the NCAA basketball tournament. In 2007, he helped the team win the Copeland Trophy, given to the top-rated team of the debate season.

Michael Shutt, assistant dean of students, received the Dissertation of the Year Award for Exemplary Research from the Southern Association of College Student Affairs at the group’s conference in Dallas in November. Shutt’s dissertation is entitled “Parents as Partners in Alcohol Prevention: A University Perspective.”